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Paul Gross

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For other uses, see Paul Gross (disambiguation).

Paul Gross
OC
Gross at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Paul Michael Gross

(1959-04-30) April 30, 1959 (age 65)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
Occupation(s)Actor, director, writer, producer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1988)​
Children2, including Hannah

Paul Michael Gross OC (born April 30, 1959)[1][2] is a Canadian actor, film and television director, screenwriter, playwright, and producer. He rose to fame for his lead role as RCMP Constable Benton Fraser on the popular Canadian television series Due South (1994-1997). He won three Gemini Awards for his work on the series, two for acting and one for writing.

Gross subsequently had success with two other Canadian television series, Slings & Arrows and Republic of Doyle. He made his film directorial debut with the cult comedy Men with Brooms, which spawned a television series of the same name. He wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the 2008 war film Passchendaele, which won the Genie Award for Best Motion Picture.[3]

At the 3rd Canadian Screen Awards in 2015, he received the Earle Grey Award for lifetime achievement.[4] That same year, he was awarded the Order of Canada for “his contributions to Canadian film and television, as an actor, writer and director.”[5]

Early life

[edit]

Gross was born in Calgary, Alberta, the son of Renie Gross (née Dunne), a writer and art historian of Irish descent, and Robert "Bob" Gross, a career soldier, colonel, and tank commander.[6][7] His family moved to Arlington, Virginia in his adolescence, where Gross attended Yorktown High School. He credits drama teacher Timothy Jecko as his inspiration for becoming an actor: "I'm not sure where I would have ended up otherwise."[8]

Career

[edit]

Gross studied acting at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, but he left during the third year of his study.[9] He went back later to complete the half-credit needed to receive his fine arts degree.[10] He appeared in several stage productions, such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.[11] Other productions in which he appeared include Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme and As You Like It.[11] His student work The Deer and the Antelope Play was co-produced by the university's department of drama and Theatre Network, and won both the Clifford E. Lee National Playwriting Award and the Alberta Culture Playwriting Award.[10]

After the play Successful Strangers, Gross starred in his first movie, Turning to Stone.[12][13]

He wrote and directed the curling movie Men with Brooms.[14] Gross starred in the television series Slings & Arrows from 2003 to 2006 alongside his wife Martha Burns, which The A.V. Club called "one of TV's greatest shows".[15]

In 2008, he attracted widespread attention in Canada when he wrote, co-produced, directed, and starred in the Genie Award-winning film Passchendaele, inspired by stories he heard from his grandfather, a First World War soldier.[10] The film had its premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival on September 4, 2008, when it also had the honour of opening the festival.[16] The film received a mixed reception upon release. [17] Despite this, it won several awards; namely five awards the 29th Genie Awards, including Best Picture,[18] and the Golden Reel Award for Canada's top-grossing film of 2008.[19] On March 2, 2009, Paul Gross was honoured for his film Passchendaele, winning that year's National Arts Centre Award for achievement over the past performance year.[20]

From September 16, 2011, he appeared in a production of Noël Coward's Private Lives in Toronto co-starring Kim Cattrall (the production ended October 30, 2011);[21] the production moved to Broadway where it opened November 6, and closed on December 31, 2011.[22] That year, he also produced a feature film with Akshay Kumar called Breakaway starring Camilla Belle and Vinay Virmani.[23]

Between 2011 and 2014, he appeared in nine episodes as Kevin Crocker on Republic of Doyle.[24][25]

More recently, Gross completed work on the contemporary war drama Hyena Road, released on October 9, 2015.[26][10]

Gross starred in the title role of King Lear during the 2023 season of the Stratford Festival.[27]

Due South

[edit]

His role as upright Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Benton Fraser in the Due South television series (1994–1999) brought him increased recognition.[28] Like fellow actor David Marciano, he didn't want to do the show at first, and creator Paul Haggis didn't even know if he wanted Gross for the role, but following a meeting, he was cast as Constable Benton Fraser.[29]

When Due South was revived for the third season, Gross returned in the role of Benton Fraser. He also took on duties as executive producer and writer. He earned an estimated salary of $2–3 million per season, and at the time was the highest-paid performer in Canadian television history.[30] He wrote several episodes of the last season of the series. His favourite episodes include "Gift of the Wheelman" and "All the Queen's Horses" and his episodes "Mountie on the Bounty" and "Call of the Wild" are of a similar style.[29]

Personal life

[edit]

In September 1988, Gross married Canadian actress Martha Burns.[31][27] The couple have two children, Hannah Gross, who is also an actress, and Jack Gross.[32]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Role Title Theatre
1981 Sylvius As You Like It Northern Light Theatre, Edmonton
Lysander A Midsummer Night's Dream
1982–1983  Frank Gardner Mrs. Warren's profession Theatre Calgary
  Unseen Hand
  Farther West
Clarence Underhill Walsh National Arts Centre, Ottawa
Motherwell The Kite Festival Lennoxville
  Take Me Where the Water Is Warm
George Gaga In the Jungle of Cities
1984 Dorante Successful Strangers Centaur Theatre, Montréal
Romeo Romeo and Juliet Toronto Free Theatre, Toronto
1988 Young Kenneth Pyper Observe the sons of Ulster marching towards the Somme Centrestage Co., Toronto
1989 Brick Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg
2000 Hamlet Hamlet Stratford Festival of Canada
2011 Elyot Private Lives Royal Alexandra Theatre, Music Box Theatre
2012 Edmund Gowery Are you there, McPhee? McCarter Theatre, New Jersey[33]
2015 Bill Pulver Domesticated Berkeley St. Theatre, co-production between The Company Theatre and Canadian Stage[34]
2020 James Wallack Keene Red Bull Theatre N.Y.[35]
2023 Lear King Lear Stratford Festival
2024 Lockhart The Seafarer Alberta Theatre Projects
2025 George Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Bluma Appel Theatre

Filmography

[edit]

Films

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Cold Comfort Stephen Miller
Divided Loyalties Walter Butler
1991 Married to It Jeremy Brimfield
1992 Buried on Sunday Augustus Knickel
1993 Aspen Extreme T.J. Burke
1994 Whale Music Daniel Howl
Paint Cans Morton Ridgewell
2002 Men with Brooms Chris Cutter Also writer and director
2004 Wilby Wonderful Buddy French
2008 Passchendaele Michael Dunne Also writer, producer and director
2010 Gunless The Montana Kid
Barney's Version Constable O'Malley of the North
2011 Speedy Singhs Producer
2015 Hyena Road Pete Mitchell Also writer, producer and director
Beeba Boys Jamie
2018 The Parting Glass Sean
2020 Falling Dr. Solvei
2021 The Middle Man The Sheriff

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Turning to Stone Billy Debut; television film
Airwaves Writer
1988 Chasing Rainbows Jake Kincaid 14 episodes
1989 Street Legal Steven Hines 2 episodes
1990 The Ray Bradbury Theater Skip 1 episode
Getting Married in Buffalo Jump Alex Bresnyachuk Television film
1993 Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian Spencer Writer
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Brian Hawkins 6 episodes
1994 XXX's & OOO's Bucky Dean Television film
1994–1999 Due South Constable Benton Fraser 67 episodes
1996–1998 The Red Green Show Kevin Black 5 episodes
1997 Noel's House Party Himself 1 episode[36]
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned Land Television film
1999 Murder Most Likely Patrick Kelly
2003–2005 The Eleventh Hour Tony Joel 2 episodes
2003–2006 Slings & Arrows Geoffrey Tennant 18 episodes
2004 H2O: The Last Prime Minister Thomas David McLaughlin Also writer and executive producer
Monday Report Episode #2.3
2005 Burnt Toast Scott Television film
2006 Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story John Diefenbaker 2 episodes
Hockey: A People's History Narrator 10 episodes
2008 The Trojan Horse Thomas David McLaughlin Also writer and executive producer
2009–2010 Eastwick Darryl Van Horne Regular; 12 episodes
2010 Men with Brooms Chris Cutter 12 episodes
2011–2014 Republic of Doyle Kevin Crocker 9 episodes
2017 Alias Grace Thomas Kinnear 4 episodes
2018 Caught Roy Patterson Miniseries; 5 episodes
2019 Tales of the City Brian Hawkins Main cast; 9 episodes
2021 Y: The Last Man President Ted Campbell 2 episodes

Honours

[edit]


Ribbon Description Notes
Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.)
  • Awarded on May 2, 2013;
  • Invested on February 13, 2015[37]
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada

Awards

[edit]
Year Award Category Film/Play Result
1981 Alberta Culture competition New Play The Deer and the Antelope Play Won
1982 Clifford E. Lee Foundation National Award for Playwrights The Deer and the Antelope Play Won
Alberta Culture competition New Play The Dead of Winter Won
1985 Dora Award Best Performance Romeo and Juliet Nominated
1986 Gemini Award Best Writing in a TV Drama In This Corner Nominated
1988 Dora Award Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Featured Role Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the Somme Won
1994 Gemini Award Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Gross Misconduct Nominated
1995 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Due South Won
1996 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Due South Won
1997 Gemini Award Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Nominated
(with Paul Quarrington, John Krizanc)
1998 Gemini Award Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Won
(with John Krizanc, R.B. Carney – Mountie on the Bounty, part 2)
Best Dramatic Series Due South Nominated
(with Frank Siracusa, Peter Bray, R.B. Carney, George Bloomfield)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Due South Nominated
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Nominated
(with R.B. Carney, John Krizanc – Mountie on the Bounty, part 1)
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Nominated
(Burning Down the House)
1999 Gemini Award Canada's Choice Award Due South Won
(with Frank Siracusa, David Cole, R.B. Carney)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Due South Nominated
2000 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Murder Most Likely Nominated
Best TV Movie or Dramatic Mini-Series Murder Most Likely Nominated
(with R.B. Carney, Frank Siracusa, Robert Forsyth, Anne Marie La Traverse)
2003 Canadian Comedy Award Pretty Funny Direction Men With Brooms Won
Pretty Funny Male Performance Men With Brooms Nominated
Pretty Funny Writing Men With Brooms Nominated
(with John Krizanc)
Genie Award Best Original Screenplay Men With Brooms Nominated
(with John Krizanc)
2004 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Slings & Arrows Won
2005 ACTRA Toronto Award Of Excellence   Won
Writers Guild of Canada Movie of the Week and/or Mini-Series H2O Won
(with John Krizanc)
Directors Guild of Canada Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Movie or Mini-Series H2O Won
Gemini Award Best Dramatic Mini-Series H2O Nominated
(with Frank Siracusa)
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series H2O Nominated
(with John Krizanc)
Monte Carlo Television Festival Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series H2O Won
2007 Gemini Award Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Slings & Arrows Won
2008 Gemini Award Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series The Trojan Horse Nominated
(with John Krizanc)
2009 Genie Award Best Motion Picture Passchendaele Won
(with Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger and Frank Siracusa)
Golden Reel Award Passchendaele Won
(with Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger and Frank Siracusa)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Passchendaele Nominated
NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction   Won
The Governor General's performing arts awards National Arts Centre Award: Exceptional Achievement over the Past Performance Year   Won
Directors Guild of Canada Team Feature Film Passchendaele Won
National History Society Pierre Berton Award Passchendaele Won
(Sources: Paul Gross website)

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Year Album
1997 Two Houses (with David Keeley)
2001 Love and Carnage (with David Keeley)

(first released as Give the Dog a Bone)[39]

Singles

[edit]
Year Single CAN Country Album
1997 "Voodoo" Two Houses
(with David Keeley)
1998 "32 Down on the Robert MacKenzie"
1999 "Papa's Front Porch" 61
2000 "Ride Forever"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lucas, Ralph (April 29, 2020). "Paul Gross". Northernstars.ca. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "Paul Gross biography and filmography | Paul Gross movies". Tribute. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Walker, Angela. "Paul Gross, Due South star, receiving Confederation Centre award". CBC.
  4. ^ "Paul Gross Receives Earle Grey Award at the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards". The Arts Guild. March 2015.
  5. ^ "Mr. Paul Gross".
  6. ^ Johnson, Brian D. "Paul Gross (Profile)".
  7. ^ "Paul Gross FAQ". paulgross.org.
  8. ^ Harris, Bill. "Paul Gross's Remarkable Teacher, Tim Jecko". Professionally Speaking. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "TV.com". Paul Gross Biography. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d MacPherson, Adrianna (October 11, 2015). "From Student to Star: With a new film hitting the big screen, actor-writer-director Paul Gross reflects on his time honing his craft in Edmonton". Avenue magazine Edmonton. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Paul's stage roles". Paul Gross website. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  12. ^ Gerald Pratley, A Century of Canadian Cinema. Lynx Images, 2003. ISBN 1-894073-21-5. p. 226.
  13. ^ Noel Taylor, "Show about women's prison shocking, moving". Ottawa Citizen, February 24, 1986.
  14. ^ Karrys, George (March 31, 2022). "Men With Brooms Turns 20". The Curling News. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "The creators of Slings & Arrows talk about creating one of TV's greatest shows". The A.V. Club. May 30, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  16. ^ Kelly, Brendan (July 16, 2008). "Toronto unveils Canadian selection". Variety. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "Passchendaele (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. December 7, 2010. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television". Academy.ca. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  19. ^ "Pre-Genie Awards Announced" Archived 2009-06-01 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Stars.
  20. ^ "War epic Passchendaele among GG winners". thestar.com. March 2, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "Private Lives". Mirvish Productions. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  22. ^ "About". Private Lives. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  23. ^ "Speedy Singhs as producer". bollywoodhungama.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011.
  24. ^ TheIndependent.ca (April 4, 2011). "Paul Gross guest starring on Republic of Doyle". The Independent. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "Paul Gross and Gordon Pinsent join Republic of Doyle season finale". thestar.com. April 20, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  26. ^ Daniel Chai. "Movie Review: Hyena Road takes you into the heart of Canada's Afghanistan war". Vancity Buzz.
  27. ^ a b "Paul Gross to play King Lear at Stratford Festival" by J. Kelly Nestruck at theglobeandmail.com
  28. ^ "Netflix will stream older Canadian TV shows including 'Due South' starring Paul Gross". thestar.com. August 12, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  29. ^ a b Due South Archived December 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  30. ^ "Paul Gross (Profile)". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  31. ^ "Paul Gross and Martha Burns onstage together for first time in 30 years" by Richard Ouzounian at thestar.com
  32. ^ "Martha Burns returns to her roots" by Richard Ouzounian at thestar.com
  33. ^ "Swimming in a Sea of Stories" by Charles Isherwood at www.nytimes.com
  34. ^ "Paul Gross and Martha Burns shine in ‘Domesticated’ but script falls short" by Richard Ouzounian at www.thestar.com
  35. ^ "Red Bull Theater Presents Anchuli Felicia King's Keene October 19" by Dan Meyer at playbill.com
  36. ^ "Paul Gross on Crinkley Bottom". August 30, 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2010 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ "Recipients". June 11, 2018.
  38. ^ "Recipients". June 11, 2018.
  39. ^ "Give a Dog a Bone (review)". Paul Gross. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
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