Douglas Rain

Douglas Rain

Known for

Acting

Born

March 13, 1928

Birthplace

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Died

November 11, 2018 (aged 90)

Biography

Douglas Rain (March 13, 1928 - November 11, 2018) was a Canadian actor and narrator. He was primarily a stage actor, but his best known film role was as the voice of the HAL 9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and its sequel 2010 (1984).

Rain was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He studied acting at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Alberta as well as in London at the Old Vic School. As a stage actor, his long association with the Stratford Festival of Canada that spans more than four decades. He has performed in many diverse roles on stage, most notably recognized for his performance at Stratford, Ontario in Henry V which was made into a television production in 1966.

Rain was...

Best known work

2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey
1968
2010
2010
1984
Sleeper
Sleeper
1973
The Man Who Skied Down Everest
The Man Who Skied Down Everest
1975
Universe
Universe
1960
Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex
1957
BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month
1965
The Stratford Adventure
The Stratford Adventure
1954
Fields of Sacrifice
Fields of Sacrifice
1963
The Russian German War
The Russian German War
1995

Filmography

  1. 2019

    LIFE BEYONDTV

    as Self (voice) (1 episode)

  2. 1995

    The Russian German War

    as Narrator (voice)

  3. 1995

    No Price Too HighTV

    as Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King (7 episodes)

  4. 1992

    Donald Brittain: Filmmaker

    as Self - Narrator (voice)

  5. 1985

    Love & Larceny

    as Ashton Fletcher

  6. 1984

    2010

    as HAL 9000 (voice)

  7. 1975

  8. 1973

    Sleeper

    as Bio Central Computer 2100, Series G (voice), as Evil Computer/Various Robot Butlers (voice) (uncredited)

  9. 1973

    Tour en l'air

    as Narrator (voice)

  10. 1968

    2001: A Space Odyssey

    as HAL 9000 (voice)

  11. 1967

    Henry V

    as King Henry V

  12. 1966

    Bird of Passage

    as Narrator

  13. 1965

    BBC Play of the MonthTV

    as Stephano (1 episode)

  14. 1963

  15. 1963

    Fields of Sacrifice

    as Narrator (voice)

  16. 1962

    Buddhism

    as Narrator

  17. 1961

    Robert Baldwin: A Matter Of Principle

    as William Lyon Mackenzie

  18. 1960

    FestivalTV

    as Cassius (1 episode)

  19. 1960

    Universe

    as Narrator

  20. 1957

    Oedipus Rex

    as Messenger

  21. 1955

    FolioTV

    as Jacob Schunk (1 episode), as Malcom (1 episode)

  22. 1954

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch© 2026 FlickQueue · Privacy · Terms