Top Canadian Actors

Canada has established a solid presence in world cinema over the last 50 years with numerous excellent actors who starred in a variety of movie genres.

A notable name among the older generation of actors is the comedian Rick Moranis. Born in 1953 in Toronto, Ontario, Moranis became a prominent actor during the 1980’s with his roles in famous movies such as Ghostbusters; Spaceballs; Honey, I shrunk the Kids; and My Blue Heaven. Throughout the 1980’s, he also recorded the music albums The Great White North (1981), and You, Me, the Music and Me, which also gained him fame as a musician. Moranis formally retired in 1997, though he continued to act as an advisor to other comedians.

A prominent member of the same generation is Dan Aykroyd (born in 1952), the originator of Ghostbusters, actor, screenwriter, and also a well-known ufologist and researcher of the supernatural.

Another name familiar to fans of classic movies is Michael J. Fox, born in 1961, who became famous for his role of Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy. He also starred in several television series such as Family Ties and Spin City. He retired from his acting career in 2000 due to illness.

An actress who grew to fame in more recent times is Pamela Anderson, born in 1967. She started her career as a model and showgirl and later gained fame as an actress by starring in the series Baywatch (as C. J. Parker) and V.I.P. (as Vallery Irons). She participated in several movies, among which Barb Wire, Scooby-Doo, and Scary Movie 3. Anderson is also a well-known vegetarian and activist for animal rights. She has participated in various public events, such as the “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign in 2003, and campaigns against seal hunting in Canada.

Keanu Reeves, born in 1964, is another Canadian actor to reach world fame for his roles in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Speed, The Devil’s Advocate, and The Matrix trilogy. He is known to have started his acting career at the age of nine in a theatrical production of Damn Yankees. An interesting fact is that Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, yet received Canadian citizenship through naturalization.

Carrie-Anne Moss is another well-known Canadian actress who also starred in The Matrix trilogy (in the role of Trinity). Born in 1967, the actress graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at the age of 21. She took her fist steps in acting by joining the Vancouver children’s musical theater at the age of eleven. The part of Trinity (1999) was her breakthrough and first major success. Commenting on the Matrix, the actress explained that she couldn’t wear glasses anymore because whenever she put them on, people would recognize her. During the years she starred in more movies, such as The Crew, Red Planet, and Chocolat. The actress has won the Independent Spirit Award for Snow Cake in 2002 and the Genie Award for Memento in 2007 (best actress in supporting role). Carrie-Anne Moss is married to Steven Roy, and the couple has three children.


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