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The Guthrie Theater will host of memorial celebration Monday for famed stage actor Richard Iglewski, who died recently at age 61. Starting in 1985, Iglewski spent decades at the theater, whose stage he commanded like a conquering, if sometimes impish, hero.

He acted in more than 85 shows there, often paired with Sally Wingert, as they were in 1994 in "The Play's The Thing" (above). His other shows included "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Hamlet," "The Pirates of Penzance" and "Gross Indecency," in which he played Oscar Wilde. Iglewski performed in a dozen productions of "A Christmas Carol."

A rare, beloved performer who could elicit applause simply by walking onstage. he was known as Julio to close friends — after singer Julio Iglesias, whose name also was occasionally mangled by well-wishers. Then Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling gave him the Artistic Director's Award in 1999.

The service for Iglewski will be at 4:30 p.m. Monday, with a reception to follow, Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St., Mpls.