Calgary has been home to many talented artists, including actors who have captivated audiences worldwide. While some have achieved international fame, others have earned numerous awards and a loyal fan base. Learn more about them on Calgary-Trend.
Paul Gross
Paul Gross is not only an actor but also a producer, director, musician, and writer. He is best known for his lead role as Benton Fraser in the TV series Due South, where he also worked as an executive producer, writer, and composer of some songs for the show. Gross also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the war film Passchendaele.
Born into a family with a writer and art historian mother and a soldier father, Gross was inspired to pursue acting by his drama teacher, Timothy Jeko, during his teenage years in the United States. He studied drama at the University of Alberta but left in his third year, returning later to complete part of the credits needed for his degree. While studying, he performed in stage productions such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. His student work The Deer and the Antelope won two playwriting awards.
Gross began his acting career with the film Turning to Stone and later wrote and directed Men with Brooms, a film about curling. This marked the start of his successful career in the entertainment industry.
Mark Ghanimé
Mark Ghanimé is an actor and producer best known for his roles as Major Sergio Balleseros in Syfy’s Helix and Don Carlos in CW’s Reign.
Born to a Canadian mother and a Lebanese father, Ghanimé grew up trilingual, speaking French, English, and Arabic. Initially, he planned a career in business and real estate, studying finance at the University of Lethbridge. In his twenties, he developed an interest in singing and hip-hop, which led him to acting in 2004.
Ghanimé began with commercial roles before landing a part as Graham in Wild Roses. He later appeared in guest roles on shows like Smallville, Supernatural, Arrow, and The Secret Circle.
Victor Webster
Victor Webster gained fame as the second actor to play Nicholas Alamain on NBC’s soap opera Days of Our Lives. He is also known for his roles as mutant Brennan Mulwray in Mutant X, Cupid in Charmed, and Detective Carlos Fonnegra in Continuum.
Born to a hairdresser and a police officer, Webster took up martial arts as a teenager to stay out of trouble. He eventually earned a black belt in heavyweight martial arts. At the same time, he participated in school plays and developed a passion for acting. Webster began his acting career in the late 1990s and was named one of People magazine’s “Top 50 Bachelors” in 2002.
Jessica Parker Kennedy
Jessica Parker Kennedy is best known for her roles as Melissa Glaser in The Secret Circle, Nora West-Allen in The Flash, and Max in Black Sails. She also appeared in shows like Smallville, Undercovers, and Colony.
Born to a Black father and a white mother, Kennedy grew up navigating her identity in a predominantly white Calgary. Her first acting role was as the younger sister of the main character in the spy drama Undercovers.
Erica Durance
Erica Durance gained fame for her portrayal of Lois Lane in Smallville and Dr. Alex Reid in the medical drama Saving Hope.
Born to turkey farmers, Durance moved to Vancouver after high school to study acting. She debuted in the film The Untold and has been active in charity work. In 2006, she donated her earnings from a performance to a fundraiser in memory of Sam Loeb, the late son of a Smallville producer.
Brennan Elliott
Brennan Elliott is best known for his role as Dr. Nick Biancavilla in Strong Medicine. He has also appeared in The 4400, Cedar Cove, and UnREAL.
Elliott’s father’s family is from Northern Ireland, and he trained at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. One of his early appearances was in the music video for Tom Cochrane’s Life is a Highway.
Greyston Holt
Greyston Holt is known for his role as Ray Prager Jr. in Durham County, young Emerson Hauser in Alcatraz, and Clayton Danvers in Bitten.
Though born in Calgary, Holt grew up on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. After learning to play the guitar in school and forming a band, he discovered acting as a means of self-expression and pursued it after moving to Vancouver.
Andrew Phung
Andrew Phung is an actor, comedian, and improviser best known for his role as Kimchee Han in Kim’s Convenience, which earned him five Canadian Screen Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Phung grew up in Calgary, attending Bishop McNally High School and studying economics at the University of Calgary. He joined the Loose Moose Theatre Company and later co-founded a comedy group that produced short films and sitcoms.
Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Cuthbert gained fame for her role as Danielle in The Girl Next Door and Carly Jones in House of Wax, earning two Teen Choice Award nominations.
Cuthbert started her career on television as a child in the Canadian horror anthology series Are You Afraid of the Dark? Her breakout role came as Kim Bauer in 24, for which she received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Cory Monteith
Cory Monteith, known for his role as Finn Hudson in Glee, was also a musician. Born to an interior decorator and a soldier, Monteith faced challenges in his teenage years due to substance abuse. Despite his struggles, he found success in television before passing away at 31 from an overdose.
Melissa O’Neil
Melissa O’Neil is an actress and singer, best known for her roles as Portia Lin in Dark Matter and Officer Lucy Chen in The Rookie.
O’Neil became the first female winner of Canadian Idol in 2005 and later transitioned to acting, starring in TV dramas and musicals.
Jordan Connor
Jordan Connor rose to fame for his role in Riverdale. He has also appeared in Looking for Alaska and Nurses. Born in Calgary but raised in Vancouver, Connor’s multicultural background includes Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Croatian heritage.
Jessalyn Wanlim
Jessalyn Wanlim is a Canadian-American actress and model known for her roles in Orphan Black and Workin’ Moms. She began acting with a recurring role in All My Children and appeared in Gossip Girl.
Priya Banerjee
Priya Banerjee is an Indian actress born in Calgary. She started her career in 2013 with Kiss and has appeared in Bollywood films like Jazbaa and Baar Baar Dekho.
Rhiannon Fish
Rhiannon Fish is a Canadian-Australian actress known for her roles in The 100 and Home and Away. Born in Calgary, she moved to Melbourne as a child and started her career in television at 11.
Alan Van Sprang
Alan Van Sprang is best known for his role as Sir Francis Bryan in The Tudors and appearances in Shadowhunters and Reign.
Ryan Belleville
Ryan Belleville is an actor and stand-up comedian who became the youngest person to film a comedy special for CTV. He has appeared in Going the Distance and Finn on the Fly and co-wrote and starred in the sitcom Almost Heroes.
