TORONTO - Peter Donaldson was remembered as "the finest actor's actor" on Sunday, a day after he died at age 57 following a two-year battle with lung cancer.

Antoni Cimolini, director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, went on to say that Donaldson was versatile and able to give outstanding performances in modern plays, musicals and classics.

"But his home was Shakespeare," Cimolini said in a statement.

"He spent a lifetime at the Stratford festival and gave us a world of great performances."

Donaldson, a prolific stage and screen actor, was to return to the festival this year for his 25th season, playing Buckingham in "Richard III" and Marcus Andronicus in "Titus Andronicus."

In addition to his turns onstage, Donaldson was also known for his film work, winning a Genie in 1996 for his role in the big-screen version of "Long Day's Journey Into Night." He also appeared in Atom Egoyan's "The Sweet Hereafter."

On television, he was known for his work on the series "Emily of New Moon," where, from 1995 to 1999, he worked opposite his wife, Sheila McCarthy.

Donaldson was last seen on the Stratford stage in 2008, when he played Rufio in "Caesar and Cleopatra" and Friar Laurence in "Romeo and Juliet."

Des McAnuff, the artistic director of both shows, said he was "shocked and saddened" by Donaldson's "untimely passing."

"No one who enjoyed his stellar performances at Stratford and elsewhere could have doubted that even greater triumphs lay ahead of him, and our sorrow is all the deeper when we think of the King Lear or the Prospero we might someday have seen him play but now have lost forever," McAnuff said.

News of Donaldson's death spread quickly online Sunday, with many of his fans and peers sharing their grief on Twitter.

"Impossible to believe that my friend Peter Donaldson has passed away," tweeted actress and comedienne Andrea Martin. "So deeply sad for his daughters & wife Sheila, who he was devoted to."

Actor Albert Schultz said Donaldson was "a great actor, a great friend, and devoted and loving husband and father."

"His greatness in all walks of life stemmed from the fact that he was so firmly rooted in the earth. With Peter, in his life and in his art, there was such strength, power and honestly. He brought great skill and humanity to everything he did and taught an entire generation by example. Peter, through his exemplary life and body of work, brought dignity and honour to his community and will be as greatly missed as he was greatly loved."

Donaldson was born and raised in Midland, Ont., and attended performances at the Stratford festival as a teen.

A graduate of the University of Guelph, Donaldson began at the festival in 1977 as a journeyman actor, playing Potpan in "Romeo and Juliet."

He later performed at a number of Canadian theatres, including the Shaw festival, Toronto Free Theatre and London's Grand Theatre.

After his return to Stratford in 1986, he became one of the festival's most versatile and admired leading men.

Donaldson is survived by his wife, and daughters Mackenzie and Drew.