John Keston

John Keston

5 December 1924 - 13 February 2022

Surface name: Francis Douglas Arthur Keston

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

John Keston was a British-born American stage actor and singer who was best known as a world record-breaking runner. To the Myst community, he was the face and the voice of Gehn, father of Atrus and Writer of the Age of Riven.

In 1967 he appeared on London's West End in the musical "Sweet Charity" in the role of Vittorio Vidal; this was the first West End production of Neil Simon's Broadway hit. In 1974 he appeared on Broadway in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre's revival of "Sherlock Holmes" from 1974 to 1976, in the role of Sir Edward Leighton, at the Broadhurst Theatre.

He wrote, produced and performed a one-man show, "Expressions of Aging". This two-act play with music reflects his love of history, acting, music, and the English language, on the theme of growing old. He performed selections until late in his life.

Eventually Keston moved to Bemidji, Minnesota, where he had been recruited by Dr. Fulton Gallagher to teach voice in the music department of Bemidji State University.

He began running at age 55 to combat mild hypertension. On 30 September 2001, at age 76, he set a world age record when he ran a 3:22:59 marathon in the Portland Marathon. At ages 80 and 85, he set world age records for 12-kilometers in the Bloomsday Run in Spokane, Washington.

Keston died at the age of 97 from complications of COVID-19.

Memberships: Online articles about John Keston include Wikipedia; IMDb; IBDB
Remembrances: 15 Feb 2022 University of St. Thomas: In Our Prayers: John Keston