Chuck Wilcox

“Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear,

Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come when it will come."

Julius Caesar, II.ii

Obituary

Chuck Wilcox was born at Ft. Warren Air Force Base February 9, 1943, and died on his farm in Costa Rica May 13, 2026 at age 83. Chuck grew up in Saratoga, Wyoming, and he graduated from the University of Wyoming where he acted in his first Shakespeare play, Macbeth. His career as an actor centered around the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder Colorado. He received an M.A. degree in Theatre from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His thesis was on Stage Weaponry. He was a founder of two touring theatres that for decades toured schools in Colorado (Colorado Caravan) and Wyoming (Overland Stage Company). After a stroke at the age of 40, he began a 40-year career impersonating William Shakespeare. For fifteen years Chuck also was a respected teacher of Shakespeare and drama K-12 at both St. John’s and St. Mary’s Academy. He was honored to receive a plaque of his name at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

He married Lola Wilcox in Laramie, Wyoming 60 years ago.

They were both members of the United Campus Christian Fellowship, and they sang together in many experimental worship services throughout Wyoming. Charles and Lola sang in the choir at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Denver for over twenty years. They continued attending Sunday church and Wednesday Morning Prayer services by Zoom while in Costa Rica. Music was always an important part of Chuck’s life; he played guitar, piano, recorder, and tuba. After his stroke he taught himself to play various pipes one-handed. He loved to play the recorder and tabor pipe on the sunset facing porch for the last five years.

Lola survives him, as do both sons, Ian Alan and Deegan Andrew, their wives Loree and Tiffany, and five grandchildren: William, Merritt, Arianna, Willow, and Gabriel. Two brothers, Frank and Leonard Francis, met with him by Zoom weekly during the last three years of his life. When asked which of many honors made him most proud, he chose his third Dan degree in Kendo martial arts. He is honored by family, co-actors, and friends.

His website lists his many theatre roles, and other important aspects of his life such as haiku, riddles and Fearless Creativity. https://chuckwilcoxtheatre.com

The Final Curtain

The gatherings have ended, the stories have been told, the glasses have been raised, and Chuck’s Final Tour has officially come to a close.

To everyone who joined us along the way—whether in person, in spirit, through a story shared, a photograph sent, or simply by remembering him—thank you.

These celebrations were everything we hoped they would be: filled with laughter, memories, old friends, family, a few tears, and plenty of stories worthy of an encore.

While the tour may be over, the stories certainly aren’t.

We’ll leave this site here for a little while longer as a place to visit, remember, smile, and celebrate the remarkable life of Chuck “Carlos” Wilcox.

The curtain has fallen, but what a show it was.

With love and gratitude,
The Wilcox Family

Final Resting Place

Chuck’s ashes will be in Costa Rica, and his grave in Saratoga will have mementos and letters from those who loved him. 

Please add photos and memories 

We will collect them all and create a book for Lola. The website will be open until
the end of October. 

Gallery

Videos

Memory wall

September 14, 2026

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Hi Lola, (August 1, 2026)
I am not making it to Colorado this month, but remembering today was a planned celebration of life for him at CU. I am lighting a candle, and remembering all of the time we spent together - Costa Rica, Shakespeare garden meetings, Solstice gatherings, Denver Botanic Gardens - to name a few. I recall him commenting on how fast you typed while visiting your office by the creek at the city of Boulder.
While today is his celebration, I am thinking of you too. Integrated couple. Shared vision.
Amazing. Much love!

Lara Wolfe

September 12, 2026

1

When we were 14 years old chuck gave me his grandfathers dog tags from WW2. I still have them. I would like to give them back to the family if anybody would like to have them mailed to them. Please call 360 689 4428.

Beth Yeik Thompson

September 8, 2026

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Sweet Chuck, you were my Master's Theatre degree--fresh out of the BFA in Boulder you hired me to act in the OSC. Over the years I learned so much and made a living while doing it. I will never forget you (I can hear you laughing and listen to your vocal warm up "Twas Brillig and the slithy toves" before each of our gigs while you did some master Kendo moves.) Gratitude for showing me how to be fearless--on stage and off. Namaste
Marta

Marta Barnard

August 13, 2026

1

We are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little lives are rounded with a sleep
(Tempest)

and as Roger said "Good night sweet prince". But the "rest" is not silence rather music of speres and I will look for you dear face in the stars, friend.

Barbara MacCameron

July 26, 2026

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I have been thinking of my memories of Chuck, as I did in life too. Little moments pop up in day to day tasks. Or someone says something that reminds me about a thing Chuck would say or do, so it has been difficult to find something specific to write. Today, at St Thomas, during the reception after the service I was talking to a fellow attendee and mentioned to him that I was having a hard time finding something to write about. He asked me, “What is one thing you would like to tell me right now?” I replied that when one is a small child, especially the younger you were, memories come in small flashes. One of my first memories is going to the hospital after the stroke. Chuck was still unable to speak and they weren’t sure if he would be able to, so he was learning ASL. He had lots of books on how to sign and I remember sitting on the side of his bed looking at a picture book that was showing us how to do the alphabet, and we were making the letters together. When I explained this memory to Steven he said, “So even when he was unable to speak he was still teaching.” I had not gotten that far in my thought process but yes, this is exactly who Chuck was, his curiosity, determination, and desire to share what he learned was who Chuck was for all of us in one way or another.
Chuck, and Chuck and Lola together, are roll models for me on how to constantly find adventure in life, to remain intrigued, to just do things that may be hard or scary. And to always hold the people you care about in your thoughts with love.

Zoë Gray-Schardt

July 9, 2026

1

When Chuck and Lola were living in their Denver condo, they added to our small community in countless ways. To hear Chuck playing one of his pipes, drifting up the stairwell, was inspiring in more ways than one. My canary would become enthralled and soon joined in with his own chorus. The Wilcoxen (my plural for this family and its creative force of nature) were the example, leading creative and connected lives, bringing light into darkness. I was in turn inspired by their creativity to write a novel (as yet unpublished) about some canaries. Chuck's light lives on, was not extinguished by his passing, because the impactful memory of him is carried by us now. It was also nice to run into Will S. in passing from time to time, on his way out to, or returning from, Boulder!

John Sisson

July 6, 2026

3

Chuck, of blessed memory, was my mentor for my Master's program in Developmental Theatre in 1976-77, through the Colorado Caravan at CU. Chuck taught me to be Fearless, even though I was intimidated because I did not have a degree in theatre. I was the Mime advisor for our 2 troupes, having studied under 3 of the top American Mimes. I have used what I learned in Developmental Theatre techniques from Chuck and from Laurie O'Brien in all of my professional work for the past 50 years in Storytelling, Improv, and Theatre teaching and performing throughout the country and some abroad. I have immense gratitude for the patient and wondrous training I received! And, I had the honor of taking Chuck to Wyoming so that we could provide Storytelling for school students one year. Our ride there and back was filled with stories, laughter and reminiscing.
Chuck: you will always hold a treasured place in my heart.

Cherie Karo Schwartz

July 6, 2026

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Chuck's greatest gift to those of us who worked with him was teaching us how to be fearlessly creative.

The opportunities he gave me personally were incredible. My work developing stage weapons at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival gave me my jump start in Hollywood, doing weapons for films like The Sword and the Sorcerer. His decision to let me take over the artistic directorship of the Overland Stage Company in 1978 gave me the opportunity to direct and write The Trial of Mother Jones, the script that got me into the Writers Guild of America and is still being produced today.

Then, in 2015, after a wonderful dinner in Denver with Chuck, Lola, Ian, Loree, and my son Jackson, the idea of fearless creativity—and what it means to the artists of tomorrow—was born. That conversation has stayed with me ever since, and every time I encourage a young artist to take a risk, I hear Chuck's voice reminding us to be fearless.

"Good night, sweet prince, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Roger Holzberg

July 6, 2026

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Chuck was the best friend I made during my eight summers directing at the CFS. I began every casting session by deciding which role Chuck would play.
I learned a great deal from Chuck about Shakespeare, nature, and life in general. He taught me things like putting a small stone in my mouth to assuage thirst while hiking, and that if your feet were cold you needed to put on your hat.
I will miss him as long as I live.

Beny Benedetti

July 3, 2026

4

This photo was taken more than 20 years ago in Costa Rica, the first time Chuck (aka Carlos) saw what would become his second home. At the time, it was accessible only by horseback. He fell in love with the land instantly and said he could hear its song. He named it Las Canciones, which translates to "The Songs"—a name that perfectly captured the spirit, beauty, and music he found there.

TIFFANY REFFNER

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