Acting, in form or another, is an integral part of every existing culture or any culture that ever existed in this world. Some parts of the world have only one type or class of people consequently identified by one fixed type of culture. On the other hand, some parts, like America and Canada, have a wide range of different types of people living there. This multiple coexistence of communities gives rise to colorful and innovative techniques in all spheres of life including acting. Canadian actors have been gifted with diverse capabilities that are recognized and appreciated at a global level.

1. William Shatner

William Shatner, also known as Bill Shatner, was born to Anne and Joseph Shatner on March 21, 1931 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was educated at Baron Byng High School, Westmount High School, and McGill University. He was trained for classical Shakespearean acting and, therefore, performed on television in Sophocles Oedipus Rex, Shakespeare’s Henry V and Marlowe’s Tamburlaine the Great. In the science fiction Star Trek series, he performed as James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise, and earned worldwide fame for it. He has written many novels which he converted into a series directed by himself, and he also performed in some of them. He performed in Star Trek from 1966 to 1969 and in Star Trek; the animated series in the years 1973-74. He also performed in seven Star Trek feature films from 1979 to 1994. He won two Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award for his performance in The Practice and Boston Legal.

2. Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland was born to Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas in London, England on December 21, 1966. His birth name is Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus. This British/Canadian actor is best known for his role as Jack Bauer in the Fox thriller Drama 24. He won an Emmy award and five nominations as well as a Golden Globe Award and four additional nominations. He also received a Screen Actors Guild Award with three nominations and two Satellite Awards. Both his parents are successful Canadian actors. Sutherland was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2005. His parents had also been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Kiefer Sutherland in this way is a ‘famous Canadian actor by birth.’

3. Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer

Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer was born to Isabella Mary and John Orme Plummer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on December 13, 1929. His first film was Stage Struck, but he is best known for his performance in the 1965 hit film The Sound of Music in which he played the role of widower as Captain George Ludwig Von Trap. Christopher Plummer has won an Oscar, two Tony Awards, one BAFTA, and one Golden Globe Award. This year, 2012, he has won an Academy Award for the Beginners and received the award at the age of 80 years. He is the oldest actor to win an Emmy Award.

4. Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland was bon to Dorothy Isobel and Frederick McLea in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on July 17, 1935. He studied at the University of Toronto, Canada, and received professional training in England where he made his first appearance as an actor. He started taking part in horror films like Castle of the Living Dead and Dr.Terror’s House of Horrors, with Christopher Lee in the early 1960s. Donald Sutherland was awarded on several occasions and many others a number of awards.  They include: Order of Canada, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Movie, Citizen X, 1995, Golden Globe Award for Citizen X, Golden Globe Award for Path of War, Canada’s Walk of Fame 2000 and Hollywood Walk of fame 2011.

5. Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey was born to Kathleen and Percy Carrey in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada on January 17, 1962. He attended Blessed Trinity Catholic School in New York, Agincourt Collegiate School and North View Heights Secondary School. He played the high-profile role of Stanley Ipkiss in The Mask and got the Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. He won two Golden Globe Awards and had been nominated four times for it. He won the People’s Choice Award twice along with one nomination. He has also won the Teen Choice Award and one MTV Movie Award.

6.  Michael J. Fox

Michael was born to Bill and Phyllis Fox in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on June 9, 1961. Fox played the role of Marty McFly in the Back to the Future triology. He also played Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties and the role of Mike Flaherty in Spin City. For his excellent performances in these roles he won three Emmy Awards, Three Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is a man of great character. Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he disclosed his medical condition openly. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by tremors in the hands or fingers. Even being in show business he did not want to conceal the weakness from his fans. He became an activist in 2000 and founded the Michael J.Fox Foundation. In recognition of his work relating to Parkinson ‘s disease, the Swedish Karolinska Institute honored him with Honorius Causa Doctorate.

7.  Dan Aykroyd

Daniel Edward Aykroyd was born to Samuel Peter Aykroyd and Lorraine Helene in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 1, 1952. He had two special features at birth; one being syndactyly, or webbed toes, characterized by the fusion of one or more toes, and the other being heterochromia, a condition characterized by two different-colored eyes. His left eye is brown while the right eye is green. He studied criminology and sociology at Carleton University but did not complete his education. He wrote for Saturday Night Live and received an Emmy Award for it. He was also nominated twice for this award on account of his outstanding performance in a comedy series.

8. Mathew Perry

Mathew Langford Perry was born to Suzane Jane Louise Morrison and John Bennet Perry on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, U.S. He attended the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks and was obsessed with playing tennis. At the age of 13 he was the number 2 player in Ottawa. He wanted to play professional tennis, but his wishful thinking was not a success; therefore, he turned to acting. He played many important roles and in 2000 won the TV Guide Award. In 2004 he won the Teen Choice Award. In 1997 he suffered from pancreatitis and lost 20 pounds in weight.

9. Alexander Knox

Alexander Knox was born in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada on January 16, 1907. He suffered from bone cancer and died at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario. He started to perform in Boston but later on went to England where he performed in many films. Darryl F. Zanuck, who was going to produce a film on the biography of the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, selected Knox to star in Wilson. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his outstanding performance in this role.

10. Corey Haim

Corey Ian Haim was born to Judy and Bernie Haim in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on December 23, 1971. He suffered from pneumonia and died at the young age of 38 in Burbank, California, U.S. on March 10, 2010. He performed the lead role in many films like License to Drive, Silver Bullet, and Lucas. He is best known for his role in The Lost Boys. In 1980 his Hollywood career he was regarded as a teen idol. Although  Corey Haim started acting at an early age of only 10 playing in a TV comedy series The Edison Twins, his real breakout role was in the 1986 role in Lucas. Having a lot of money and fame too early, he fell a victim to drugs and lost his life due to his addiction while he was only 38.

Conclusion:

Family background has a definite bearing upon the making and futurity of actors. In many cases the acting career brings money, fame, and bit of unlucky factors in the form of divorce, addictions, etc. At this juncture as a great disturbance, few of them engage themselves to achieve an even higher purpose. For example, Michael J. Fox, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease knew very well that his career as an actor was over. But instead of surrendering to it, he started a fight against the disease through the development of the Micheal J. Fox Foundation and was given an honorary doctorate for it. His fans who liked him as an actor loved him more in his new role.