The Ojai and Ventura communities mourn the passing of Cecil Sutton, a longtime member of the Ojai Art Center Theater, who died on December 9th, 2025.
A memorial celebration of Cecil’s life was held Sunday, March 22nd at 4:00 PM at the Ojai Art Center. Thank you sincerely too all who attended and shared photos and memories of Cecil.
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Cecil was born June 11th, 1958, in Gallup, New Mexico, to Katie and Jesse Sutton. He was one of seven children: Jesse (Gerald), Judy, Leonard, Ruth, Cecil, Melissa, and Roger.
The family later settled in Ventura, California, where Cecil discovered his love for drawing and painting. An avid collector of model kits and comic books — especially the Doc Savage stories and the works of Edgar Allan Poe — Cecil enjoyed sculpting and creating models of the monsters and characters he loved. That same imagination and attention to detail later defined his theatrical work. He graduated from Ventura High School and attended Ventura College. During these years he discovered his passion for the theater, which remained a central part of his life.
For more than forty years, Cecil was a vibrant presence in community theater. He performed, directed, produced, and designed special effects for numerous productions in local theaters including the Ojai Art Center Theater. Known for his focus, discipline, and professionalism, he was respected by fellow artists and audiences alike for his thoughtful preparation, strong craft, and generosity as a collaborator. He was particularly devoted to Shakespeare and was active in the Ojai Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare in the Park. Throughout all of this, Cecil also maintained a dedicated career with the United States Postal Service, where he worked as a rural carrier for over 35 years.
Beyond the stage, Cecil also contributed his visual artistry to the theater, hand-drawing posters and artwork for productions including A Streetcar Named Desire, Rough Crossings, and Private Lives. It was during Private Lives — in which Cecil and Tracey Williams played Elyot and Amanda — that their relationship began. They met at the Art Center and were married within the year, a story commemorated by a plaque on a theater chair they purchased together that reads, “Our journey together began here.”
Ojai audiences remember him in many roles, including Jacques in As You Like It, Jack in Dancing at Lughnasa, Marley in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, Harpagon in Molière’s The Miser, and the Emcee in Cabaret. One of Cecil’s most cherished performances was in 33 Variations with his wife, Tracey Williams Sutton, where he portrayed Beethoven, bringing extraordinary sensitivity and depth to the role. Cecil often said he had two goals whenever he performed: to entertain the audience and to impress his lovely and talented wife — a goal he achieved throughout his career.
Cecil received numerous awards and recognitions over the years for his acting, directing, special effects, graphic artistry, and producing. These honors reflected not only his range of talents but his deep dedication to the craft of theater.
He is survived by his wife, Tracey Williams Sutton; his sisters, Melissa Sutton and Ruth Pelham; his brother, Roger Sutton; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved Shih Tzus, Nikki and Kyle. He is deeply missed.
“Give it over to God. Have faith. Good things will come to pass. It’s in God’s hands, but do what you can.” – Cecil Sutton
