William Kuhlke Obituary

I met Bill when I attended the University of Kansas to pursue a PhD in theatre. His enthusiasm for rigorous scholarship taught me not just the history of dramatic theory and criticism but then to apply it to think creatively. Additionally, he was a fine actor. His portrayal of George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in my production at Capital Rep ((Albany, NY), was spell binding - a privilege and highlight of my professional directing career.

Fifty years ago at the beginning of my freshman year at KU, I was fortunate to be enrolled in Dr. Kuhlke´s Improvisational Acting class. Dr. Kuhlke was a kind and welcoming instructor with a great sense of humor. With novel assignments he made class most enjoyable and his students feel comfortable. We´ve lost a great educator.

Bill Kuhlke was one my favorite Theatre professors at KU. I even wrote a paper on Vakhtangov for one of his classes. I also recall vividly that he drove all the way to Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS to serve as a private responder to my 1979 production of J.B, for which he also submitted an extensive written critique. A special man indeed, and we knew Glennys as well, a lovely person. I give thanks for Bill in my life.

He had an invincible spirit. In him gentleness was a form of strength and vice versa. Words are not enough.

I knew him as "Bill". He was a very talented actor, and, in today's world, would have been a highly sought after narrator. He could read the encyclopedia and make it sound personal. I worked with him on many projects, but I considered him a friend. My deepest thoughts to Karen and Kevin and the family.

Bill Kuhlke was a challenging and inspirational teacher. In a one-on one tutorial semester at the end of my KU education, he helped me sum up and plan ahead. He was solid, funny, and full of ideas. I was fortunate and remember him to this day.

An amazing human. So fortunate to have him at KU in the 70-80´s! I loved his very thoughtful classes. Some of his exercises still stick out in my mind when I think of my time at Murphy Hall. The first play I saw there was The Time of Your Life, which he starred in and completely blew me away. Brilliant actor!
My condolences to his family. A life well lived.

Bill was an integral part of the KU theater family while I was growing up. My father, Dr. Jed Davis (Dr. D), and Bill were incredibly passionate about theater, arts and all things creative.

John and Linda Davis, Salina, KS

"This was a man" indeed. A man of great integrity, personal and professional, of great talent and intellect, a brilliant teacher, and the best mentor a graduate student could ever have. I had the good fortune to have him as my PhD adviser. But Bill was more than that: he was a man of great kindness, tact, and dignity.

He was my professor, I keep his picture under glass on my desk as a professor now at KU. He inspired me as an actor. I kept my journal from his class and was delighted to read his comments in the margins. I send my very, sincere condolences.

William Kuhlke--whom I was honored to have as my Ph.D. dissertation chair--was one of the most inspiring teachers, the most sensitive and accomplished of actors--and perhaps more importantly, one of the kindest and most generous men that I've been fortunate enough to know during my lifetime. There's no one I've ever known that I've admired more than Bill Kuhlke. This loss hits hard. But he lived a good life, full of respect and accomplishment. And he was dearly loved. We should all be so fortunate in our brief time here.

Yes, all his under/graduate students loved him for his gentle kindness, compassion, and artistic performances, such as Prospero. His Russian Theatre class inspired many. When we asked for a Dramatic Theory class, he taught it brilliantly--in Kuhlke's Knob. Thrilled that I could meet with him and BJ in Creede, CO one last time. A great, good man who will never be forgotten.

I had an improvisational class with Bill, it was crazy. He would suddenly look at all of us and say "run" and he would burst out the door of a downstairs classroom in Murphy hall and then burst out of the back of Murphy Hall and we would run across the open campus.His energy was boundless. I never quite knew what the hell was going on in his class, but I had a huge crush on him. I thought he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Cathy Paddock Barnett

Thousands of us have rich memories of Bill's warmth, wit, intelligence and kindliness. We will cherish these. We loved him and will miss him. Michael & Evie Rapport