Canadian actor Douglas Rain, whose mellow-toned voice work as HAL in "2001: A Space Odyssey," has died at the age of 90. Rain’s performance as HAL, the homicidal, method-driven, programmed computer, was the heart and soul of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece. Hell, there are many that claim that, quite ironically, Hal was the only character in the film that showed any real emotions. He was terrified of death, so much so that when he finds out that his creators are about to, gulp, pull the plug on him he tries every conceivable, immoral manoeuvre to stop them. I remember watching the remastered 70mm print of "2001" at this year's Cannes Film Festival and feeling newfound admiration for Rain's voicework, especially his final few minutes on-screen when he starts singing “Daisy.” As HE's Jeff Wells mentioned today, "HAL’s a capella farewell is something we’ll all experience sooner or later, in one form or another."
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