Douglas Falconer was a man of many talents and passions. He was a football star, a movie producer, a singer-songwriter, and a loving father. He touched the lives of many people with his charisma, generosity, and spirit. He died on July 25, 2021, at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy of love and inspiration.
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A Four-Sport Star in High School
Falconer was born in Calgary, Alberta, on January 30, 1952. His father was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, so he moved around a lot as a child. He attended five different public schools across Canada before settling in Kingston, Ontario, for his high school years.
He attended Base Borden Collegiate Institute and then La Salle Secondary School, where he excelled in four sports: football, basketball, track and field, and soccer. He was the city’s scoring champion in both basketball and football, and also the city’s long jump and high jump champion. In his senior year, he scored 42 points in the Eastern Ontario Secondary School Basketball Championship game, leading his team to a 33-point comeback win.
A Vanier Cup and Grey Cup Champion in College
After high school, Falconer played basketball at St. Lawrence College, where he was part of the 1971-72 Eastern Division Championship team. He then transferred to the University of Ottawa, where he played football as a wide receiver and a defensive back.
He was a member of the legendary 1975 National Championship Vanier Cup team, which went undefeated that season. He scored two touchdowns as a receiver against McGill University and intercepted two passes as a defensive back against the University of Windsor in the Churchill Bowl. He also received the prestigious “Achievement Award” from the Premier of Ontario for his distinguished performance in amateur sports.
He then went on to play professional Canadian football for six different teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won the Grey Cup with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1976. He was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Ottawa Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
A Successful Hollywood Movie Producer
After his football career, Falconer pursued his passion for filmmaking. He moved to Los Angeles and became a movie producer. He worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, such as Nicolas Cage, Geoffrey Rush, Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, Susan Sarandon, Demi Moore, Aaron Eckhart, Mel Gibson, and Tommy Lee Jones.
He produced more than 30 films, including The Hurricane (1999), The Pledge (2001), The Wicker Man (2006), The Frozen Ground (2013), and The Professor and the Madman (2019). He also produced documentaries, such as The Last Gladiators (2011) and Red Penguins (2019).
He was also a singer-songwriter and a recording artist. He released two albums: Doug Falconer (1980) and Peace & Love (2018). He performed at various venues and events, such as the NHL Breakout World Championship of Inline Hockey in 1998.
A Loving Father and Friend
Falconer was married to Louise for 30 years before they divorced. They had two daughters, Quinn and Taber, whom he adored. He also had a twin brother, Don, who was his best friend.
He was known for his love of life and his love for others. He always ended his phone calls with his friends with “I love you, brother.” He was generous, kind, and supportive. He inspired many people with his positive attitude and his free spirit.
He died in Kingston after suffering a heart attack while visiting his family. He had previously survived another heart attack in 2017 that he called “The Widowmaker.” He said that after that experience, he felt like “the luckiest guy in the world.”
He left behind a legacy of love and peace that will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
