Memento Mori

[marguerite_krux]

 '...on a much sadder note we lost our good friend Don Davis to a heart attack about a week before that. For those of you who were lucky enough to meet Don last year when we had him, you will agree that we have lost a great actor and especially nice man. He will be missed…'

OMG. DON DAVIS. *whimpers* The first real Stargate actor I ever met, the nicest most decent guy imaginable.

I dropped out of circulation for about a month after the exams. I’m not the best at keeping up to date with people, and I find it tough to stay informed of all that’s going on right now, let alone catch up on what happened while I was offline. And then I get an email updating me on the Australian events happening in November, with a shocking announcement that totally blindsided me: Don Davis died a month ago. Heart attack.

 

I wondered if it was a sick joke but there it was, all official in the email from Scotty and up on the Armageddon webpage, and just…damn. Damn frakkity frakking DAMN. I remember Katherine cried for a day when one of TOS actors died, but even though I loved Don, it’s just not quite real. I never even heard there was any heart problems, he was still young, and quite the picture of cheery good health when he was out here last year. I am so glad that I went to see him and got the chance to experience the magic- he was a revelation, charming and gentlemanly and then sly and cracking dirty jokes. Just amazing. He told me I was a ‘lovely young woman’; hearing that from him was so cool!

 

You know, out of the three autographs I’ve gotten so far, I kept thinking he was the best. Chris Judge was way too merrily drunk to do more than a heart/peace symbol. Joe Flanigan was too popular and swamped with fans to do more than scrawl my name and a hasty signature. But Don Davis took the time to compliment me and answer Katherine’s question- she wasn’t getting an autograph, just accompanied me on the pretext of ‘making sure I wasn’t lonely’ so she could chat with him, and he humored both of us. His official autograph was:

‘Annie-

It was a pleasure to meet you.

Don S. Davis

Gen George Hammond’

 

Nice and long. I don’t know, I think actors should just have a few templates for their autographs and mix it up, not go asking fans what they should write and then not bothering to do a proper job because they’ve been hitting the booze too much. I mean, if a fan has a particular message they want written, that’s great, but we’re paying them to write us a message, it doesn’t have to be in-depth and personal, just something sweet and courteous, like the above.

 

Then he went and gave me a free autograph because he saw I was holding a picture of the two of us when he came to Geelong. No need to ask what to sign, he just took the photo- I thought he was just checking out how he looked in it!- and then wrote:

‘Annie

All the best from Hammond of Texas!

Don S Davis

Geelong 2007’.

Dude, how awesome is that right there? THAT is how autographs should be, painless, no pressure, just a nice chat with the star you admire, and a thoughtful message.

 

 
Whispering sweet nothings...XP

 

Comments

[sapphs.livejournal.com]

Those are fantastic photos. I was so sad and shocked when I heard it the first time :( I don't think it's fully sunk it yet either. It was a strange feeling seeing him in Continuum when I knew he would never again grace the small screen.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

I was debating, what with the spoilers re: Daniel, whether I really wanted to buy Continuum. But as soon as you mentioned Don being in the movie, I had to have it, so I went to town yesterday and bought it. Haven't watched it yet, I get the feeling I might need a friend with me, lol. It's kinda funny, though- it's like people seeing Batman for Heath Ledger, and here I am, getting this movie for Don.