Norman Wright, 79, loved
By Mary Adamski
acting in movies, theater
Star-BulletinNorman Joseph Wright was employed as a publisher’s marketing manager but it was his second career as an actor that he loved best. He kept a resume of every movie, television and stage experience over a 30-year span.
They included parts in World War II performances starring theater giants Maurice Evans and Judith Anderson and roles in several “Hawaii Five-0” episodes.
Wright died in Honolulu Oct. 28 at the age of 79.
He had acted in Honolulu Community Theatre productions for 30 years and continued as its historian long after he gave up the stage.
The organization, now called Diamond Head Theatre, applauded his 50 years of dedication in 1990 by selecting him as one of the first five people for its Hall of Fame. The Hawaii State Theater Council gave him the 1987 Pierre Bowman Award for his contribution to local theater.
“He went back practically to the beginning” of the community theater, said Helen Topham, actress and former University of Hawaii drama professor.
In post-World War II days, Wright was one of the four people who ran the volunteer theater.
His last local stage appearance was in the role of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in a 1969 production of “Dylan.”
He had bit parts in movies including “The Devil at Four O’Clock,” “Twilight of the Gods” and “From Here to Eternity,” and in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie “Inherit the Wind.”
“He came out here to get involved in acting,” said Nini Dinmore, a family friend. “It was his main interest and his hobby, although he didn’t earn his living that way. There were a lot of people he met playing bit parts, and stayed good friends with and stayed in contact.”
Wright retired in 1983 as international sales manager with University of Hawaii Press. He started with East-West Center Press before it merged with UH Press and formerly was the Pacific-Asia representative with Feffer and Simons book distributors.
Royden Muranaka of UH Press said: “He did a lot of traveling throughout Asia and the Pacific. It was hard after the war, and he got along well, made good friends with Asians. Now I go on those trips 25 years later, they all remember him and ask about him.”
Wright was born in Newport, Pa. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He is survived by a hanai brother, Richard Dinmore; and five godchildren.
A private burial service will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Francis Hospice or Diamond Head Theatre.
Louise F. Aldridge, 77, of Kailua died Saturday in Kailua. Born in Ohio, she is survived by son John; daughters Helen Robinette and Carol Busby; brother Tony Spilar; and two grandchildren. Private services. Donations suggested to American Cancer Society.
