Actor Noel Johansen, known for roles in many Hallmark TV movies, is speaking about the death of his wife, Jen Darbellay — who was killed in Saturday’s street festival attack in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The “Superbook” voice actor openly grieved his late spouse while standing up on crutches at an April 28 vigil for victims of the mass casualty incident where 11 people died after an SUV plowed into a crowd at an annual block party celebrating Filipino culture.
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
Noel Johansen attends a vigil in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Monday. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
“What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what’s inside my heart is broken,” he told Global News Canada. “Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident.”
Johansen, who has also appeared in “Fargo” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” continued: “She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself, she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach. And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her. So don’t be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have and please remember us who went through this.”
The couple were the parents of two children, Ford, 15, and Darby, 7.
GoFundMe
Noel Johansen and his wife, Jenifer Darbellay. (GoFundMe)
A GoFundMe has been set up by the actor’s close friend and business partner, Michael Daingerfield Hall, to support the family.
“She was an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish, artistic woman,” he wrote of 50-year-old Darbellay. “A gifted painter, a selfless mother, and a loving wife. She gave the best hugs, was always there to listen without judgement, and had the sweetest voice.”
The campaign has raised nearly $190,000 of its $200,000 goal as of Friday, with more than 2,000 donations tracked.
Kai-Ji Adam Lo has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder in for the attack that also left “more than two dozen others injured, BBC reported. Dead victims ranged in age between 5 and 65.
The 30-year-old was “known to police” and had “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals, related to mental health,” according to People magazine.
