Canadian Actors
Jim Carrey and William Shatner are Big Names in the Film Business
Canadian actors from the past and present such as John Candy and Jim Carrey have made memorable contributions to the film industry.
Remember Keanu Reeves kicking some serious butt in the Matrix trilogy? How about Jim Carrey as the rubber faced romeo in The Mask? Both of them are Canadian, and there's a long list of stars from the Great White North who have entertained audiences with goofy performances like Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas in Strange Brew, and Paul Gross as the straight-as-an-arrow Mountie in Due South. Here's a look at some other famous Canadian performers and their work.
John Candy (1950-1994) - This much loved actor gained lots of his early popularity in the SCTV series, and after he left that show in 1983 he went on to star in some very successful films. Among his best roles was as the lovable oaf in Planes, Trains and Automobiles alongside U.S. comic actor Steve Martin. He also gave amusing performances in Splash and Uncle Buck. His more dramatic roles were in JFK and Cool Runnings. Fellow Canadian Dan Aykroyd gave the eulogy at Candy's funeral.
William Shatner - In the 1960s this Montreal born actor played the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek television series. From the late 1970s to the mid 1990s he starred in seven Star Trek films, and has also played a police officer in the TV series T.J. Hooker from 1982 to 1987. Even at the age of 75 he is showing no signs of slowing down. He has made several appearances in The Practice and Boston Legal.
Michael J. Fox - He is probably best known for his role of time travelling Marty McFly in the Back to the Future films. In addition to his work on the long running TV series Family Ties, he has also starred in the series Spin City. He announced that he was suffering from Parkinson's disease and left the show in 2000 to spend more time with his family and to raise money for Parkinson's research.
Donald Sutherland - A native of New Brunswick and the father of Kiefer Sutherland, he got the attention of audiences with his portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce in the 1970 film M*A*S*H. Roles in Klute and The Day of the Locust quickly followed, and his most famous role on television was in the CBC production of Bethune. Like John Candy, he made an appearance in the 1991 film JFK.
Keanu Reeves - Fans will remember Reeves as a good natured airhead in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure released in 1989. More serious roles followed, most notably in My Own Private Idaho which he made with his best friend at that time, actor River Phoenix. His role as an elite SWAT officer in Speed, released in 1994, cemented his status as a Hollywood action hero. He once again teamed up with his Speed co-star Sandra Bullock in the 2006 release The Lake House.
