Jonathan Crombie, the Canadian actor best known for playing Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables, has died. He was 48.

Jonathan Crombie Dies

Crombie, who had no known health issues, died of a brain hemorrhage in New York City April 15, the actor’s sister Carrie Crombie told CBC News.

“He was funny, he was sweet, he loved acting, he loved comedy and singing and dancing,” Carrie said. “As a little kid, he just loved Broadway shows and all of that kind of stuff and would sing and dance in the living room.”

Crombie had his big break in 1984 when he landed the role of Gilbert Blythe in the CBC TV movie Anne of Green Gables, based on the novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. He reprised the role in its two sequels – Anne of Avonlea (1987) and Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000).

“I think he was really proud of being Gilbert Blythe and was happy to answer any questions,” said the actor’s sister. “He really enjoyed that series and was happy, very proud of it — we all were.”

Megan Follows, who played the titular role in Anne of Green Gables and Crombie’s onscreen love interest, said that his death was “a big shock.”

“He was incredibly funny, Jonathan just had an amazing sense of humour,” Fellows told CBC. “Truly I just remember at times just laughing so hard that you’d just be crying. He was so playful and silly and as I said really bright, so his humor was always informed with that, which made him even funnier.”

Carrie Crombie revealed that in keeping with her brother’s quirkiness, which saw him opt to bus back and forth between Toronto and New York instead of taking a plane, his family is going to bring his ashes by bus to Toronto, where they will hold a “huge, wonderful celebration of life.”