Canadian actors who were born in 1920
Here are 9 famous actors from Canada were born in 1920:
Pierre Berton
Pierre Berton (July 12, 1920 Whitehorse-November 30, 2004 Toronto) also known as Pierre Francis Berton, Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, Pierre Burton, Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC OOnt, Pierre Francis Berton, C.C., O.Ont., B.A., D.Litt. or Lisa Kroniuk was a Canadian writer, journalist, author, historian, actor and screenwriter.
Throughout his prolific career, Pierre Berton wrote more than 50 books, many of which focused on Canadian history and culture. He is perhaps best known for his book "The National Dream", which chronicled the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and "The Last Spike", which picked up where the first book left off. In addition to his writing, Berton also worked in the television and film industries, hosting several popular Canadian TV shows and writing scripts for Hollywood movies. He received numerous honors over the course of his career, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Award. Berton passed away in 2004 at the age of 84.
Read more about Pierre Berton on Wikipedia »
William Hutt
William Hutt (May 2, 1920 Toronto-June 27, 2007 Stratford) otherwise known as William Ian DeWitt Hutt or William Ian DeWitt Hutt, CC OOnt MM was a Canadian actor.
Born in Toronto in 1920, William Hutt studied at the University of Toronto and made his stage debut in 1941. He quickly rose to prominence as one of Canada's leading actors, performing with the Stratford Festival for many years and earning critical acclaim for his roles in classic plays such as Hamlet, King Lear, and Long Day's Journey Into Night.
Hutt was also a respected teacher, serving as a master acting teacher at the National Theatre School of Canada and at the University of British Columbia. In addition to his stage work, he appeared in several films and television series throughout his career, including the 1970 film adaptation of The House That Jack Built and the Canadian series Road to Avonlea.
He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1974, and was promoted to the rank of Companion in 2000. Hutt continued to act well into his 80s, and his contributions to Canadian theatre were celebrated with numerous awards and honors, including the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1992.
Read more about William Hutt on Wikipedia »
Jean Gascon
Jean Gascon (December 21, 1920 Montreal-April 13, 1988 Stratford) was a Canadian actor. His child is called Nathalie Gascon.
Jean Gascon was known for his contribution to Canadian theatre. He was the founding artistic director of the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal and was instrumental in its development. He was also an accomplished stage actor and appeared in numerous productions, including the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. Gascon received many awards for his work in theatre, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 67.
Read more about Jean Gascon on Wikipedia »
Jan Rubeš
Jan Rubeš (June 6, 1920 Volyně-June 29, 2009 Toronto) also known as Jan Ladislav Rubeš or Jan Rubeš was a Canadian actor and opera singer. He had three children, Christopher Jan Rubeš, Jonathan Mark Rubeš and Anthony Dean Rubeš.
Jan Rubeš was born in Volyně, Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine) and grew up in Prague. He began his career as an opera singer, performing with the National Theatre in Prague and later with the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. His notable roles as a bass baritone included Don Basilio in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and the title role in Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov."
In addition to his opera career, Rubeš also appeared in numerous films and television shows. He is perhaps best known for his role as the KGB agent Yuri in the 1984 film "Witness" starring Harrison Ford. Other notable film credits include "The Amateur," "Moonstruck," and "The Dead Zone." On television, Rubeš appeared in shows such as "The X-Files," "Seinfeld," and "Tales from the Crypt."
Rubeš was also a dedicated teacher, serving as a professor of voice at the University of Toronto for many years. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1995 for his contributions to the arts in Canada. Rubeš passed away in 2009 at the age of 89.
Read more about Jan Rubeš on Wikipedia »
Fernand Nault
Fernand Nault (December 27, 1920 Montreal-December 26, 2006 Montreal) also known as Fernand Noël Boissonneault was a Canadian choreographer and actor.
Born in Montreal, Nault began his early career as an actor in the 1940s before transitioning to choreography. He studied dance in New York and Paris before returning to Canada to become the artistic director of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in 1960. He was known for his innovative choreography, combining classical ballet with modern elements.
Nault brought international success to Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, which performed his signature works including Carmina Burana and The Nutcracker, among others. He also created ballets for other companies, including the National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Nault's contributions to dance were recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. His legacy lives on through his choreography, which continues to be performed worldwide.
Read more about Fernand Nault on Wikipedia »
John Mantley
John Mantley (April 25, 1920 Toronto-January 14, 2003 Sherman Oaks) also known as John Truman Mantley or The Fixer was a Canadian screenwriter, television producer, actor and writer. His child is called Marie Mantley.
Mantley was best known for his work as a screenwriter and producer of the television series Gunsmoke, which aired for twenty years and became one of the most successful and longest-running shows in television history. He also had writing credits for other popular shows such as Bonanza, Have Gun – Will Travel, and The Wild Wild West. In addition to his career in television, Mantley also acted in several films and television shows. He wrote two books about the entertainment business, including his memoir, “Give 'Em Hell, Harry!,” which chronicled his time working with Harry Truman on the former President's successful 1948 campaign. Mantley passed away in 2003 at the age of 82.
Read more about John Mantley on Wikipedia »
Henry Corden
Henry Corden (January 6, 1920 Montreal-May 19, 2005 Los Angeles) a.k.a. Henry Cohen, Harry Corden or Henry Cordon was a Canadian actor and voice actor. His children are called Robin Smith and Dana Wade.
Corden began his career as a singer and had his own radio show in Montreal before transitioning to acting. He appeared in several films and television shows, with some of his notable roles being in "The Ten Commandments" and "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." He also did voice-over work for cartoons, most notably taking over the role of Fred Flintstone in "The Flintstones" after the death of original voice actor Alan Reed. In addition to his performing career, Corden was also a skilled linguist and spoke six languages fluently.
Read more about Henry Corden on Wikipedia »
James Doohan
James Doohan (March 3, 1920 Vancouver-July 20, 2005 Redmond) also known as James Montgomery Doohan, James Montgomery "Jimmy" Doohan, Jim Doohan or Jimmy was a Canadian voice actor, actor and military officer. His children are called Sarah Doohan, Thomas Doohan, Eric Doohan, Christopher Doohan, Larkin Doohan, Montgomery Doohan and Deirdre Doohan.
Doohan is best known for his role as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, commonly known as Scotty, on the hit television show Star Trek. He appeared in all six of the original Star Trek movies and lent his voice to several Star Trek video games and animated series.
Doohan also had a successful career in the Canadian military prior to his acting career. He served in the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II, where he was eventually commissioned as a lieutenant. He participated in the Normandy landings on D-Day and was later wounded in battle.
After the war, Doohan pursued his passion for acting and eventually landed his breakthrough role in Star Trek. He went on to make numerous appearances on television shows and movies throughout his career, including The Twilight Zone, Magnum, P.I., and The Outer Limits.
In addition to his impressive acting career, Doohan was also a noted voice actor, lending his talents to animated shows like The Jetsons and Batman: The Animated Series. He passed away in 2005 due to complications from pneumonia and is remembered as a beloved actor and war veteran.
Read more about James Doohan on Wikipedia »
Hughie Green
Hughie Green (February 2, 1920 Marylebone-May 3, 1997 London) also known as Hughes Green, Hugh Green or Hugh Hughes Green was a Canadian presenter, actor, game show host, pilot officer, pilot and film producer. He had four children, Paula Yates, Christopher Green, Linda Green and Barry Green.
Green started his career as a pilot officer and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. After the war, he went on to work as an actor in theatre and television before transitioning into television presenting and hosting game shows. One of his most popular shows, "Double Your Money," aired in the UK from 1955 to 1968.
Aside from his TV career, Green also produced films and even had a brief stint as a pop singer, releasing a single in 1962 called "A Whole Lotta Woman." However, he is most remembered for his work in television and is considered an influential figure in British game show history.
Green was married four times and had multiple children, including Paula Yates who went on to become a well-known TV presenter and journalist. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 77.
Read more about Hughie Green on Wikipedia »