Robert Clothier

Robert Clothier was known to television audiences across Canada and around the world for his long-running role as the apyly named “Relic,” the log-pilfering curmudgeon, in the hit CBC series The Beachcombers. But he was also a highly accomplished classical stage actor. When he wasn’t acting, Clothier pursued his other passion, sculpture. Born in Prince Rupert, Clotheir lived in England for a time before returning to B.C. He served in the Royal Air Force in World War II and was seriously injured in 1945. He went on to study architecture at the University of British Columbia. He then returned to England for theatre and art studies before resettling in Vancouver where he became a well-established figure on many local stages. Clothier spent his final days embroiled in a dispute with CBC-TV over what he believed were royalties owed to him for reruns and overseas sales of The Beachcombers. In 1996 he suffered a stroke and was in poor health until his death.

Also see Bruno Gerussi.