David Cutler Wallace of West Dennis, MA was born in New York City on November 3, 1959 to Marcia Vickery Wallace and William Sheldon Wallace. The story goes that he made his entrance with a pointy head, red hair and sideburns. David loved sports, especially baseball and hockey and playing stick ball and curb ball with his beloved 87th St. pals, who still remain close. His flair for the dramatic flourished at Allen Stevenson School where he played a diminutive Frederick to a 6-foot-tall Mabel in Pirates of Penzance. He found his niche starring in The Mousetrap at Salisbury School. Wallace loved the woods around campus where he and his best friend spent hours in forts built in tall pine trees, listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and the Grateful Dead.
 
 In 1984, he graduated from Boston University with a BFA in theater arts and acting. Back in Manhattan, after his mother died, he joined The Blue Hill Troupe backstage, worked at the Museum of the City of New York, ran a small catering business and went to “cattle calls” for acting jobs. David got to the final round of callbacks for the movie Taps but lost the part to Tom Cruise since Dave looked too much like Timothy Hutton. Rejection was very difficult for him, and when his sister decided to spend a year traveling around the world (in honor of their mother who had been a travel writer) David quit his job and joined her. On a shoestring budget, they drove across the States and backpacked through Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, stopping to work in a boatyard in Honolulu and telemarketing in Melbourne. Traveling through Southeast Asia, David loved the food and beauty of Thailand and Malaysia but suffered terrible culture shock. He reached home after flying through Europe, in time for his brother’s wedding at their grandparents’ house on the bluff in Dennis. 
 
Back among friends with whom he had thrived as a boy at Tyler’s swimming pool, Mashantum Tennis, summer jobs at Gina’s by the Sea, Dennis Murphy Painting, Swan River Fish Market, and several others, David became a true wash-a-shore. He remained active in community theater across the Cape for the next 35 years, performing and working backstage in at least a hundred productions. Some notable roles were Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, at the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans; Tom Durkee in Art Devine’s 9 Ball at Cape Rep in Brewster; Dr. Doolittle, Long John Silver and the Arkansas Bear at Cape Cod/Harwich Junior Theater. In their tribute, the theater said, “David was a consummate actor who gave freely of his luminous talent …He was kind to children and young people; always willing to lend a helping hand... Acting was his true calling.” David’s multitude of talents, puckish sense of humor, integrity and kindness touched so many lives. He is loved and will be missed more than he could possibly imagine.

David died on November 30, 2023 and we wish him peace. He is survived by his brother J. Derby Wallace and wife Deena, his sister Kate Wallace Rogers and Myra Kooy of Provincetown, his nephew Oliver, and nieces Phoebe, Laurel and Madison. He is also survived by loving cousins, Diane, Marcia, Katherine, Bill, Jake and their families. The burial will be private, with a Celebration of Life to follow in the New Year. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his honor to Cape Cod/Harwich Junior Theatre or Cape Rep Theatre in Brewster. 
 
 

A truly kind and wonderful neighbor and friend...HE had a generous heart and his talent brought joy to many... Safe journey and peace...Love Lana

David was special individual. I was taken back to hear of his passing. He will always hold a special place in my heart. My Love goes out to his family who with David were always so supportive and kind to me.

David was special individual. I was taken back to hear of his passing. He will always hold a special place in my heart. My Love goes out to his family who with David were always so supportive and kind to me.

Journey well David, you will be missed. Always a kind soul to myself and family, always quick with a good joke and appreciation for the good things that life has to offer. Theatre is underappreciated and only gratified by those lucky to be a part of it. Save me a seat in the next adventure, love to you and your wonderful family - Seth

David was a wonderful colleague, brilliant talent, but mostly a really outstanding human being. He cared so much for the process and the "family" that is created when producing a local production, steps up in spades. My sincere condolences to Kate,Derby and the entire extended family. He will be remembered for his gits and generosity of sharing and his humanity.