William (“Ariel”) Sears (graduate Film, Improvisation, Speech & Voice, Talent Agent Showcase finalist) was an acting student at ACTeen from 2000 to 2002. Will died very suddenly of unknown, and inexplicable causes on September 3, 2002, at the age of 20. His death cut short a life of boundless promise. Coverage of Will’s death was extensive, including articles in “The New York Times” and an interview with Will’s parents on “Good Morning America” with Diane Sawyer.
ACTeen knew Will as a wonderful and giving actor, and many did not know that Will was an expert figure skater, with the 2006 Olympic competitions firmly in sight. With his pairs partner Katie Boxwell, Will captured the U.S. Figure Skating Novice Pairs Championship title at the January 2002 U.S. Championships. Katie and Will had only been partnered together for a little over a year, training at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Their pairs coaches, Igor Moskvin and Tamara Moskvian were the coaches of three-time U.S. pairs champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, with whom Will and Katie used to train. Margarita Sears, Will’s mother had notified me of Will’s death. Mrs. Sears thanked me for his acting training, which was reflected, she believed, in Will’s consistently high artistic marks.
Will coached skaters, and also worked as an artistic musical director, cutting music for world-class teams. Will was attending film writing courses at New York University and dreamed of making his mark as a director. He left an unfinished manuscript “Dare Greatly,” an autobiographical screenplay about a young, awkward, overweight boy who found himself in figure skating. He wrote poetry and painted. He was funny and forever upbeat with a quiet introspective side that made him seem more mature than most twenty-year-olds.
On October 9, 2002, a memorial service was held for Will at Sky Rink in NYC. Students and many members of the national and international skating community attended to pay tribute on ice to the life and spirit of this wonderful young man. The New York Skating Club established the Will Sears Memorial Fund to help young skaters achieve their dreams. The US Figure Skating Association has rededicated the Junior Championship trophy as the Will Sears Memorial Trophy.
Will now rests on the grounds of his parent’s cultural village in Cooperstown New York. His parents have created a garden in his memory, “Wills Garden.”
“Margarita Sears with Rita Litton at dedication ceremony.”
It is a beautiful place to gather for reflection, and to celebrate the life of this talented young man. In August 2008, a specially designed statue of Will was unveiled on the grounds in a beautiful dedication ceremony. It shows Will skating, reaching out, still soaring.
Students participating in the May 2001 Talent Showcase (left to right):
Back Row: Elizabeth Cooke, Eugene Crawley,
Debargo Sanyal, Doug Rigg, Richard Keith,
Joy Darash, William Sears, and Elizabeth Hart
Front Row: Daisy Hobbs, Laura Warshauer,
Michael Coppola, Martha Negin, and Liz Cummings
Will Sears Memorial Scholarship
Through the generous funding of the Will Sears Foundation, ACTeen has established the Will Sears Memorial Scholarships, awarded to talented young actors who follow Will’s tradition of scholastic and artistic excellence. Interested young actors age sixteen to twenty interested in applying for the Will Sears Scholarships should contact Rita Litton directly for upcoming audition information and deadlines. Students are typically asked to submit a 500-700 word essay, along with their application materials, answering the topic: "Why I feel I Represent the Qualities & Values of Will Sears."
