Andy Hallett R..I.P.

Singer and actor Andy Hallett, best known for playing the demon Lorne on the TV series Angel, passed on Sunday at the age of 33. He had suffered with congestive heart disease for the past several years.

Andy Hallett was born in Osterville, Massachusetts on August 4, 1975. He attended Barnstable High School and Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. He loved singing as a child, but feared doing so publicly until at a concert Patti LaBelle invited him onstage to sing "Lady Marmalade" with her. Hallett moved to Los Angeles, where he was a runner for an agency, a property manager, and then personal assistant. He was performing in a Universal City blues revue when he met and became friends with Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Whedon persuaded Hallett to try out for the role of Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan, more simply known as Lorne or The Host, on Angel. Lorne was an anagogic demon who could read people whenever they sang. He was the greeter at and owner of the karaoke bar Caritas. In all Hallett appeared in 76 episodes of Angel.

Andy Hallett was also the voice of the Cricket in the animated feature Geppetto's Secret.

Sadly, Hallett's career as a singer and actor would be cut short by his health. It was about a month after the last episode of Angel was shot that Hallett developed a tooth infection which led to cardiomyopathy. Hallett did not return to acting save for his voice work on Geppetto's Secret, although he continued to sing and appear at conventions.

I must say I am exceedingly sad at Andy Hallett's passing. Angel was among my favourite series of the early Naughts and much of this was because of its cast. Despite his inexperience in acting, Hallett proved to be an enormous talent. Lorne became one of the most beloved characters on Angel, appearing on the show from his first appearance in the second season to its final scene. What is more, Hallett was an exceedingly good singer with a great voice, as would befit the greeter at and owner of Caritas. He actually sung twice on Angel. It is sad that he had to die so young, before his career could really blossom.