Canadian actors who were born in 1916
Here are 10 famous actors from Canada were born in 1916:
Frank Shuster
Frank Shuster (September 5, 1916 Toronto-January 13, 2002 Toronto) also known as Frank Shuster, OC was a Canadian actor, screenwriter and comedian. His children are called Rosie Shuster and Steve Shuster.
Frank Shuster is perhaps best known for being a part of the comedy duo, "Wayne and Shuster," with his lifelong friend, Johnny Wayne. The pair formed their act in the late 1940s and gained popularity in radio and television in Canada and the United States. They became known for their witty and clever sketch comedy, often parodying popular culture and historical events. In addition to performing, Shuster also wrote many of the duo's sketches and later went on to write for other television programs. Shuster was recognized for his contributions to Canadian entertainment with numerous awards, including the Order of Canada.
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George Hall
George Hall (November 19, 1916 Toronto-October 21, 2002 Hawthorne) was a Canadian actor.
He was best known for his roles in films such as "The Rose Tattoo" (1955), "Pillow Talk" (1959), and "The Graduate" (1967). Hall began his career in the entertainment industry in the 1940s, initially working as a stage actor before transitioning to film and television. He appeared in numerous TV shows, including "Gunsmoke," "Perry Mason," "The Twilight Zone," and "The Andy Griffith Show." Hall also had a career as a voice actor, lending his voice to numerous animated TV series and films. In addition to his work as an actor, Hall was a decorated veteran of World War II, having served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 85.
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Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford (May 1, 1916 Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Quebec-August 30, 2006 Beverly Hills) also known as Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford or Gwyllyn Ford was a Canadian actor. He had one child, Peter Ford.
Glenn Ford began his acting career in the 1940s, starring in films such as "Gilda" and "The Big Heat." He was known for his rugged good looks and versatility as an actor, and he went on to appear in over 100 films throughout his career. In addition to his work in Hollywood, Ford also served in World War II as a Marine before being honorably discharged due to injury. He continued acting well into his later years, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. Ford passed away in 2006 at the age of 90.
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Michel Chartrand
Michel Chartrand (December 20, 1916 Outremont, Quebec-April 12, 2010 Montérégie) was a Canadian politician and actor. He had one child, Alain Chartrand.
Chartrand was a prominent figure in the labour movement in Quebec, known for his advocacy for social justice and workers' rights. He began his career as a union organizer in the 1940s and later became the president of the Quebec Federation of Labour. He was also a member of the Parti Québécois and ran for political office multiple times throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to his political and labour activism, Chartrand was also a respected actor, appearing in francophone films and television series. He was known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial views, often challenging the status quo and advocating for radical change. Chartrand passed away in 2010 at the age of 93.
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John Drainie
John Drainie (April 1, 1916 Vancouver-October 30, 1966 Toronto) also known as John Robert Roy Drainie was a Canadian actor and presenter. His child is called Bronwyn Drainie.
Drainie was one of Canada's best-known radio and television personalities from the 1940s to the 1960s. He began his career as an actor in the 1930s, appearing on stage and radio dramas. In the 1940s, he became a popular radio announcer and commentator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Drainie is perhaps best remembered for his role as the friendly wizard "The Magic Shadow" on CBC's popular children's radio program "The Happy Gang." He also hosted several popular TV shows, including "Hockey Night in Canada" and "This Hour Has Seven Days."
In addition to his work as an actor and presenter, Drainie was also a passionate advocate for the arts in Canada. He helped found the Stratford Festival, one of Canada's premier theatrical events, and served as the festival's first artistic director.
Drainie's career was cut short when he died of a heart attack in 1966 at the age of 50. He was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1997.
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Dick Wilson
Dick Wilson (July 30, 1916 City of Preston, Lancashire-November 19, 2007 Woodland Hills) also known as Riccardo DiGuglielmo or Richard Wilson was a Canadian character actor and actor. He had three children, Melanie Wilson, Wendy Wilson and Stuart F. Wilson.
Wilson started his career as a traveling performer with a circus and eventually moved to Hollywood, where he began working in film and television in the 1950s. He was best known for his role as the grocery store manager Mr. Whipple in Charmin toilet paper commercials, which he played from 1964 to 1985. Wilson also appeared in several TV shows and movies, including Bewitched, The Bob Newhart Show, The Twilight Zone, and That Girl. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance in the sitcom, Home Improvement. Additionally, Wilson was heavily involved in philanthropy work and he co-founded the Children's Action Network, which focused on improving the lives of children in poverty. Wilson passed away at the age of 91 in Woodland Hills, California.
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Ted Allan
Ted Allan (January 26, 1916 Montreal-June 29, 1995 Toronto) also known as Alan Herman was a Canadian writer, actor and cinematographer. He had one child, Julie Allan.
Ted Allan was best known for his bold and daring literary works which were steeped in Marxist ideals. He began his career writing scripts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, but his true passion lay in writing novels and plays. Some of his most famous works include "This Time a Better Earth" and "Love is a Long Shot".
Apart from writing, Ted Allan was also involved in the Canadian film and theater industry. He acted in several films and even wrote scripts for some. Over the course of his career, he worked with notable figures such as Charlie Chaplin and Bertolt Brecht.
Ted Allan was a lifelong socialist and remained politically active till the end of his days. He was a member of the Communist Party of Canada and campaigned for worker's rights and social justice. He passed away in 1995 in Toronto, leaving behind an impressive body of work and a legacy of political activism.
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Larry Thor
Larry Thor (August 27, 1916 Lundar, Manitoba-March 15, 1976 Santa Monica) also known as Arnleifur Lawrence Thorsteinson was a Canadian actor and radio personality.
Larry Thor first gained popularity in the 1940s as a radio announcer and host for various programs, including the popular game show "Break the Bank." He also served as a war correspondent during World War II, reporting on events from Europe and Africa. In the 1950s, Thor began to branch out into acting, landing roles in both television and film. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Detective Sgt. Donald Flack on the TV series "The Lineup," which aired from 1954 to 1960. Thor continued to act in various productions throughout the 1960s until his death in 1976.
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Eric Christmas
Eric Christmas (March 19, 1916 London-July 22, 2000 Camarillo) also known as Eric Cuthbert Christmas was a Canadian actor and teacher. He had one child, Stephen Christmas.
Eric Christmas was born in London in 1916 and moved to Canada as a young man to pursue his career in acting. He became a well-known character actor, appearing in numerous films and TV shows, including "The Andromeda Strain," "Dead Poets Society," and "Murder, She Wrote." In addition to his work in front of the camera, Christmas was also a respected acting teacher and taught at the University of Southern California for many years. He passed away in 2000 in Camarillo, California.
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Bernard Braden
Bernard Braden (May 16, 1916 Vancouver-February 2, 1993 London Borough of Camden) a.k.a. Bernard Chastey Braden was a Canadian actor, film producer, television producer and comedian. His children are called Christopher Braden and Kim Braden.
Braden began his career as a stage actor before moving into radio broadcasting in Canada during the 1940s. He later transitioned into television and became popular in the UK with shows such as "The Braden Beat" and "All Night Long". In addition to his work in broadcasting, Braden also worked as a film producer and appeared in several films, including the 1969 James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Later in life, he became involved with environmental causes and was a supporter of the Green Party. Braden passed away in 1993 at the age of 76.
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