Canadian actors who were born in 1928
Here are 11 famous actors from Canada were born in 1928:
James Randi
James Randi (August 7, 1928 Toronto-) also known as The Amazing Randi, Randall James Hamilton Zwinge or James Randy is a Canadian educator, magician, social activist, illusionist, writer and actor.
He is best known for his investigations into paranormal and supernatural claims, and his work as a skeptic and debunker. After starting his career as a magician, Randi began to focus on exposing fraudulent psychics, faith healers, and other purveyors of superstition. He founded the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) in 1996, an organization dedicated to promoting critical thinking and skepticism. Randi has also authored several books on magic and skepticism, including "Flim-Flam!" and "The Faith Healers". In addition to his work as a skeptic, Randi has also appeared in films and television shows, including the documentary "An Honest Liar" which chronicles his life and career. Randi is widely regarded as a pioneer in the skeptical movement, and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science and education.
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Bruno Gerussi
Bruno Gerussi (May 7, 1928 Medicine Hat-November 21, 1995 Vancouver) was a Canadian actor. His children are called Tina Gerussi and Rico Gerussi.
Gerussi was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta. He began his acting career in the 1950s and went on to appear in numerous film and television productions, including "The Beachcombers," "Danger Bay," "The Littlest Hobo," and "The Pursuit of Happiness." Gerussi also did voice work for various animated series, such as "The Raccoons" and "The Care Bears Movie." In addition to his acting pursuits, Gerussi founded the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, British Columbia, which has since become a well-respected theatre company. He was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 1996.
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John Colicos
John Colicos (December 10, 1928 Montreal-March 6, 2000 Toronto) a.k.a. John Collicos was a Canadian actor. He had one child, Nicholas Colicos.
Colicos was known for his versatile acting skills and had a successful career in both film and television. He began his acting career in the early 1950s and gained international fame for his portrayal of the villainous character, Baltar, in the sci-fi TV series "Battlestar Galactica". He went on to star in several other popular TV shows including "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "The Islander", and "The Chisholms". In addition to his TV work, he also appeared in several films such as "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "The Viking Queen". Colicos was also a stage actor and performed in several productions both in Canada and the United Kingdom. He was known for his deep voice and commanding on-screen presence, and was widely regarded as one of Canada's most talented actors.
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Donald Brittain
Donald Brittain (June 10, 1928 Ottawa-July 21, 1989 Montreal) also known as Donald Brittain, OC was a Canadian film director, screenwriter, film producer and actor.
Brittain is known for his contributions to Canadian cinema, particularly in the realm of documentary films. He began his career as a journalist for the Montreal Gazette before transitioning to film in the 1950s. He produced and directed numerous documentaries over the course of his career, many of which explored Canadian history and culture. Some of his best-known works include "Fields of Endless Day" (1963), "Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks" (1978), and "Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry" (1976), which won numerous awards including an International Emmy. Brittain was a respected figure in Canadian film and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1983 for his contributions to the country's cultural landscape.
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Peter Donat
Peter Donat (January 20, 1928 Kentville-) a.k.a. Pierre Collingwood Donat is a Canadian actor. He has three children, Chris Donat, Caleb Donat and Lucas Donat.
Peter Donat is best known for his roles in stage productions, movies and TV shows. Some of his notable roles include Walter Arndt in the 1979 movie "The China Syndrome", William Mulder in the TV series "The X-Files", and Pope Clement VII in the TV series "Borgia".
Donat was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada and grew up in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He studied drama at Yale University and started his acting career in theater productions in New York. In the 1960s, he moved to Hollywood and began working in movies and TV shows.
Apart from his acting career, Donat is also a writer and has written a number of books, including "The Actor's Life: Journals 1956-1976" and "Plugging In: A Consumer's Guide to the New Electronic Products". He has also taught acting at several universities.
Donat currently lives in Point Reyes Station, California with his wife Maria Ley Piscator, whom he married in 1983.
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Gilles Vigneault
Gilles Vigneault (October 27, 1928 Natashquan, Quebec-) a.k.a. Gilles Vignault or Vigneault, Gilles is a Canadian film score composer, actor and publisher. He has seven children, Guillaume Vigneault, Michel Vigneault, Louis Vigneault, François Vigneault, Pascale Vigneault, Jessica Vigneault and Benjamin Vigneault.
Gilles Vigneault is best known for his contributions to the development and popularization of modern Quebecois music, particularly his role in the emergence of chanson québécoise, a style of music that showcases French-Canadian culture and language. He began his musical career in the 1950s, and quickly gained popularity with hits such as "Mon Pays" and "Gens du Pays," which became an unofficial national anthem for Quebec.
In addition to his music career, Vigneault has also been active in politics and social activism. He has been a prominent supporter of the Quebec sovereignty movement, and has used his music to advocate for social justice and environmental causes. Vigneault's cultural contributions have been widely recognized, and he has received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the Prix Denise-Pelletier and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.
Despite his many accomplishments, Vigneault has remained grounded and committed to his roots. He continues to live in the same small village where he was born, and has worked to promote local tourism and cultural initiatives in the region. Vigneault's music and activism continue to inspire generations of Quebecois, and his legacy as a cultural icon remains strong to this day.
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Donald Davis
Donald Davis (February 26, 1928 Newmarket-January 23, 1998 Toronto) also known as Donald George Davis was a Canadian actor.
He was best known for his role as General Hammond in the science-fiction television series Stargate SG-1. Davis also had numerous other television and film appearances, including The X-Files, The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson, and A League of Their Own. He initially pursued a career in music before transitioning to acting in the 1980s. Davis was a veteran of the Korean War and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force before becoming an actor. He passed away in 1998 due to heart failure.
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Walter Massey
Walter Massey (August 19, 1928 Toronto-August 4, 2014 Montreal) a.k.a. Walter Edward Hart Massey was a Canadian actor and voice actor.
Massey was born in Toronto in 1928, but grew up in Montreal where he attended McGill University. He began his acting career in the 1950s and became a regular presence on both stage and screen during the following decades. Massey appeared in many popular television shows of the time, including The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He also performed voice work for a number of animated series and films, including the role of Ra's al Ghul in Batman: The Animated Series. Massey was considered a versatile actor and known for his ability to portray both comedic and dramatic roles. In addition to his acting work, he was also a founding member of the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada.
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John Aylesworth
John Aylesworth (August 18, 1928 Toronto-July 28, 2010 Rancho Mirage) otherwise known as John Bansley Aylesworth was a Canadian screenwriter, television producer and actor. His children are called Linda Aylesworth, Cynthia Aylesworth, John Aylesworth, Bill Aylesworth, Robert Aylesworth and Thomas Aylesworth.
Aylesworth was best known as the co-creator and writer of the variety show, "Hee Haw," which aired from 1969 to 1993. Prior to that, he wrote and produced television shows in Canada like "The Wayne and Shuster Hour." He also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in various television shows and films, including "The Twilight Zone" and "The Jigsaw Murders." Aylesworth was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002 for his contributions to country music through his work on "Hee Haw."
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Larry Solway
Larry Solway (August 13, 1928 Toronto-January 9, 2012 Toronto) also known as Lawrence S. "Larry" Solway was a Canadian actor.
He began his acting career as a teenager in the late 1940s, appearing in small roles on stage and on television. Solway eventually became a recognized character actor, appearing in notable Canadian films such as "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" and "Ticket to Heaven."
In addition to his acting career, Solway was also a prominent voice actor in various Canadian radio dramas and commercials. He was known for his distinctive, deep voice which lent itself well to dramatic roles.
Solway was a beloved figure in Canadian theatre and film, and his contributions to the industry were recognized with numerous awards throughout his career. He continued to act well into his later years, appearing in his final film, "Still Mine," in 2012, the same year he passed away at the age of 83.
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Dennis St John
Dennis St John (September 27, 1928 Lambeth-November 6, 2007 Montreal) a.k.a. Dennis St-John, Dennis St. John or Sinj was a Canadian actor.
He was born in Lambeth, a district in South London, England, and later moved to Canada, where he became a well-known character actor. He appeared in numerous movies and television series throughout his career, including "The Dirty Dozen", "The Thomas Crown Affair", "The Dukes of Hazzard", and "Murdoch Mysteries". In addition to his acting work, St John was also a successful voice-over artist, lending his voice to many commercials and animated shows. Despite his success in the entertainment industry, St John was known for his humility and kindness, and was greatly respected by his peers. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances.
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