Gordon Pinsent

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

0.643

Gender

Male

Birthday

12-Jul-1930

Age

(95 years old)

Place of Birth

Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Also Known As
  • NO INFO PROVIDED

Gordon Pinsent

Biography

Gordon Edward Pinsent CC FRSC (July 12, 1930 – February 25, 2023) was a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He began his career in the 1940s, delving into radio dramas before serving in the Canadian Army. His extensive four-decade-long career spans stage, TV, and film, starring in notable works like "Quentin Durgens MP," "The Rowdyman," and "Power Play." He's received numerous awards, including ACTRA, GENIE, and GEMINI Awards, and earned honoraries from several universities. Pinsent's skills extend to writing; his novels inspired feature films, and he penned his memoirs, "By the Way." He shared a close friendship with Marlon Brando, often enjoying drive-in movies with Brando's family.


Credits

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town (2012) Character: Elder Stephen Leacock / Narrator
Stephen Leacock recounts his growing up period in the small town of Mariposa, Ontario, located on the shores of Lake Wissanotti with its notoriously leaky holiday steamer. It is a town similar to many other small towns in Canada with its odd assortment of residents.
Pale Saints Pale Saints (1997) Character: Gus
Two small time hoods pretend to be serious henchmen in order to get to do a job in Toronto that they think will get them serious recognition in the mob. Things soon get out of control.
The Life and Times of Edwin Alonzo Boyd The Life and Times of Edwin Alonzo Boyd (1982) Character: Edwin Boyd
Based on fact, this is the story of a notorious Canadian bank-robbery gang.
Age of Dysphoria Age of Dysphoria (2020) Character: Fred
A young woman tracks down an elderly man in order to make amends for the tragedy that devastated his life.
Hemingway vs. Callaghan Hemingway vs. Callaghan (2003) Character: Morley Callaghan
'Hemingway vs. Callaghan' is based on the true story of the friendship between Ernest Hemingway and Morley Callaghan in Toronto and Paris between 1923 and 1929.
The Rowdyman The Rowdyman (1972) Character: Will Cole
Will Cole is a charismatic 35 year old paper mill laborer who seems to celebrate a life of bad choices. He lives and behaves as if he was still 18, womanizing and drinking and rejecting responsibility because he sees no reason to take life seriously. Surprisingly enough, despite his devil-may-care attitude, he has several important people in his life. He maintains a special relationship with Stan, an old mentor who lives in a nursing home, and Ruth, the only woman he truly cares about. Andrew is his best friend but grows tired of Will's antics, and he is soon to be married and moving on. Will constantly has something up his sleeve but his pranks inevitably bring pain and tragedy to those closest to him, forcing him to reevaluate his life and make some difficult decisions.
John and the Missus John and the Missus (1987) Character: John Munn
A small Canadian town is devasted when a local mine--the town's only source of income--is closed. One man incurs the wrath of the townsmen when he stubbornly refuses the small amount of settlement money offered by the government.
Horse Latitudes Horse Latitudes (1975) Character: Donald Crowhurst
Based on the true story of Philip Stockton, a 40 year old Englishman, who would have done almost anything to be the first man to sail around the world in a single-handed boat--or at least hold the title.
At Home by Myself... with You At Home by Myself... with You (2009) Character: Narrator (voice)
A multi phobia-plagued single woman who hasn't left her apartment in six years finds her carefully organized existence disrupted by her hot new 'on-the-go' neighbor.
Big News From Grand Rock Big News From Grand Rock (2015) Character: N/A
A small town journalist's fabricated stories attracts unwanted attention when one of them turns out to be true.
Only God Knows Only God Knows (1974) Character: John Hagan
The sponsors of a drug-rehabilitation center stage a robbery to maintain funding of the facility, but the loot turns out to be syndicate-owned.
Blackwood Blackwood (1976) Character: Narrator
This short film studies the works of one of Canada's greatest contemporary etchers - Newfoundland-born David Blackwood. The artist himself guides viewers through a step-by-step explanation of the etching process. Scenes of his hometown, examples of his own work and vivid tales of an old mariner recall the tragic seal hunts and a way of life that has now vanished.
The River of My Dreams The River of My Dreams (2017) Character: N/A
Director Brigitte Berman profiles Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent, who left Newfoundland in the late 1940s to launch a storied, seven-decade career as one of the leading actors and most beloved figures in Canadian film and television.
Newfoundland Scene Newfoundland Scene (1951) Character: Himself
A portrait of Newfoundland that records a way of life that has all but disappeared.
Mysteries of the Great Lakes Mysteries of the Great Lakes (2008) Character: Narrator
Through several interlocking stories, including the story of maritime commerce and the ships that move cargo through the inland waterway, Mysteries of the Great Lakes will take you on a journey through the greatest lake system in the world, and showcase the amazing geography, ecology, science, and history of the region.
Stranded Yanks: A Diary Between Friends Stranded Yanks: A Diary Between Friends (2002) Character: Narrator
When American citizens were stranded in Canada on 9/11, their northern neighbors opened their doors.
The Time of the Tar Sands The Time of the Tar Sands (1975) Character: N/A
A promotional video produced by the Alberta government in 1975, "The time of the tar sands", featuring Gordon Pinsent. credit: Archives of Alberta.
A Passage from Burnt Islands A Passage from Burnt Islands (1992) Character: Narrator (voice)
In his crusade for literacy, principal Ray Brown enlisted the help of the community and broke through the cycle of illiteracy in a small Newfoundland fishing village. He turned the struggling elementary school into a place where students were eager to learn and instilled in parents a sense of hope for their children's future.
Still Rowdy After All These Years Still Rowdy After All These Years (2011) Character: Self
A documentary retrospective on the prolific career of acclaimed Canadian actor, writer and director Gordon Pinsent.
Playing the Machines Playing the Machines (2009) Character: Narrator
Video lottery addiction is a serious problem in Canada, but does the government's need for revenue mean the enormous social costs are being ignored? This is a story about a society hooked on gambling and the people trying to force lottery corporations to come clean and take responsibility for what's happening to people whose lives are being devastated by Playing Machines. Also at the center of the story, a pugnacious Canadian Actor, John Dunsworth (Trailer Park Boys), who's gambling addictions nearly destroyed his career.
Silence of the North Silence of the North (1981) Character: John Frederickson
Director Allan King's 1981 drama, based on true events, stars Ellen Burstyn as a strong-willed woman struggling to survive with her family in the Canadian wilderness.
A Case of Libel A Case of Libel (1983) Character: Dennis Corcoran
Fact-based courtroom drama about a news reporter in 1954 who sued a columnist for libel after he proclaimed him a communist in print.
The Red Green Story: We're All in This Together The Red Green Story: We're All in This Together (2008) Character: Hap Shaughnessy
This behind-the-scenes special features cast members musing over public television's beloved "The Red Green Show," the wacky sketch series revolving around the wit and wisdom of outdoors-man, handyman and populist philosopher Red Green (Steve Smith). Backstage anecdotes, rare outtakes and cast commentary shed light on the smart writing and spot-on acting that helped make this unlikely show such a long-running success.
The Heatwave Lasted Four Days The Heatwave Lasted Four Days (1975) Character: Cliff Reynolds
A TV news cameraman's appetite for fine wine, fast cars and beautiful women draws him into the grip of a heroin smuggler.
The Suicide's Wife The Suicide's Wife (1977) Character: Allan Crane
An unsuccessful middle-aged college professor commits suicide, leaving his wife to cope with guilt, shame, and an angry teenage son who blames her for his father's death.
A Vow to Kill A Vow to Kill (1995) Character: Frank Waring
Rachel is the daughter of a wealthy media tycoon. Her husband dies in a car crash. Years later she meets Eric a photographer for New Woman magazine. They fall in love and quickly marry. On honeymoon in a remote cottage we discover that Eric's plan all along has been to get some of her father's money and sets in motion a faked kidnap of himself and Rachel. Rachel is unaware of his plan but begins to suspect something due to his suspicious behaviour. As her father hires a investigator to catch the kidnappers, Rachel begins to fear for her safety as Eric's plan becomes clearer.
Bonds of Love Bonds of Love (1993) Character: Leon
A divorced woman falls in love with a mentally-disabled man, but his family objects to their relationship.
Escape From Iran: The Canadian Caper Escape From Iran: The Canadian Caper (1981) Character: Ambassador Ken Taylor
A dramatized account of how the staff of the Canadian Embassy helped a group of American diplomats escape from Iran during the Iranian Revolution.
Heyday! Heyday! (2006) Character: Monroe Gillette
During World War II, the usually sleepy town of Gander, Newfoundland is abuzz with activity as the stopover point for many flights between North America and the European Theater. Teenager Terry Fleming, who lives just outside of Gander, is feeling conflicted. He wants to work in Gander so that he can have access to the plethora of movie stars and GIs flying though the area.
Colossus: The Forbin Project Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) Character: The President
The U.S. has handed over control of its nuclear defense system to the Colossus supercomputer designed by scientist Dr. Charles Forbin. It soon becomes clear, that the now-sentient Colossus is far more intelligent than its creator realized—with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
Quarantined Quarantined (1970) Character: Dr. Bud Bedford
A family of doctors that runs a medical clinic finds itself up against a sudden cholera epidemic and other difficulties like a movie star who refuses to cooperate with her treatment.
Back Home Again Back Home Again (2021) Character: Jack Rabbit (voice)
An animated reimaging of the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta's history, with upwards of 88,000 people forced from their homes.
The Sparky Book The Sparky Book (2006) Character: Goldfish
In Newfoundland filmmaker Mary Lewis' live action/animation hybrid short film, a talking goldfish tells us the poignant story of his best friend, Sparky the dog, and Sparky's owner, a young girl suffering from a serious illness. The dog lords an unusual reign on a harbour city, but his bond to the girl is tested when her illness takes a dark turn.
Pippi Longstocking Pippi Longstocking (1997) Character: Capt. Efraim Longstocking (voice)
Pippi Longstocking is an extraordinary little girl who lives alone in her house, while her father sails the seven seas. Pippi's irrepressibly fun nature makes her easy to befriend, as neighbors Tommy and Annika find, but can also earn ire, especially from social worker Mrs. Prysselius.
Two Lovers and a Bear Two Lovers and a Bear (2016) Character: Bear (voice)
Set in a small town near the North Pole where roads lead to nowhere, the story follows Roman and Lucy, two burning souls who come together to make a leap for life and inner peace.
Saint Ralph Saint Ralph (2005) Character: N/A
This Canadian made comedy/drama, set in Hamilton, Ontario in 1954, is a sweet and - at times - goofy story that becomes increasingly poignant as the minutes tick by. It's the fictional tale of a wayward 9th grader, Ralph (Adam Butcher), who is secretly living on his own while his widowed, hospitalized mother remains immersed in a coma. Frequently in trouble with Father Fitzpatrick (Gordon Pinsent), the principal of his all-boys, Catholic school, Ralph is considered something of a joke among peers until he decides to pull off a miracle that could save his mother, i.e., winning the Boston Marathon. Coached by a younger priest and former runner, Father Hibbert (Campbell Scott), whose cynicism has been lifted by the boy's pure hope, Ralph applies himself to his unlikely mission, fending off naysayers and getting help along a very challenging path from sundry allies and friends.
Life Doesn't Frighten Me Life Doesn't Frighten Me (2012) Character: Francis Weary
Insecure thirteen year-old Esther Weary is on the brink of puberty and must come to terms with the realities of becoming a woman with her well-meaning grandpa and his pet pug.
Who Has Seen the Wind Who Has Seen the Wind (1977) Character: Gerald O'Connal
The coming-of-age of adolescent Brian O'Connal in small town Depression-era Saskatchewan is told. The son of the local pharmacist Gerald O'Connal, Brian is in many ways a typical boy, who dislikes school if only because of his run-ins with the nervous schoolteacher, Miss MacDonald, and who tries to catch gophers with his friends, Artie and Forbsie. His best friend and protector is slightly older Jonathan Ben, better known as The Young Ben (as his father is referred to as The Ben), who is highly regarded as a problem by those in town who see themselves as the moral authority if only because of The Young Ben's association to The Ben, the town still keeper and drunk. Brian's life takes a turn when his parents have to leave town temporarily, while Brian stays on his Uncle Sean's farm. That stint leads to a series of events which make Brian see life around him through slightly older and wiser eyes.
A Holiday for Love A Holiday for Love (1996) Character: Cal Marsdon
A man is sent to a small town to assess which of the workers in the local factory that supplies the town with jobs should get the boot when the downsizing begins. He gets sidetracked when he falls in love with a local, a cute single mom.
Klondike Fever Klondike Fever (1980) Character: Swiftwater Bill
This movie chronicles Jack London's epic journey from San Francisco to the Klondike gold fields in 1898.
The Thomas Crown Affair The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Character: Jamie
Young businessman Thomas Crown is bored and decides to plan a robbery and assigns a professional agent with the right information to the job. However, Crown is soon betrayed yet cannot blow his cover because he’s in love.
The Devil at Your Heels The Devil at Your Heels (1981) Character: Narrator (Voice)
Devil at Your Heels, traces the trials of stuntman Ken Carter who attempts a death-defying aerial jump in a car. Not content with a normal jump, Ken Carter attempts a jump from Canada to the USA. This feature-length documentary shines a light on the intense preparation that led to Carter’s first attempt to jump a car across a mile-wide stretch of the St. Lawrence River – a 5-year period during which the dare-devil raised a million dollars, erected a 10-storey take-off ramp and built a rocket-powered car. Winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 4th Genie Awards in 1983.
Pirate's Passage Pirate's Passage (2015) Character: Harry the Barber (voice)
Set in 1952 Grey Rocks – a centuries old town that was famous 250 years ago as a favored port of pirates – Pirate’s Passage follows the story of 12-year-old Jim. Fraught by the death of his father and forced to endure schoolyard bullying each day, Jim manages to carry on, buoyed by his optimistic imagination and fueled by his sense of adventure. The sudden arrival of Captain Johnson, whose small sailboat has been thrown off course by a storm, changes Jim’s life. The Captain quickly becomes a mentor and friend to Jim, giving him extraordinary lessons in self-reliance and determination. Soon, Jim develops a liberating self-assurance that so deeply touches the Captain that he allows Jim to see evidence that the Captain may be more than meets the eye. Is Captain Johnson the same Charles Johnson who was a pirate there two hundred years ago? The lad goes with him on a literal journey into the past to find out and emerges able to navigate the course of his life.
Blind Terror Blind Terror (2001) Character: Martin Howell
After marrying a handsome man she barely knows, a woman experiences threatening calls and violent attacks from a mysterious woman who claims to be her new husband's former lover.
The Shipping News The Shipping News (2001) Character: Billy Pretty
An emotionally-beaten man with his young daughter moves to his ancestral home in Newfoundland to reclaim his life.
Incident on a Dark Street Incident on a Dark Street (1973) Character: Joe - Mayor
A small-time hood is murdered just as he is about to blow the whistle on an organized crime ring.
Flight of the Butterflies Flight of the Butterflies (2012) Character: Dr Fred Urquhart
It takes two or three generations for the monarch butterfly to reach the Canadian breeding grounds, but it is one "supergeneration" that makes the 2,000 mile return trip back south into central Mexico. The documentary film covers Dr Fred Urquhart's interest in monarch butterflies, with perspectives of Urquhart as a child wondering where the butterflies went, his years of research and study into their life and migration, to his time decades-later as a senior scientist looking back at his investigations and discoveries about the insect's life pattern.
Nothing Nothing (2003) Character: Man In Suit
The film tells the story of two good friends who live together, Andrew, an agoraphobic travel agent who works from his home, and Dave, a loser who works in an office where he is treated with contempt. Just when it seems things can't get any worse for the two, the entire world outside of their house disappears and is replaced with an endless white void.
The Spine The Spine (2009) Character: Dan Rutherford
A poignant story of redemption that takes us into the relationship between a man and a woman trapped in a spiral of mutual destruction after 26 years of marriage, the Spine continues Landreth's pursuit of a twisted, beautiful and highly original visual aesthetic, using digital imagery to create characters whose physical appearances are metaphors for their unique souls.
In the Eyes of a Stranger In the Eyes of a Stranger (1992) Character: Lt. Ted Burk
An overworked woman encounters a pair of armed robbers on the subway home. When one of them is killed, apparently as he divulges the location of some stashed money to her- police place her in protective custody, only she is uncertain what the man told her prior to being shot as she was wearing a pair of headphone as the time. She meets up with a disgruntled cop (Richard Dean Anderson) who decides to join her in searching for the money. A strange twist makes their hunt possible.
Старик и море Старик и море (1999) Character: Old Man (voice)
An old fisherman makes the biggest catch of his life.
Ambulance Girl Ambulance Girl (2005) Character: Pete
The story revolves around former food writer, Jane Stern, and how she conquered clinical depression after becoming a paramedic.
Due South Due South (1994) Character: Fraser Sr.
The movie that the TV series was spun off from. When a legendary Canadian Mountie is murdered, his son (and fellow RCMP) Constable Benton Fraser follows the trail of his killers to Chicago, where he teams up with a local cop to bring them to justice. However, he soon finds that the trail leads closer to home than he ever imagined.
Babar: The Movie Babar: The Movie (1989) Character: King Babar
Children's book authors Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff's most beloved elephant comes to the big screen in this animated family tale. Elephant monarch King Babar tells the tale, that unfolds via flashback, of how a much-younger Barbar and his girlfriend Celeste save her village from the pugnacious rhinoceroses that have come to raid it.
Sex After Kids Sex After Kids (2013) Character: Dr. Keaton
A disparate variety of couples from all walks of life strive to maintain active sex lives despite the notable distraction of having kids.
Blood Clan Blood Clan (1990) Character: Judge William McKay
A family is executed by soldiers for cannibalism - except for the little girl, Katy Bane McKay. She is adopted by Judge Mackay and goes home with him to Canada, where she grows up with no knowledge of her family's past. Then, in the present, several deaths occur and people begin to think it's Katy Bane McKay.
Fallen Angel Fallen Angel (2003) Character: Warren Wentworth
When his father dies, Terry (Gary Sinese) returns to the house where he grew up, planning to stay only long enough to clean and settle the estate. Yet something indescribable keeps him there longer than expected. Soon, he is reunited with memories and people from his past and his life is changed forever.
Chandler Chandler (1971) Character: John Melchior
A private eye is hired to follow a mobster's former mistress.
The Grand Seduction The Grand Seduction (2014) Character: Simon
A small fishing village must procure a local doctor to secure a lucrative business contract. When unlikely candidate and big city doctor Paul Lewis lands in their lap for a trial residence, the townsfolk rally together to charm him into staying. As the doctor’s time in the village winds to a close, acting mayor Murray French has no choice but to pull out all the stops and begin The Grand Seduction.
The Good Shepherd The Good Shepherd (2004) Character: Cardinal Ledesna
When a clergyman is accused for the murder of a social worker, the parish priest recruits a reporter (and his ex-girlfriend) to clear his name.
Newman's Law Newman's Law (1974) Character: Jack Eastman
LAPD Officer Newman has not gotten the reputation of a straight arrow by avoiding conflict when fighting for right. In this police drama, his honesty is put to the test when he and his partner discover an international drug ring involving some of the department's highest ranking officers.
Blacula Blacula (1972) Character: Lt. John "Jack" Peters
An 18th century African prince is turned into a vampire while visiting Transylvania. Two centuries later, he rises from his coffin attacking various residents of Los Angeles and meets Tina, a woman who he believes is the reincarnation of his deceased wife.
Away from Her Away from Her (2007) Character: Grant
Fiona and Grant have been married for nearly 50 years. They have to face the fact that Fiona’s absent-mindedness is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. She must go to a specialized nursing home, where she slowly forgets Grant and turns her affection to Aubrey, another patient in the home.



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