Bryan W. Bessor of Zelienople played many roles in his life.

He was a business executive, working as president of the family-owned Besco Manufacturing Co. that made aluminum sand castings for industry until the business closed four years ago.

He was a civic leader, following in his father's footsteps in serving on borough council, and he also was on the civil service commission. He was a member of the volunteer fire department and worked as a paramedic.

But probably his favorite role was actor, on stage and on the banks of Cooper's Lake Campground in Butler County where he and fellow medieval re-enactment enthusiasts gathered each year for the Pennsic War.

It was Mr. Bessor and a few friends who started the Pennsic War gathering some 30 years ago. Last summer's event attracted more than 10,000 people from around the world to recreate life in the Middle Ages, complete with full armor and mail.

As a tribute to Mr. Bessor, who died of cancer Friday at age 50, the group is making plans to scatter his ashes at next summer's event.

"He was always playing a role of some kind," said Carrie Ann Bessor-Foreman, Mr. Bessor's sister. She said he began acting in local theater as a junior high school student, and never really left the stage.

Just last month, she said, knowing he was terminally ill, Mr. Bessor appeared as Von Kinder, the spirit of Christmas, in the play "Winter Solstice" at the Edgewood Club. In the play, his character dies of exposure.

Noting her brother's "weird" sense of humor, she said Mr. Bessor remarked at one point that "if they timed it right, they would have a hell of a show. He would die right on stage, in character."

Local theater critics named Mr. Bessor best actor in 1999 for portraying the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, in William C. Kovacsik's "Bomber Wing." The following year, he portrayed Henry Clay Frick in Open Stage Theatre's production of "Pandemonium," and in 2001, he played Helen Keller's father in "The Miracle Worker."

A 2000 review of "A Madhouse in Goa" said that Mr. Bessor "is right on the money as the smooth but secretive innkeeper and as the compassionate caregiver."

He also was immediate past master of Harmony Lodge 429 F&AM in Zelienople and was a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory, Valley of New Castle, Syria Shrine and the Zelienople Historical Society.

In addition to his sister, Mr. Bessor is survived by his parents, William D. and Joyce M. Bessor, all of Zelienople.

Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home and Cremations Services Inc., 219 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, with a Masonic service to follow.

The family requests that contributions be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Erie Unit, in care of the Shrine Center, 1877 Shriners Way, Cheswick, Pa. 15204-1975, or the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew Pa. 16053.