Paul Gross

Paul Michael Gross OC (born April 30, 1959)[1] is a Canadian actor, producer, director, singer, and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the television series Due South as well as his 2008 war film Passchendaele, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. During Due South's final season, Gross acted as executive producer in addition to starring, wrote the season three opener and finale, the two part series finale and wrote and sang songs for the show, some of which can be found on the two Due South soundtracks. He later found success with another Canadian TV series, Slings & Arrows. He also produced one film with Akshay Kumar called Speedy Singhs starring Camilla Belle and Vinay Virmani.[2]

For other uses, see Paul Gross (disambiguation).

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

(1959-04-30) April 30, 1959
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
OccupationActor
producer
screenwriter
composer
director
Years active1985–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. after 1988)​
Children2, including Hannah Gross

Early life

Gross was born in Calgary, Alberta, the son of Renie Gross (née Dunne), a writer and art historian, and Robert "Bob" Gross, a career soldier, colonel, and tank commander.[3][4] 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."[5]

Career

Gross studied acting at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, but he left during the third year of his study.[6] He went back later to complete the half-credit needed to receive his fine arts degree.[7] He appeared in several stage productions, such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.[8] Other productions in which he appeared include Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme and As You Like It.[8] 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.[7]

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

He wrote and directed the curling movie Men with Brooms. 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.[7]

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);[9] the production moved to Broadway where it opened November 6, and closed on December 31, 2011.[10]

More recently, Gross completed work on the contemporary war drama Hyena Road, released on October 9, 2015.[11][12][7]

Between 2011 and 2014 he appeared in 9 episodes as Kevin Crocker on Republic of Doyle.[13]

Due South

His role as upright Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Benton Fraser in the Due South television series brought him increased recognition. 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.[14]

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.[15] 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.[14]

Personal life

In September 1988, Gross married Canadian actress Martha Burns. The couple have two children, Hannah and Jack.

Theatre
Year Role Title Theatre
1981 Sylvius As You Like It Northern Light Theatre, Edmonton
Lysander A Midsummer Night's Dream
1982–1983   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

Filmography

Films
YearTitleRoleNotes
1989Cold ComfortStephen Miller
Divided LoyaltiesWalter Butler
1991Married to ItJeremy Brimfield
1992Buried on SundayAugustus Knickel
1993Aspen ExtremeT.J. Burke
1994Whale MusicDaniel Howl
Paint CansMorton Ridgewell
2002Men with BroomsChris CutterAlso writer and director
2004Wilby WonderfulBuddy French
2008PasschendaeleMichael DunneAlso writer, producer and director
2010GunlessThe Montana Kid
Barney's VersionConstable O'Malley of the North
2011Speedy SinghsProducer
2015Hyena RoadPete MitchellAlso writer, producer and director
Beeba BoysJamie
2018The Parting GlassSean

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Turning to StoneBillyDebut; television film
1986AirwavesWriter
1988Chasing RainbowsJake Kincaid14 episodes
1989Street LegalSteven Hines2 episodes
1990The Ray Bradbury TheaterSkip1 episode
Getting Married in Buffalo JumpAlex BresnyachukTelevision film
1993Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian SpencerWriter
1993Armistead Maupin's Tales of the CityBrian Hawkins6 episodes
1994XXX's & OOO'sBucky DeanTelevision film
1994–1999Due SouthConstable Benton Fraser67 episodes
1996–1998The Red Green ShowKevin Black5 episodes
1997Noel's House PartyHimself1 episode[16]
20,000 Leagues Under the SeaNed LandTelevision film
1999Murder Most LikelyPatrick KellyTelevision film
2003–2005The Eleventh HourTony Joel2 episodes
2003–2006Slings & ArrowsGeoffrey Tennant18 episodes
2004H2O: The Last Prime MinisterThomas David McLaughlinAlso writer and executive producer
Monday ReportThomas David McLaughlinEpisode #2.3
2005Burnt ToastScottTelevision film
2006Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas StoryJohn Diefenbaker2 episodes
Hockey: A People's HistoryNarrator10 episodes
2008The Trojan HorseThomas David McLaughlinAlso writer and executive producer
2009–2010EastwickDarryl Van HorneRegular; 12 episodes
2010Men with BroomsChris Cutter12 episodes
2011–2014Republic of DoyleKevin Crocker9 episodes
2017Alias GraceThomas Kinnear4 episodes
2018CaughtRoy PattersonMiniseries; 5 episodes
2019Tales of the CityBrian HawkinsMain cast; 9 episodes

Honours


RibbonDescriptionNotes
Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.)
  • Awarded on May 2, 2013;
  • Invested on February 13, 2015[17]
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada

Awards
Year Award Category Film/Play Result
1981Alberta Culture competitionNew PlayThe Deer and the Antelope PlayWon
1982Clifford E. Lee FoundationNational Award for PlaywrightsThe Deer and the Antelope PlayWon
Alberta Culture competitionNew PlayThe Dead of WinterWon
1985Dora AwardBest PerformanceRomeo and JulietNominated
1986Gemini AwardBest Writing in a TV DramaIn This CornerNominated
1988Dora AwardOutstanding Performance by a Male in a Featured RoleObserve the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the SommeWon
1994Gemini AwardBest Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesGross MisconductNominated
1995Gemini AwardBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleDue SouthWon
1996Gemini AwardBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleDue SouthWon
1997Gemini AwardBest Writing in a Dramatic SeriesDue SouthNominated
(with Paul Quarrington, John Krizanc)
1998Gemini AwardBest Writing in a Dramatic SeriesDue SouthWon
(with John Krizanc, R.B. Carney – Mountie on the Bounty, part 2)
Best Dramatic SeriesDue SouthNominated
(with Frank Siracusa, Peter Bray, R.B. Carney, George Bloomfield)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleDue SouthNominated
Best Writing in a Dramatic SeriesDue SouthNominated
(with R.B. Carney, John Krizanc – Mountie on the Bounty, part 1)
Best Writing in a Dramatic SeriesDue SouthNominated
(Burning Down the House)
1999Gemini AwardCanada's Choice AwardDue SouthWon
(with Frank Siracusa, David Cole, R.B. Carney)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleDue SouthNominated
2000Gemini AwardBest Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesMurder Most LikelyNominated
Best TV Movie or Dramatic Mini-SeriesMurder Most LikelyNominated
(with R.B. Carney, Frank Siracusa, Robert Forsyth, Anne Marie La Traverse)
2003Canadian Comedy AwardPretty Funny DirectionMen With BroomsWon
Pretty Funny Male PerformanceMen With BroomsNominated
Pretty Funny WritingMen With BroomsNominated
(with John Krizanc)
Genie AwardBest Original ScreenplayMen With BroomsNominated
(with John Krizanc)
2004Gemini AwardBest Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleSlings & ArrowsWon
2005ACTRA TorontoAward Of Excellence Won
Writers Guild of CanadaMovie of the Week and/or Mini-SeriesH2OWon
(with John Krizanc)
Directors Guild of CanadaOutstanding Team Achievement in a Television Movie or Mini-SeriesH2OWon
Gemini AwardBest Dramatic Mini-SeriesH2ONominated
(with Frank Siracusa)
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesH2ONominated
(with John Krizanc)
Monte Carlo Television FestivalBest Performance by an Actor in a Mini-SeriesH2OWon
2007Gemini AwardBest Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleSlings & ArrowsWon
2008Gemini AwardBest Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesThe Trojan HorseNominated
(with John Krizanc)
2009Genie AwardBest Motion PicturePasschendaeleWon
(with Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger and Frank Siracusa)
Golden Reel AwardPasschendaeleWon
(with Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger and Frank Siracusa)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RolePasschendaeleNominated
NBC Universal CanadaAward of Distinction Won
The Governor General's performing arts awardsNational Arts Centre Award: Exceptional Achievement over the Past Performance Year Won
Directors Guild of CanadaTeam Feature FilmPasschendaeleWon
National History SocietyPierre Berton AwardPasschendaeleWon
(Sources: IMDb.com, Paul Gross website)

Discography

Albums
Year Album
1997 Two Houses (with David Keeley)
2001 Love and Carnage (with David Keeley)

(first released as Give the Dog a Bone)[19]

Singles
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
  1. "filmreference.com". Paul Gross. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  2. "Speedy Singhs as producer". bollywoodhungama.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011.
  3. Johnson, Brian D. "Paul Gross (Profile)".
  4. "Paul Gross FAQ". paulgross.org.
  5. Harris, Bill. "Paul Gross's Remarkable Teacher, Tim Jecko". Professionally Speaking. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  6. "TV.com". Paul Gross Biography. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  7. 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.
  8. "Paul's stage roles". Paul Gross website. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  9. "Private Lives". Mirvish Productions. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  10. "About". Private Lives. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  11. ""Hyena Road" at the Internet Movie Database". IMDb. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  12. Daniel Chai. "Movie Review: Hyena Road takes you into the heart of Canada's Afghanistan war". Vancity Buzz.
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1297754/fullcredits
  14. Due South Archived December 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
  15. "Paul Gross (Profile)". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  16. "Paul Gross on Crinkley Bottom". Retrieved September 22, 2010 – via YouTube.
  17. http://gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=6896&t=12&ln=Gross
  18. http://gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=215559&t=13&ln=Gross
  19. "Give a Dog a Bone (review)". Paul Gross. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
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