The creators of Corner Gas Animated are paying tribute to late Corner Gas cast member Mike O鈥橞rien of Victoria during an episode of the hit Comedy Network series airing Monday.
O鈥橞rien, who died of cancer in 2015, played a recurring character on the original series, which ran on CTV until 2009. The Victoria native appears in cartoon form next week on Corner Gas Animated, playing the same character鈥� Wes Humboldt, owner of Dog River鈥檚 liquor store and insurance agency 鈥� as he did on the original series. His widow, Winnipeg-based Robin Summerfield, also makes a guest appearance.
The animated episode, titled Rum Punch, airs three days shy of the third anniversary of O鈥橞rien鈥檚 death.
In the episode, Const. Karen Pelly (Tara Spencer-Nairn) and Sgt. Davis Quinton (Lorne Cardinal) find moonshine in the woods, which ends up helping Lacey (Gabrielle Miller) and Emma鈥檚 (Corrine Koslo) fundraiser for Wes鈥檚 widow, Robin.
Ironically, Wes, an insurance agent/ liquor聽store聽owner, left his wife without a life-insurance policy.
鈥淢ike O鈥橞rien was a truly beloved part of the Corner Gas聽family," said creator, executive producer and star Brent Butt. 鈥淗e was witty, pleasant, and just an all-around terrific guy.
鈥淏eyond being loved, he was a valuable asset on a creative level because he was naturally very funny and could deliver a comedic line flawlessly. Losing him hurt, on a lot of levels.聽It seemed only natural and right we do something with Corner Gas Animated to聽honour his contribution to the original series. Having his wife Robin Summerfield participate in the episode was a real blessing.鈥�
O鈥橞rien graduated from Victoria High in 1981 and obtained his degree from the University of Victoria. During his time at UVic, he was editor of the student newspaper, The Martlet. O鈥橞rien later worked in newspapers on Vancouver Island before moving to the Medicine Hat News and Regina Leader-Post. He secured a spot on Corner Gas after making the switch to acting, but once the show was cancelled he returned to writing, primarily at the CBC.
He died of metastatic synovial sarcoma on May 24, 2015, in palliative care at Winnipeg General Hospital.
Corner Gas Animated airs Mondays on the Comedy Network. The premi猫re episode, which aired April 9, was the most-watched premi猫re in Comedy Network history.
