Canadian actors who deceased in 2012
Here are 10 famous actors from Canada died in 2012:
David Rakoff
David Rakoff (November 27, 1964 Montreal-August 9, 2012 New York City) also known as David Benjamin Rakoff was a Canadian journalist, essayist, writer, actor and author.
He grew up in Montreal and later moved to Toronto, where he pursued his passion for the arts by studying film at Ryerson University. After graduation, he made a career as a freelance writer, contributing to publications such as GQ, The New York Times, and Salon.com.
In addition to writing, Rakoff was also an accomplished actor. He appeared in several stage productions, including a one-man show based on his essays called "David Rakoff: Words, Words, Words," which was well-received by audiences and critics alike.
Rakoff published several essay collections, including "Fraud," for which he won the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and "Don't Get Too Comfortable." He also narrated the audiobook version of David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day."
Sadly, Rakoff passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cancer.
Read more about David Rakoff on Wikipedia »
Jonathan Frid
Jonathan Frid (December 2, 1924 Hamilton-April 14, 2012 Hamilton) a.k.a. John Herbert Frid was a Canadian actor.
He was best known for his role as vampire Barnabas Collins in the original television series "Dark Shadows" which aired from 1966 to 1971. Frid started his acting career in the 1950s and had appeared in numerous theater productions, television series, and films including "Seaway," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," and "Murder, She Wrote." He was also a talented stage actor, often returning to his theatrical roots even after achieving success in film and television. Frid passed away in Hamilton, Ontario in 2012 at the age of 87.
Read more about Jonathan Frid on Wikipedia »
Peter Breck
Peter Breck (March 13, 1929 Rochester-February 6, 2012 Vancouver) a.k.a. Joseph Peter Breck, Buddy, Jobie or Joseph was a Canadian actor. His child is called Christopher Breck.
Peter Breck began his acting career in the 1950s and rose to fame in the 1960s with his portrayal of the hot-headed Nick Barkley in the popular western TV series, "The Big Valley." He also appeared in numerous films, including "Benji" and "Shock Corridor," and made guest appearances on several popular TV shows like "Maverick," "The Twilight Zone," and "Perry Mason." Breck was known for his intense, dramatic performances and was beloved by fans for his charismatic presence. In addition to his acting career, he was also a talented writer and artist. Breck passed away in Vancouver in 2012 at the age of 82.
Read more about Peter Breck on Wikipedia »
Winston Rekert
Winston Rekert (July 10, 1949 Vancouver-September 14, 2012 Vancouver) also known as Winston A. Rekert or WinstonRekert was a Canadian actor, film director, television director and screenwriter.
Rekert starred in numerous television series and films, including "Blue Murder," "Blue Murder: Killer Cop," and "Cold Squad." He also appeared in the Academy Award-winning film "Unforgiven" and the television series "24." In addition to his acting career, Rekert also directed and wrote for television and film. He directed episodes of popular Canadian television series such as "Da Vinci's Inquest" and "Robson Arms." Rekert received the Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for his work on "Blue Murder." He was also a member of the Order of British Columbia, which is awarded to individuals for outstanding achievement in their field.
Read more about Winston Rekert on Wikipedia »
Johnny Lewis
Johnny Lewis (October 29, 1983 Los Angeles-September 26, 2012 Los Angeles) also known as Jonathan Kendrick Lewis, Johnny K. Lewis or Jonathan Kendrick "Johnny" Lewis was a Canadian actor, writer, poet, painter and philanthropist.
He began his acting career with small roles in TV shows such as "Drake & Josh" and "The O.C." before gaining recognition for his role as Kip "Half-Sack" Epps on the popular TV show "Sons of Anarchy". Lewis also had roles in films such as "The Runaways" and "AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem". In addition to his acting career, Lewis was also an accomplished painter and poet, and was known for his philanthropic work with organizations such as Charity: Water. Tragically, he passed away in 2012 from a fall following erratic behavior that was later attributed to drug use and mental health issues.
Read more about Johnny Lewis on Wikipedia »
Barry Cahill
Barry Cahill (May 28, 1921 Vancouver-April 9, 2012 Ventura) was a Canadian actor. He had two children, Susan Thomas and Christine Cahill.
Cahill began his acting career in the 1940s, appearing in a number of films such as "Northern Pursuit" (1943) and "Old Acquaintance" (1943). He later transitioned to television, and became a familiar face in the 1950s and 1960s, with appearances on popular shows like "Gunsmoke" and "Perry Mason". In addition to his acting work, Cahill also served in World War II as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He later became an advocate for veterans' rights and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his service. Cahill passed away in 2012 at the age of 90.
Read more about Barry Cahill on Wikipedia »
Paul O'Sullivan
Paul O'Sullivan (April 4, 1964 Canada-May 18, 2012 Peterborough) also known as Skippy's Rangers was a Canadian actor, television director, screenwriter and voice actor.
He grew up in Toronto and began his career in the entertainment industry in the late 1980s. He is best known for his work on the Canadian television series "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High". He played the role of Mad Dog in the series and also wrote several episodes. O'Sullivan also directed episodes of the popular Canadian television series "Due South" and "North of 60". In addition to his work in television, O'Sullivan also had several film credits, including the 1994 film "Exotica". O'Sullivan passed away on May 18, 2012, in Peterborough, Ontario, at the age of 48. He is remembered as a talented and versatile entertainer who made significant contributions to Canadian television and film.
Read more about Paul O'Sullivan on Wikipedia »
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.
Read more about Larry Solway on Wikipedia »
David Anthony Pizzuto
David Anthony Pizzuto (July 9, 1951 Fort Erie-February 10, 2012 Burbank) also known as David Anthony Pizatto, David Pizzoto, David A. Pizzuto or David Pizzuto was a Canadian actor and voice actor.
He began his career in Toronto as a stage actor before moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s. Pizzuto appeared in various television shows such as "ER", "The X-Files", and "Star Trek: Voyager". He was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to numerous video games including "Final Fantasy X", "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2", and "Mass Effect 2". In addition to acting, Pizzuto was a writer and producer, and co-created the animated series "Zolar". He passed away in 2012 at the age of 60 due to complications from diabetes.
Read more about David Anthony Pizzuto on Wikipedia »
Frank Peppiatt
Frank Peppiatt (March 19, 1927 Toronto-November 7, 2012 Ponte Vedra Beach) a.k.a. Frank Grant Peppiatt was a Canadian screenwriter, television producer and actor.
He was best known for his work on several successful television shows, including "The Red Skelton Show," "The Carol Burnett Show," and "Hee Haw." Peppiatt began his career in entertainment as a stand-up comedian, but eventually transitioned to writing and producing for television. He was inducted into the Canadian Television Hall of Fame in 1996, and received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2011. Peppiatt passed away in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida in 2012, at the age of 85. His legacy as a pioneer in the world of television humor continues to inspire upcoming comedians and producers to this day.
Read more about Frank Peppiatt on Wikipedia »