Gordon Edward Pinsent (born July 12, 1930) is a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He is known for his roles in numerous productions, including ''
Away from Her
''Away from Her'' is a 2006 Canadian independent drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent. Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy, Wendy Crewson, Alberta Watson, and Kristen Thomson are featured in sup ...
'', ''
The Rowdyman
''The Rowdyman'' is a 1972 comedy film with moralistic overtones, set in Newfoundland.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 185. It was written by and starred native Newfoundlander Gordon Pinsent.
The film is a ...
'', ''
John and the Missus
''John and the Missus'' is a 1986 Canadian drama film. The film was directed by and starred Gordon Pinsent who wrote the screenplay from his 1974 novel of the same name.
Plot
John Munn (Pinsent) is a miner from a small Newfoundland town who gets ...
'', ''
A Gift to Last
''A Gift to Last'' is a CBC Television Christmas special broadcast in 1976, a subsequent family drama series that ran from 1978 to 1979, and a stage play based on the pilot episode.
In both the special and series, Gordon Pinsent portrayed North- ...
'', ''
Due South
''Due South'' is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 26, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred Pau ...
'', ''
The Red Green Show
''The Red Green Show'' is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States (airing on more than 100 PBS affiliates a ...
'' and ''
Quentin Durgens, M.P.
''Quentin Durgens, M.P.'' is a Canadian dramatic television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1965 to 1969.[Babar the Elephant
Babar the Elephant (, ; ) is an elephant character who first appeared in 1931 in the French children's book ''Histoire de Babar'' by Jean de Brunhoff.
The book is based on a tale that Brunhoff's wife, Cécile, had invented for their children. ...]
in television and film from 1989 to 2015.
Early life
Pinsent, the youngest of six children, was born in
Grand Falls,
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
(present-day
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
, Canada). His mother, Florence "Flossie" (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Cooper), was originally from Clifton, Newfoundland and his father, Stephen Arthur Pinsent, was a paper mill worker and cobbler originally from
Dildo
A dildo is a sex toy, often explicitly phallic in appearance, intended for sexual penetration or other sexual activity during masturbation or with sex partners. Dildos can be made from a number of materials and shaped like an erect human penis ...
, Newfoundland. His mother was "quiet spoken" and a religious
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
; the family was descended from immigrants from
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
and
Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
He was a self-described "awkward child" who suffered from
rickets
Rickets is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children, and is caused by either dietary deficiency or genetic causes. Symptoms include bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping. Complications may ...
.
Pinsent began acting on stage in the 1940s at the age of 17. He soon took on roles in radio drama on the
CBC, and later moved into television and film as well. In the early 1950s, he took a break from acting and joined the
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
, serving for approximately four years as a private in
The Royal Canadian Regiment
, colors =
, identification_symbol_2 = Maple Leaf (2nd Bn pipes and drums)
, identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan
, identification_symbol_4 = The RCR
, identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
, mar ...
.
Career
Pinsent's professional acting career began in 1957 at
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
's Theatre 77 (later known as the
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Royal MTC) is Canada's oldest English-language regional theatre. Next to the Stratford Festival, Stratford and Shaw Festival, Shaw Festivals, MTC has a higher annual attendance than any other theatre in the countr ...
) under the direction of
John Hirsch
John Stephen Hirsch, OC (; May 1, 1930 – August 1, 1989) was a Hungarian-Canadian theatre director. He was born in Siófok, Hungary to József and Ilona Hirsch, both of whom were murdered in the Holocaust along with his younger brother I ...
. In the years that followed, he performed in many theatrical productions in Winnipeg,
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
and at the
Stratford Festival
The Stratford Festival is a theatre festival which runs from April to October in the city of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Founded by local journalist Tom Patterson in 1952, the festival was formerly known as the Stratford Shakespearean Festival ...
.
In the early 1960s he appeared in ''
Scarlett Hill
''Scarlett Hill'' was a Canadian soap opera (first written for CBC Television) which ran from October 1962 to 1964. This was the first daytime soap opera produced for Canadian television, although it was based upon an American radio drama created ...
'' and ''
The Forest Rangers The Forest Rangers may refer to:
* ''The Forest Rangers'' (TV series), Canadian TV series
*The Forest Rangers (band), band formed to create the soundtrack for TV series Sons of Anarchy
* ''The Forest Rangers'' (film), 1942 film starring Fred MacMur ...
''. He has since become a staple of Canadian television with roles including the series ''
Quentin Durgens, M.P.
''Quentin Durgens, M.P.'' is a Canadian dramatic television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1965 to 1969.[A Gift to Last
''A Gift to Last'' is a CBC Television Christmas special broadcast in 1976, a subsequent family drama series that ran from 1978 to 1979, and a stage play based on the pilot episode.
In both the special and series, Gordon Pinsent portrayed North- ...]
'' (which he created), ''
The Red Green Show
''The Red Green Show'' is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States (airing on more than 100 PBS affiliates a ...
'', ''
Due South
''Due South'' is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 26, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred Pau ...
'', ''
Wind at My Back
''Wind at My Back'' is a television series which aired in Canada on CBC Television between 1996 and 2001. It was created and produced by Kevin Sullivan, best known for his adaptation of ''Anne of Green Gables'' and ''Road to Avonlea''. The ser ...
'' and ''
Power Play
Power play or powerplay or their plurals may refer to:
Sports
* Power play (sporting term), a sporting term used in various games
* Powerplay (cricket), a rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international cricket
* Power play (cur ...
''. The pilot episode of ''
A Gift to Last
''A Gift to Last'' is a CBC Television Christmas special broadcast in 1976, a subsequent family drama series that ran from 1978 to 1979, and a stage play based on the pilot episode.
In both the special and series, Gordon Pinsent portrayed North- ...
'' was adapted for the stage by
Walter Learning
Walter John Learning (November 16, 1938 – January 5, 2020) was a Canadian theatre director, actor, and founder of Theatre New Brunswick.
Biography
Walter Learning was born in 1938 in the small village of Quidi Vidi in the Dominion of Newfound ...
and
Alden Nowlan
Alden Albert Nowlan (; January 25, 1933 – June 27, 1983) was a Canadian poet, novelist, and playwright.
History
Alden Nowlan was born into rural poverty in Stanley, Nova Scotia, adjacent to Mosherville, and close to the small town of Windsor ...
and has become a perennial Canadian Christmas favourite in regional theatres across the country.
Pinsent's movie roles include ''
The Rowdyman
''The Rowdyman'' is a 1972 comedy film with moralistic overtones, set in Newfoundland.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 185. It was written by and starred native Newfoundlander Gordon Pinsent.
The film is a ...
'', ''
Who Has Seen the Wind'', ''
John and the Missus
''John and the Missus'' is a 1986 Canadian drama film. The film was directed by and starred Gordon Pinsent who wrote the screenplay from his 1974 novel of the same name.
Plot
John Munn (Pinsent) is a miner from a small Newfoundland town who gets ...
'', ''
The Shipping News
''The Shipping News'' is a novel by American author E. Annie Proulx and published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1993. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the U.S. National Book Award, as well as other awards. It was adapted as a film of the ...
'' and ''
Away from Her
''Away from Her'' is a 2006 Canadian independent drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent. Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy, Wendy Crewson, Alberta Watson, and Kristen Thomson are featured in sup ...
''. He wrote the screenplays for ''The Rowdyman'' and ''John and the Missus''. Perhaps his best known early film role was that of the President of the United States in the 1970 science fiction cult classic ''
Colossus: The Forbin Project''. He starred in a role called ''
Horse Latitudes
The horse latitudes are the latitudes about 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. They are characterized by sunny skies, calm winds, and very little precipitation. They are also known as subtropical ridges, or highs. It is a high-pressure ...
'' based upon
Donald Crowhurst
Donald Charles Alfred Crowhurst (1932 – July 1969) was a British businessman and amateur sailor who disappeared while competing in the ''Sunday Times'' Golden Globe Race, a single-handed, round-the-world yacht race. Soon after he started th ...
, now featured in ''
Deep Water''.
In 1979 he was made an officer of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the ...
and was promoted to Companion in 1998. In 2006, he was made a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC; french: Société royale du Canada, SRC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (French: ''Académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada''), is the senior national, bil ...
. On March 6, 2007, it was announced that Pinsent would receive a star on
Canada's Walk of Fame
Canada's Walk of Fame (french: link=no, Allée des célébrités canadiennes) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of Canadians who have excelled in their respective fields. It is a ...
.
On March 8, 2007, it was publicly announced in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada, that Pinsent had accepted the appointment of honorary chairman of the "Building for the Future" fundraising campaign for
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum is located at Wolseley Barracks (the former CFB London) in London, Ontario, Canada.
History
Although original architectural drawings of Wolseley Hall drafted in 1886 show space allocated to a museum, the museum ...
.
During the 2008, 2010 and 2011 summer periods of
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English-language news and information radio network of the publicly owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial-free and offers local and national programming. It is available on AM and FM to 98 percent of Ca ...
, Pinsent presented a
radio documentary
A radio documentary is a spoken word radio format devoted to non-fiction narrative. It is broadcast on radio as well as distributed through media such as tape, CD, and podcast. A radio documentary, or feature, covers a topic in depth from one or ...
series called ''
The Late Show The Late Show may refer to:
Books
* ''The Late Show'' (book), a 2017 book by Michael Connelly
Film
* ''The Late Show'' (film), a 1977 film
* ''Late Show'', a 1999 German film by director Helmut Dietl
Music
* ''The Late Show'' (Eddie "Loc ...
'' featuring extended
obituaries
An obituary ( obit for short) is an article about a recently deceased person. Newspapers often publish obituaries as news articles. Although obituaries tend to focus on positive aspects of the subject's life, this is not always the case. Ac ...
of notable Canadians whom the producers believed deserved attention.
Pinsent appeared in one of Canadian director
Stephen Dunn
Stephen Elliot Dunn (June 24, 1939June 24, 2021) was an American poet and educator who authored twenty-one collections of poetry. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his 2001 collection, ''Different Hours,'' and received an Academy Award i ...
's early short films titled ''Life Doesn't Frighten Me'', which won various awards, including the CBC Short Film Face-Off, with a cash prize of $30,000. The film also won awards at the
Toronto Student Film Festival and the
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...
in 2013.
Most recently he had a guest starring role as Maurice Becker on the February 3, 2010 episode of Canadian television series ''
Republic of Doyle
''Republic of Doyle'' is a Canadian comedy-drama television series set in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, which aired on CBC Television from January 6, 2010, to December 10, 2014.
The show stars Allan Hawco as private investigator and fo ...
''. He was also a featured guest reader on
Bookaboo
''Bookaboo'' is a children's television series created and produced by Lucy Goodman of Happy Films and co-directed by Ian Emes. The show features puppets, celebrities, picture books, songs and animation. The recurring protagonist is a world fa ...
.
He attained notoriety when a comedic segment of him reading dramatically from
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...
's autobiography on ''
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
''This Hour Has 22 Minutes'' (commonly shortened to ''22 Minutes'' since 2009) is a weekly Canadian television comedy that airs on CBC Television. Launched in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, the show focuses on Canadian politics wi ...
'' went viral on October 20, 2010.
Writing
His first memoir, ''By the Way'', was published in 1992 by Stoddart Publishing. His second, ''Next'' (with
George Anthony), was published in 2012 by
McClelland and Stewart
McClelland & Stewart Limited is a Canadian publishing company. It is owned by Random House of Canada, Penguin Random House of Canada, a branch of Penguin Random House, the international book publishing division of German media giant Bertelsmann.
...
.
He has written seven screenplays, including: ''The Rowdyman'' and ''John and the Missus''.
His plays include ''Easy Down Easy'' (1987) and ''Brass Rubbings'' (1989).
Personal life
Pinsent married actress
Charmion King
Charmion King (July 25, 1925 – January 6, 2007) was a Canadian actress.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she was part of the country's burgeoning theatre and television industry in the decade of the 1950s. Fresh out of the University of Toronto's ...
in 1962. They remained together until her death in 2007. Their daughter,
Leah Pinsent
Leah Pinsent (born September 20, 1968) is a Canadian television and film actress.
Career
Pinsent made her film debut in 1984's '' The Bay Boy'', best known as Kiefer Sutherland's first film. The role garnered her a Genie nomination for Best Supp ...
, is also an actress. Pinsent also has two children from a previous marriage.
Awards
Pinsent is a Companion of The Order of Canada and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada.
In 1997, he won the
Earle Grey Award The Earle Grey Award is the lifetime achievement award for television acting of the Canadian Screen Awards, and its predecessor the Gemini Awards. It can be presented to an individual or collaborative team (such as SCTV or Royal Canadian Air Farce) ...
for lifetime achievement in television.
Pinsent received an
LL.D
Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the earl ...
from the
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is a public university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the only university in the province. Founded in 1969, the enabling legislation is the ''University Act, R.S.P.E.I 2000.''
H ...
in 1975, and Honorary doctorates from Queen's University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Lakehead University (2008) and the University of Windsor (2012).
Pinsent received a
Governor General's Performing Arts Award
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
in 2004, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.
It was on July 12, 2005, in his hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor, and in honour of his 75th birthday, that the Arts & Culture Centre was renamed The Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts. A street in his hometown (Pinsent Drive) is also named in his honour.
On September 25, 2008 at a "Newfoundland and Labrador Inspired Evening" at
The Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto,
the Company Theatre
The Company Theatre is a Toronto-based independent theatre company that produces provocative international plays with Canada's best actors.
History
The Company Theatre (TCT) was created in 2004 by Canadian actors Allan Hawco and Philip Riccio. The ...
presented Mr. Pinsent with the inaugural Gordon Pinsent Award of Excellence.
Pinsent received the
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...
in 2012.
His acting and writing awards include:
* 2014 -
Canadian Screen Award
The Canadian Screen Awards (french: link=no, Les prix Écrans canadiens) are awards given for artistic and technical merit in the film industry recognizing excellence in Canadian film, English-language television, and digital media (web series) p ...
- Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for ''
The Grand Seduction
''The Grand Seduction'' is a 2013 Canadian comedy film directed by Don McKellar and written by Ken Scott (screenwriter), Ken Scott and Michael Dowse. The film stars Taylor Kitsch, Brendan Gleeson, Liane Balaban and Gordon Pinsent. It is based on ...
''
* 2013 - Canadian Screen Award - Best Performance in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series for ''
Republic of Doyle
''Republic of Doyle'' is a Canadian comedy-drama television series set in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, which aired on CBC Television from January 6, 2010, to December 10, 2014.
The show stars Allan Hawco as private investigator and fo ...
''
* 2008 -
Genie Award
The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for scu ...
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for ''
Away from Her
''Away from Her'' is a 2006 Canadian independent drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent. Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy, Wendy Crewson, Alberta Watson, and Kristen Thomson are featured in sup ...
''
* 2007 -
ACTRA Award
The ACTRA Awards were first presented in 1972 to celebrate excellence in Canada's television and radio industries. - Outstanding Male Performance for ''Away from Her''
* 2004 -
Banff Television Festival
The Banff World Media Festival (formerly known as the Banff World Television Festival) is an international media event held in the Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The festival is dedicated to world ...
- Award of Excellence
* 2003 - ACTRA Award - Award of Excellence
* 1999 -
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United States ...
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series for ''
Power Play
Power play or powerplay or their plurals may refer to:
Sports
* Power play (sporting term), a sporting term used in various games
* Powerplay (cricket), a rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international cricket
* Power play (cur ...
''
* 1999 - Gemini Award - Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for ''
Win, Again!''
* 1996 - Gemini Award - Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series for ''
Due South
''Due South'' is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 26, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred Pau ...
''
* 1989 - Gemini Award - Best Guest Performance in a Series by an Actor or Actress for ''
Street Legal''
* 1987 - Genie Award - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for ''
John and the Missus
''John and the Missus'' is a 1986 Canadian drama film. The film was directed by and starred Gordon Pinsent who wrote the screenplay from his 1974 novel of the same name.
Plot
John Munn (Pinsent) is a miner from a small Newfoundland town who gets ...
''
* 1980 - Genie Award - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for ''
Klondike Fever
''Klondike Fever'' is a 1980 Canadian adventure film, based on the writings of Jack London. It follows London's journey from San Francisco to the Klondike gold fields of the Yukon Territory, Canada in 1898.
Cast
* Jeff East as Jack London
* Rod ...
''
* 1972 -
Canadian Film Award
The Canadian Film Awards were the leading Canadian cinema awards from 1949 until 1978. These honours were conducted annually, except in 1974 when a number of Quebec directors withdrew their participation and prompted a cancellation. In the 1970s ...
- Best Performance by a Lead Actor for ''
The Rowdyman
''The Rowdyman'' is a 1972 comedy film with moralistic overtones, set in Newfoundland.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 185. It was written by and starred native Newfoundlander Gordon Pinsent.
The film is a ...
''
Filmography
Movies
*1964: ''Lydia'' as Thomas
*1966: ''Don't Forget to Wipe the Blood Off''
*1968: ''
The Thomas Crown Affair'' as Jamie McDonald
*1970: ''
Colossus: The Forbin Project'' as The President
*1971: ''
Chandler
Chandler or The Chandler may refer to:
* Chandler (occupation), originally head of the medieval household office responsible for candles, now a person who makes or sells candles
* Ship chandler, a dealer in supplies or equipment for ships
Arts ...
'' as John Melchior
*1972: ''
The Rowdyman
''The Rowdyman'' is a 1972 comedy film with moralistic overtones, set in Newfoundland.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 185. It was written by and starred native Newfoundlander Gordon Pinsent.
The film is a ...
'' as Will Cole
*1972: ''
Blacula
''Blacula'' is a 1972 American blaxploitation horror film directed by William Crain. It stars William Marshall in the title role about an 18th-century African prince named Mamuwalde, who is turned into a vampire (and later locked in a coffin) b ...
'' as Lt. Jack Peters
*1974: ''
Newman's Law
''Newman's Law'' is a 1974 American crime film directed by Richard T. Heffron and starring George Peppard.
Plot
Vince Newman, a no-nonsense cop, decides to investigate on his own when tipped off that colleagues in the police department are invol ...
'' as Jack Eastman
*1974: ''
Only God Knows
''Only God Knows'' ( es, Sólo Dios sabe; pt, Só Deus sabe) is a 2006 Mexican-Brazilian drama film directed by Carlos Bolado. It stars Alice Braga as Dolores, a Brazilian woman, who meets Dámian (Diego Luna), a Mexican who helps her to reach M ...
'' as Father John Hagan
*1974: ''The Heatwave Lasted Four Days'' as Cliff Reynolds
*1976: ''
Blackwood'' as Narrator
*1977: ''
Who Has Seen the Wind'' as Gerald O'Connal
*1978: ''Drága kisfiam'' as Fiú
*1980: ''
Klondike Fever
''Klondike Fever'' is a 1980 Canadian adventure film, based on the writings of Jack London. It follows London's journey from San Francisco to the Klondike gold fields of the Yukon Territory, Canada in 1898.
Cast
* Jeff East as Jack London
* Rod ...
'' as Swiftwater Bill
*1981: ''
Silence of the North
''Silence of the North'' is a 1981 semi-autobiographical Canadian film of author Olive Frederickson, taken from the book of the same name. The film stars Ellen Burstyn as Olive, Tom Skerritt as her first husband Walter Reamer who was killed, and ...
'' as John Frederickson
*1987: ''
John and the Missus
''John and the Missus'' is a 1986 Canadian drama film. The film was directed by and starred Gordon Pinsent who wrote the screenplay from his 1974 novel of the same name.
Plot
John Munn (Pinsent) is a miner from a small Newfoundland town who gets ...
'' as John Munn
*1989: ''
Babar: The Movie'' as King Babar (voice)
*1990: ''Blood Clan'' as Judge William McKay
*1997: ''
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking ( sv, Pippi Långstrump) is the fictional main character in an eponymous series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Pippi was named by Lindgren's daughter Karin, who asked her mother for a get-well story wh ...
'' as Capt. Longstocking (voice)
*1997: ''
Pale Saints
Pale Saints were an English alternative rock/shoegazing band formed in 1987 in Leeds by singer-bassist Ian Masters, guitarist Graeme Naysmith and drummer Chris Cooper.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 907 ...
'' as Gus
*1999: ''
The Old Man and the Sea
''The Old Man and the Sea'' is a novella written by the American author Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cayo Blanco (Cuba), and published in 1952. It was the last major work of fiction written by Hemingway that was published during his lifetime. ...
'' (Short) as Old Man (voice)
*2001: ''
The Shipping News
''The Shipping News'' is a novel by American author E. Annie Proulx and published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1993. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the U.S. National Book Award, as well as other awards. It was adapted as a film of the ...
'' as Billy Pretty
*2002: ''A Promise'' (Short)
*2003: ''
Nothing
Nothing, the complete absence of anything, has been a matter of philosophical debate since at least the 5th century BC. Early Greek philosophers argued that it was impossible for ''nothing'' to exist. The atomists allowed ''nothing'' but only i ...
'' as Man In Suit
*2003: ''Snow on the Skeleton Key'' (Short) as Winslow Icarus
*2004: ''
The Good Shepherd'' as Cardinal Ledesna
*2004: ''
Saint Ralph
''Saint Ralph'' is a 2004 Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by Michael McGowan. Its central character is a teenage boy who trains for the 1954 Boston Marathon in the hope a victory will be the miracle his mother needs to awaken from ...
'' as Father Fitzpatrick
*2006: ''
Away from Her
''Away from Her'' is a 2006 Canadian independent drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent. Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy, Wendy Crewson, Alberta Watson, and Kristen Thomson are featured in sup ...
'' as Grant Anderson
*2006: ''
The Sparky Book
''The Sparky Book'' is a 2006 animated/live-action short film by Newfoundland filmmaker Mary Lewis, about the near-death of a young girl who undergoes heart transplant surgery, and the death of her beloved pet dog, Sparky.
The story is based o ...
'' (Short) as Goldfish
*2008: ''Eating Buccaneers'' as Hermit Trapper
*2009: ''
The Spine
Spine or spinal may refer to:
Science Biology
* Vertebral column, also known as the backbone
* Dendritic spine, a small membranous protrusion from a neuron's dendrite
* Thorns, spines, and prickles, needle-like structures in plants
* Spine (zoolog ...
'' (Short) (voice)
*2009: ''
At Home by Myself...With You'' as Narrator (voice)
*2012: ''
Flight of the Butterflies
''Flight of the Butterflies'' is a 2012 Canadian documentary film directed and co-written by Mike Slee for 3D IMAX, starring Megan Follows, Gordon Pinsent, and Shaun Benson. The film covers Dr. Fred Urquhart's nearly 40-year-long scientific inve ...
''
*2013: ''
Sex After Kids'' as Dr. Keaton
*2013: ''
The Grand Seduction
''The Grand Seduction'' is a 2013 Canadian comedy film directed by Don McKellar and written by Ken Scott (screenwriter), Ken Scott and Michael Dowse. The film stars Taylor Kitsch, Brendan Gleeson, Liane Balaban and Gordon Pinsent. It is based on ...
'' as Simon
*2013: ''Big News from Grand Rock'' as Stan
*2014: ''
Danny
Danny is a masculine given name. It is related to the male name Daniel. It may refer to:
People
*Danny Altmann, British immunologist
*Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, director, producer, and writer
*Danny Baker (born 1957), English journalis ...
'' (cameo)
*2016: ''
Two Lovers and a Bear
''Two Lovers and a Bear'' is a 2016 Canadian drama film written and directed by Kim Nguyen and starring Tatiana Maslany and Dane DeHaan. It was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. The film was released o ...
'' as Bear's Voice
*2017: ''The River of My Dreams'' (Documentary)
Television series
*1963: ''
Scarlett Hill
''Scarlett Hill'' was a Canadian soap opera (first written for CBC Television) which ran from October 1962 to 1964. This was the first daytime soap opera produced for Canadian television, although it was based upon an American radio drama created ...
'' as David Black
*1963-1965: ''
The Forest Rangers The Forest Rangers may refer to:
* ''The Forest Rangers'' (TV series), Canadian TV series
*The Forest Rangers (band), band formed to create the soundtrack for TV series Sons of Anarchy
* ''The Forest Rangers'' (film), 1942 film starring Fred MacMur ...
'' as Sergeant Brian Scott
*1968: ''
Quentin Durgens, M.P.
''Quentin Durgens, M.P.'' is a Canadian dramatic television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1965 to 1969.[Adventures in Rainbow Country
''Adventures in Rainbow Country'' was a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television in the 1970-71 TV season. Reruns were later shown on the American children's cable channel Nickelodeon during the early 1980s. A half hour family d ...]
'' as Father Bob Coburn
*1970: ''
Hogan's Heroes
''Hogan's Heroes'' is an American television sitcom set in a Nazi German prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during World War II. It ran for 168 episodes (six seasons) from September 17, 1965, to April 4, 1971, on the CBS network, the longest broadcast ...
'' as Capt. Steiner
*1972: ''
Banacek
''Banacek'' is an American detective TV series starring George Peppard that aired on the NBC network from 1972 to 1974. The series was part of the rotating '' NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie'' anthology. It alternated in its time slot with several o ...
'' as John Weymouth
*1973: ''
Cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
'' as Phillip Trask
*1974: ''The Play's The Thing'' as Host
*1978-1979: ''
A Gift to Last
''A Gift to Last'' is a CBC Television Christmas special broadcast in 1976, a subsequent family drama series that ran from 1978 to 1979, and a stage play based on the pilot episode.
In both the special and series, Gordon Pinsent portrayed North- ...
'' as Sgt. Edgar Sturgess
*1980: ''
Up at Ours''
*1983: ''
Ready for Slaughter''
*1984: ''
Seeing Things'' as Englander
*1989-1991: ''
Babar
Babar ( ur, ), also variously spelled as Baber, Babur, and Babor is a male given name of Pashto, and Persian language, Persian origin, and a popular male given name in Pakistan. It is generally taken in reference to the Persian language, Persian ...
'' as King Babar
*1989-1993: ''
Street Legal'' as Harold Vickers
*1989: ''
Friday the 13th: The Series'' as Desmond Williams
*1991-2006: ''
The Red Green Show
''The Red Green Show'' is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States (airing on more than 100 PBS affiliates a ...
'' as Hap Shaughnessy
*1994-1999: ''
Due South
''Due South'' is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 26, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred Pau ...
'' as Robert Fraser (
recurring)
*1997-2000: ''
Wind at My Back
''Wind at My Back'' is a television series which aired in Canada on CBC Television between 1996 and 2001. It was created and produced by Kevin Sullivan, best known for his adaptation of ''Anne of Green Gables'' and ''Road to Avonlea''. The ser ...
'' as Leo McGinty
*1998-2003: ''
Made in Canada
Made in Canada and Product of Canada (French: Fabriqué au Canada and Produit du Canada) are certification marks designating a claim that Canada is the country of origin of a good. A product label for that good may use these marks, or a qualifi ...
'' as Myron Kingswell / Walter Franklin, Sr.
*1998-2000: ''
Power Play
Power play or powerplay or their plurals may refer to:
Sports
* Power play (sporting term), a sporting term used in various games
* Powerplay (cricket), a rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international cricket
* Power play (cur ...
'' as Duff McArdle
*2004: ''
H2O: The Last Prime Minister'' as Michael Cameron
*2009: ''
Corner Gas
''Corner Gas'' is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV, CTV2, CTV Comedy Channel, Much, MTV, E! and are streaming on Crave and Amazon Prime. The serie ...
'' as Corky Dillems
*2009: ''
The listener'' as Franck
*2010: ''
The Pillars of the Earth
''The Pillars of the Earth'' is a historical novel by British author Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. Set in the 12th century, the novel covers the time between the ...
'' as Archbishop
*2010-2012: ''
Republic of Doyle
''Republic of Doyle'' is a Canadian comedy-drama television series set in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, which aired on CBC Television from January 6, 2010, to December 10, 2014.
The show stars Allan Hawco as private investigator and fo ...
'' as Maurice Becker (
recurring)
*2010-2015: ''
Babar and the Adventures of Badou
''Babar and the Adventures of Badou'' is a computer-animated children's television series that premiered in 2010 based on the characters created by Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff. The series takes place several years after the original series and ...
'' as King Babar
*2013: ''
Satisfaction'' as Dr Faskin
*2019: ''
Private Eyes'' as Nevin Ainslie
Television specials and movies
*1970: ''
Quarantined
A quarantine is a restriction on the Freedom of movement, movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or Pest (organism), pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing th ...
'' as Dr. Bud Bedford
*1973: ''
Incident on a Dark Street
''Incident on a Dark Street'' is a 1973 TV movie broadcast on ''NBC Saturday Night at the Movies''. It premiered on NBC on January 13, 1973.
Plot
Two law school grads take on their first big cases as prosecutors for the federal government as U.S. ...
'' as Joe - Mayor
*1975: ''
Horse Latitudes
The horse latitudes are the latitudes about 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. They are characterized by sunny skies, calm winds, and very little precipitation. They are also known as subtropical ridges, or highs. It is a high-pressure ...
'' as Donald Crowhurst
*1979: ''
The Suicide's Wife'' as Allan Crane
*1981: ''
Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper'' as Ambassador Ken Taylor
*1982: ''The Life and Times of Edwin Alonzo Boyd'' as Edwin Alonzo Boyd
*1984: ''
A Case of Libel
''A Case of Libel'' is a 1963 novel by the British writer John Bingham
John Armor Bingham (January 21, 1815 – March 19, 1900) was an American politician who served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican representative from Ohi ...
'' as Dennis Corcoran
*1984: ''And Miles to Go'' as Jack Morrissey
*1988: ''
Two Men''
*1992: ''In the Eyes of the Stranger'' as Lt. Ted Burk
*1993: ''Bonds of Love'' as Leon
*1995: ''
A Vow to Kill
''A Vow to Kill'' is a 1995 made for TV movie directed by Harry Longstreet, starring Richard Grieco and Julianne Phillips, and first televised on February 1, 1995. Others in the cast include Peter MacNeill, Tom Cavanagh, Nicole Oliver and Lar ...
'' as Frank Waring
*1996: ''A Holiday for Love'' as Cal Marsdon
*1999: ''
Win, Again!'' as Win Morrissey
*2000: ''Jewel On The Hill'' as Narrator
*2001: ''
Blind Terror
''Blind Terror'' is a 2001 thriller film directed by Giles Walker and starring Nastassja Kinski, Stewart Bick and Gordon Pinsent
Gordon Edward Pinsent (born July 12, 1930) is a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He is known for h ...
'' as Martin Howell
*2002: ''
The New Beachcombers
''The New Beachcombers'' was a renewal of the ''CBC'' long-running series ''The Beachcombers'', which ran for 19 seasons from 1972 to 1990. A movie of the week directed by Brad Turner was broadcast in November 2002, to commemorate both the ''CB ...
'' as Host
*2003: ''Hemingway vs Callaghan'' as Morley Callaghan
*2003: ''Fallen Angel'' as Warren Wentworth
*2006: ''Yours, Al'' as Al Purdy
*2012: ''Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town'' as Elder Stephen Leacock
Discography
* 1968: ''Roots''
* 1997: ''Harbour of Dreams: A Tribute to Newfoundland '' (with
Dave Nicol David Nicholl or Nicoll may refer to:
*David Nicholl (neurologist), Irish neurologist
* David Nicholl (rugby union) (1871–1918), Welsh international rugby union player
*David Nicoll (anarchist) (1859–1919), British anarchist
*David Nicoll (foot ...
)
* 2002: ''At the Rim of the Carol-Singing Sea'' (with The Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir)
* 2010: ''Down and Out in Upalong'' (with
Travis Good
The Sadies are a Canadian rock and roll / country and western band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Dallas Good, Travis Good, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky. Dallas and Travis are the sons of Margaret and Bruce Good, and nephews of Brian ...
and
Greg Keelor
James Gregory Keelor, (born Francis McIntyre, August 29, 1954) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the band Blue Rodeo, where he shares song writing and vocal duties with Jim Cuddy. Keelor has also rele ...
)
References
External links
*
Northern Stars: Gordon PinsentEntry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinsent, Gordon
1930 births
Living people
20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
20th-century Canadian male actors
20th-century Canadian male writers
21st-century Canadian male actors
21st-century Canadian male writers
Best Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
Best Supporting Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Canadian Screen Award winners
Canadian Anglicans
Canadian male dramatists and playwrights
Canadian male film actors
Canadian male screenwriters
Canadian male stage actors
Canadian male television actors
Canadian male voice actors
Canadian people of English descent
Companions of the Order of Canada
Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
Film directors from Newfoundland and Labrador
Governor General's Performing Arts Award winners
Male actors from Newfoundland and Labrador
People from Grand Falls-Windsor
Writers from Newfoundland and Labrador
The Royal Canadian Regiment soldiers
Canadian military personnel from Newfoundland and Labrador