Browse "Film & Television"

Adam Reuben Beach, actor, advocate, motivational speaker (born 11 November 1972 in Ashern, MB). Saulteaux actor Adam Beach is one of Canada’s most successful actors of Indigenous descent. After co-starring in Bruce McDonald’s Dance Me Outside (1994) and the American indie hit Smoke Signals (1998), he gave acclaimed lead performances in John Woo’s Windtalkers (2002), Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and the HBO TV movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007). He also starred in such Canadian TV series as The Rez (1996–97), Moose TV (2007) and Arctic Air (2012–14). He is a motivational speaker and an outspoken advocate for Indigenous peoples’ rights. In 2012, he founded the Adam Beach Film Institute, a film school in Winnipeg for Indigenous Youth.

Albert Samuel Waxman, "Al," TV and movie performer, director (b at Toronto 2 Mar 1935; d there 17 Jan 2001). As Larry King, the title character of CBC-TV's situation comedy King of Kensington (1975-80), he became one of Canada's most familiar actors.

Alain Chartrand, director, author (b at Longueuil, Qué 2 Feb 1946). Alain Chartrand did his secondary studies at Collège Marie-Victorin and then enrolled in the Conservatoire de musique du Québec in Montréal, playing trumpet and double bass.

Alan Bradley, writer, media technologist and teacher (born at Toronto, Ont, 1938). Alan Bradley was raised in Cobourg Ontario.

Alan Butterworth Plaunt, organizer, broadcaster, journalist (b at Ottawa 25 Mar 1904; d there 12 Sept 1941). Born of a wealthy lumbering family, he devoted his life to national unity, public broadcasting, economic reform and pacifism.

Alan Thicke, actor, writer, producer, composer (born 1 March 1947 in Kirkland Lake, ON; died 13 December 2016 in Los Angeles, California).

Alanis Obomsawin, CC, GOQ, filmmaker, singer, artist, storyteller (born 31 August 1932 near Lebanon, New Hampshire). Alanis Obomsawin is one of Canada’s most distinguished documentary filmmakers. She began her career as a professional singer and storyteller before joining the National Film Board (NFB) in 1967. Her award-winning films address the struggles of Indigenous peoples in Canada from their perspective, giving prominence to voices that have long been marginalized. She is Companion of the Order of Canada and the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec, a Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Québec and a Commander of the Order of Montreal. She has received the Prix Albert-Tessier and the Canadian Screen Awards’ Humanitarian Award, as well as multiple Governor General’s Awards, lifetime achievement awards, and honorary degrees, among many other honours.

Albert Millaire, OC, stage and film actor, director (born 18 January 1935, in Montréal, Québec; died 15 August 2018).

​Faith Susan Alberta Watson, actor (born 6 March 1955 in Toronto, ON; died 21 March 2015 in Toronto).

George Alexander Trebek, OC, television host, human rights spokesperson, journalist (born 22 July 1940 in Sudbury, ON; died 8 November 2020 in Los Angeles, California). Alex Trebek is a pop culture icon, best known as the long-time host of the TV game show Jeopardy! He began his broadcasting career at the CBC, where he hosted the music variety program Music Hop (1963–64) and the popular teen quiz show Reach for the Top (1966–73). He won five Daytime Emmy Awards from 30 nominations for Outstanding Game Show Host, and he holds the Guinness World Record for the most game shows hosted by the same presenter. An Officer of the Order of Canada, he received a Peabody Award and several lifetime achievement and hall of fame honours, including stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Margaret Alexis Fitzsimmons Smith, actor (born 8 June 1921 in Penticton, BC; died 9 June 1993 in Los Angeles, California). Alexis Smith was a movie star during Hollywood’s golden age, sharing the screen with some of the era’s most celebrated performers, such as Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Cary Grant. She took a hiatus from Hollywood for a decade before winning a Tony Award in 1971 for her performance in Stephen Sondheim’s hit Broadway musical, Follies. Smith appeared in such television series as The Love Boat, Dallas and Cheers, and such films as The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944), Rhapsody in Blue (1945), the Canadian tax shelter thriller The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976), and Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence (1993).

Alison Pick, poet and novelist (born at Toronto, 1975).

Alison Courtney Pill, actor (born 27 November 1985 in Toronto, ON). Alison Pill is a versatile character actor who shifts seamlessly between comedy, drama, horror and science fiction. She has worked extensively in theatre, film and television and received a Tony Award nomination in 2006 for her performance in Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the feature films Milk (2008), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Goon (2011) and its sequel, and the HBO drama The Newsroom (2012–14).

Allan A.W. Hawco, actor, writer, producer (born 28 July 1977 in Goulds, NL). Allan Hawco is best known for his starring role in the popular CBC TV series Republic of Doyle (2010–14), for which he was also creator, executive producer and head writer. He graduated from the National Theatre School in 2000 and worked extensively in theatre in Toronto and Montreal before co-founding Toronto’s acclaimed Company Theatre. He appeared in Clement Virgo’s adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negroes, Paul Gross’s action drama Hyena Road (2015), and Bruce McDonald’s road-trip drama Weirdos (2016). He also produced and co-starred in the fur trade action series Frontier (2016–18) and CBC’s adaptation of Lisa Moore’s novel Caught.

Allan Dwan, born Joseph Aloysius Dwan, director, producer, writer (b at Toronto 3 Apr 1885; d at Los Angeles 21 Dec 1981). Allan Dwan left Toronto with his family at 11 years old to settle in Illinois.