LOS ANGELES – SAG-AFTRA mourns the passing of former Screen Actors Guild Chicago Branch President Todd Hissong, who passed away today at the age of 64.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, “On behalf of the members of SAG-AFTRA, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Todd’s wife PJ, family and friends. Todd was a true unionist. A fierce and passionate advocate for the union and its members, and his humor and wit brought a smile to his colleagues’ faces even during the most contentious of negotiations. He will be missed. R.I.P.”
Hissong had a prolific theatrical career in Detroit and worked extensively in local television, earning eight nominations and three local Emmys. In Chicago, he co-founded the Aspect Theatre Co., which presented 19 Equity staged readings in its 2½ years of activity.
The actor voiced many commercials as well as audiobooks of the New and Old testaments. On camera, he appeared as a murderer on America’s Most Wanted, in commercials and scores of industrial films and on the TNT television series Low Winter Sun.
He devoted much of his time to serving his fellow union members. Aside from serving as SAG’s Chicago Branch president for six years, from 2002-13 Hissong served on numerous national committees, including the Commercial Performers, Executive, Performers with Disabilities, Voiceover and Commercial Negotiating committees, just to name a few. Hissong served five years as a SAG National Board member and, after the SAG and AFTRA merger in 2012, he took a seat on the newly formed National Board.
Outside of the union, Hissong was most proud of his work with the Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disabilities, on whose behalf he produced two advocacy pieces: A Question of Caring and Winning Together - Helping Kids Help Themselves.
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.