Howard Matthew "Matt" Orme

Matt was born and grew up in Lexington, the son of the late Howard M. and Evelyn B. Orme. After graduating from Lafayette High School, he struck out for Iowa, earning a B.A. from Coe College in Cedar Rapids in 1971.

His acting talent was evident early on, and he remained committed to the acting profession all his life. Returning to Lexington after graduate school at Indiana University-Bloomington, he began performing extensively with Lexington Musical Theatre, as well as directing a number of productions (while also working as an editor and publications designer at the University of Kentucky). He was also a featured performer at the cabaret at Le Café Chantant from 1978 to 1982. During this period, he also appeared at Beef and Boards Dinner Theater in Simpsonville and joined Actors Equity Association.

In 1982 Matt came to Louisville to work at Bill McHale’s Derby Dinner Playhouse and its sister theater in Colorado. In 1986, Matt joined fellow actors Ann Hodapp and Tim Mathistad and pianist wife Julie Allen to create the acclaimed Cabaret Sauvignon.

The next years reflect the life of a journeyman actor – working in film, TV and radio as an actor, producer, and copywriter. He joined the company of Blue Apple Players and spent ten years traveling in Kentucky and the Southeast with them.

In 1994 he was cast in his first role at Bunbury Theatre: the old actor in The Fantasticks. Thus began a long collaboration with Producing Artistic Director Juergen Tossman. Matt appeared in or directed more than 25 productions at Bunbury; among his favorite roles were Henry II in The Lion in Winter and John Barrymore in Barrymore. His last appearance was in Helper by Patrick Tovatt, against whom he played opposite in Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon. He also appeared in several productions of Music Theatre Louisville, notably as Fagin in Oliver!.

Matt is survived by his beloved wife, Julie Allen, sister Ann Windley (Dave) of Seymour, Indiana, nephews David Windley (Nancy) of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Steven Windley (Laurie) of Seymour, Indiana.

There will be a memorial gathering to honor Matt on Sunday, April 12, at 2pm at the Henry Clay Theater, 604 South Third Street.

Please direct donations in Matt’s memory to Dare to Care or The Marfan Foundation.