David Mong passed away at his home on January 26, 2024 after an illness. He was born October 6, 1950 in Torrington, Wyoming, the son of Bob Mong and Joyce McConnell Mong. The family moved to Utah where David attended school in Riverdale and Roy. His creativity and acting skills started when he was young when he and his friends built spook alleys and other activities in the neighborhood. In high school he participated in drama, including writing and starring in a play that was staged with other students and staff. David was a Sterling Scholar for Speech and Drama his senior year. He pursued his theatrical career over the years working at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle Washington, New Mexico Rep, Empty Space in Seattle, Portland Rep, Westbeth in New York, Virginia Stage Company and Salt Lake City Acting Company in Salt Lake City. He worked as an actor and director as well as conducting play readings at venues around the country.
David was a very caring and kind man. He was a great help to his parents in their final years. He never missed calling his siblings on their birthdays to sing Happy Birthday to them. He and his cousin Mike had lively discussions over the phone about the Utah Jazz games. His nephews and nieces thought the world of him and were always excited to see him.
David was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brother Dean, and sisters Debbie Winn, Denise Smith and Deanna Cottam, as well as nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers please consider supporting your local arts and thespians.
If you get a feeling you should call a loved, do it, don’t put it off. We never know how long we’ll be together in this complicated world.
A remembrance gathering will be held at a future date for family members to celebrate David’s life.
My condolences to the family.
He was a beautiful, kind and talented man. He always made a room light up when he came in. Love the picture, we are forever young.
Wow... that's such hard news... somehow I always thought David would sort of be around forever, having a good time. I was an old college pal of David's... we met at the University of Utah. Our acquaintance had something to do with the custodial department... and the theatre department.
Of course, I had never met anyone like him before... and he's almost impossible to describe. It's sort of like he lived like he might have been an aristocrat... only of course we know he wasn't.
We shared many a rental apartment in Salt Lake City.... and then later, we both took a trip to Seattle together... since we really wanted to see a new city, and get out of SLC. So we did. We had a good time in Seattle... with the new big city... and the exotic wonders of the ocean, after the deserts of Utah.
David was an amazing Actor... and it's amazing how he thrived with acting in Seattle and the Northwest.
He sure had a lot of amazing theatrical events... made a few movies... and he was always working a screenplay.
It sure was exciting... and it sure was good... the good times and the bad.
How quickly it all goes past... so sad that he's gone. But some of us will always remember him.
So sorry to hear. My condolences 🙏
He was so bright and intuitive about people and life.. We had been trying to make contact with him for quite a while, but he could be Mysterious. He was a great actor, he brought so much to every role. He was a great friend. He’s being inspirational even in his passing, he makes us remember how much we love each other. My condolences to his beloved family.l
Well, this cuts into the heart, David was important member of our family for many years. I remember the first time I saw him. On stage, he glistened as his tremendously bold laugh tumbled through the theater. Holidays and friendship followed. God bless his spirit and life-changing talent.
I am so very saddened to receive this terrible news. David was a talented actor and a great personal favorite of all of his fellow performers and the directors who had the chance to work with him. He made enormous contributions to The Empty Space theater and to every Seattle theater he worked with. I was never certain about his move back to SLC. One day he was just gone. He seemed to cut himself off from many of his Seattle contacts but after a while I decided to reach out to him. I tracked him down, called him, and wrote to him at Christmas the past three years. I believe he was happy with the move and that he was able to use his theatrical talents more broadly--acting as well as dramaturgy and directing. (I think I just answered my own question.) And what a warm, caring human being. He was greatly missed and will be remembered with incredible fondness. Goodnight sweet Prince...
I am so sad to know that David has passed on. He was a wonderful actor and human. He starred in many plays that I produced at Portland Repertory theater. And we acted together in A Moon For The Misbegotten. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was such a talented and intelligent man. I always had a crush on him. When he moved away from the Pacific Northwest, many were sad and missed him greatly. But to know that he is no longer with us is heartbreaking. May he rest in peace and power, knowing he was loved and admired.
The Seattle theatre scene in the 80's and 90's was jam-packed with talent and rollicking good times. David was a big contributor to both. One acting luminary of the era said of David, " If I ever get powerful enough to throw my weight around, I'm going to insist that any show I'm in has to include Mong, whether there's a part for him or not - I just want him in the rehearsal hall every day and in the dressing room every performance, 'cuz that way everybody is going to love coming to work." His legacy is one of great joy and warm memories. Perhaps all our revels now are not ended, but they are sorely diminished.
I am so, so sorry to hear of David’s passing. I have thought of him so many times over the years.. We first worked together in k
I am so, so sorry to hear of David’s passing. I first worked with him at the Intiman in Hobson’s Choice in 1984. I later worked with him in You Never Can Tell. He was the funniest man I ever met. There are still times when I think of a David “Mongism” and break into laughter. The world will miss him, d.
My introduction into the Seattle theater community was acting with David in THE PARANORMAL REVIEW at The Empty Space. The intense shamelessness of his work was inspiring. Of course the rest of the company ( Bob Wright, Cheri Sorensen, and David Colacci ) was similarly unrestrained under Jeff Steitzer’s direction, and together we all gleefully murdered subtlety. We worked together several times after that. He was a great friend to me onstage and off . My condolences to his family on their loss. Godspeed, David.
Funny, kind, smart--did I mention funny- David. We met in SLC in 1972. One of my favorite things he said was when he was describing why he and a girlfriend had separated: "She was just so ambitious. She'd say things like...get up." It was grand knowing him. Shine on, David!
I am grieved to hear of David's death. I worked with him at La Pensee Theater in the late 70s, when he first came to Seattle. I thought of him often and was sorry when he left Seattle. He was unique.
So sad to hear of David’s passing. My condolences to Dean and family. I met David when I was a sophomore at the university of Utah. He was a most creative and loving man and I am forever grateful for the time we spent together. Rest in peace dear friend.
I loved working with David as actors in a production of Blithe Spirit in Portland. Such a gentleman and a wonderful talent. Sending sincere condolences to his family and friends.
The news of David’s passing was gut punching. We met years ago when we were working at Neighborhood House, in Salt Lake. We kept in touch off and on over the years. He was lovely and loving, and funny and talented. I have kept all his letters, they are poetry. I loved him very much and will miss him until I pass.
Oh, David, you are remembered. My condolences to you, his family.
~ tina
