Canada's Walk of Fame
A forty-year veteran of theatre, film, television and radio as an actor, playwright, author and director, Gordon Pinsent is well known to audiences across Canada and the United States. From his many starring roles in a wide variety of television programs and feature films, we remember the recognizable characters Pinsent has created in popular Canadian culture: the title role of Quentin Durgens MP, the stuffed-shirt Member of Parliament; Will Cole in The Rowdyman, a sort of Tom Jones let loose in Newfoundland; John in John and the Missus; Edgar Sturgess, the scarlet-coated militiaman in the TV series, A Gift to Last, written by Pinsent; Swiftwater, the Cardshark in Klondike Fever; Sgt. Fraser Senior in Due South; and his GEMINI Award winning performance as Duff in Powerplay.
Clearly, Pinsent successfully balances acting and writing. His novels, The Rowdyman and John and the Missus were both turned into feature films, with Pinsent directing the latter. The Rowdyman was made into a musical and presented at the Charlottetown Festival in 1976. He has co-starred with his wife, Charmion King, in two of his plays - Easy Down Easy and Brass Rubbings, and in Love Letters. Pinsent wrote and starred in the CBC Movie of the Week, Win Again, in which he won a GEMINI for his writing. His memoirs, By the Way, were published in 1994. Born in Newfoundland, Pinsent began his career at the Manitoba Theatre Centre, which led to roles at the Stratford Festival. This was followed by the role of Prospero in the The Tempest at the Vancouver Playhouse, and the leading role of Cyrano at the Stevenville Festival. He returned to the Stratford Festival to star in Trumpets and Drums.
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Interesting note
Pinsent began acting on stage in the 1940s at the age of 17. He soon took on roles in radio drama on the CBC, and later moved into television and film as well. In the early 1950s, he took a break from acting and joined the Canadian Army, serving for approximately four years as a Private in The Royal Canadian Regiment.Inductees
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Gordon Pinsent
Year of Induction: 2007
Area of Recognition: Actor
Born: July 12, 1930
Where: Grand Falls, NL
Notable Achievements
- Pinsent is a Companion of The Order of Canada and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada.
- Pinsent received an LL.D from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1975, and Honorary doctorates from Queen's University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Lakehead University (2008).
- It was on July 12, 2005, in his hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor, and in honor of his 75th birthday, that the Arts & Culture Centre was renamed The Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts.
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- On September 25, 2008 at a "Newfoundland and Labrador Inspired Evening" at The Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, the Company Theatre presented Mr. Pinsent with the inaugural Gordon Pinsent Award of Excellence.
