Gordon Edward Pinsent CC FRSC (July 12, 1930 – February 25, 2023) was a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He began his career in the 1940s, delving into radio dramas before serving in the Canadian Army. His extensive four-decade-long career spans stage, TV, and film, starring in notable works like "Quentin Durgens MP," "The Rowdyman," and "Power Play." He's received numerous awards, including ACTRA, GENIE, and GEMINI Awards, and earned honoraries from several universities. Pinsent's skills extend to writing; his novels inspired feature films, and he penned his memoirs, "By the Way." He shared a close friendship with Marlon Brando, often enjoying drive-in movies with Brando's family.
Known For
The Thomas Crown Affair
(1968)
Jamie McDonald
Blacula
(1972)
Lt. John "Jack" Peters
The Old Man and the Sea
(1999)
Old Man (voice)
Pippi Longstocking
(1997)
Capt. Longstocking (voice)
Away from Her
(2007)
Grant
The Grand Seduction
(2014)
Simon
The Shipping News
(2001)
Billy Pretty
Colossus: The Forbin Project
(1970)
The President
Saint Ralph
(2005)
Nothing
(2003)
Man In Suit
Fallen Angel
(2003)
Warren Wentworth
Ambulance Girl
(2005)
Pete
Full Filmography
Acting
Newfoundland Scene
(1951)
Himself
The Thomas Crown Affair
(1968)
Jamie McDonald
Colossus: The Forbin Project
(1970)
The President
Quarantined
(1970)
Dr. Bud Bedford
Chandler
(1971)
John Melchior
Blacula
(1972)
Lt. John "Jack" Peters
The Rowdyman
(1972)
Will Cole
Incident on a Dark Street
(1973)
Joe - Mayor
Newman's Law
(1974)
Jack Eastman
Only God Knows
(1974)
The Heat Wave Lasted Four Days
(1975)
Cliff Reynolds
The Time of the Tar Sands
(1975)
Horse Latitudes
(1975)
Donald Crowhurst
Blackwood
(1976)
Narrator
The Suicide's Wife
(1977)
Allan Crane
Who Has Seen the Wind
(1977)
Gerald O'Connal
Klondike Fever
(1980)
Swiftwater Bill
The Devil At Your Heels
(1981)
Narrator (Voice)
Silence of the North
(1981)
John Frederickson
Escape From Iran: The Canadian Caper
(1981)
Ambassador Ken Taylor
The Life and Times of Edwin Alonzo Boyd
(1982)
Edwin Boyd
A Case of Libel
(1983)
Dennis Corcoran
John and the Missus
(1987)
John Munn
Babar: The Movie
(1989)
King Babar
Blood Clan
(1990)
Judge William McKay
In the Eyes of a Stranger
(1992)
Lt. Ted Burk
A Passage from Burnt Islands
(1992)
Narrator (voice)
Bonds of Love
(1993)
Leon
Due South
(1994)
Fraser Sr.
A Vow to Kill
(1995)
Frank Waring
A Holiday for Love
(1996)
Cal Marsdon
Pale Saints
(1997)
Gus
Pippi Longstocking
(1997)
Capt. Longstocking (voice)
The Old Man and the Sea
(1999)
Old Man (voice)
The Shipping News
(2001)
Billy Pretty
Blind Terror
(2001)
Martin Howell
A Diary Between Friends
(2002)
Narrator
Nothing
(2003)
Man In Suit
Fallen Angel
(2003)
Warren Wentworth
Hemingway vs. Callaghan
(2003)
Morley Callaghan
The Good Shepherd
(2004)
Cardinal Ledesna
Saint Ralph
(2005)
Ambulance Girl
(2005)
Pete
Heyday!
(2006)
Monroe Gillette
The Sparky Book
(2006)
Goldfish
Away from Her
(2007)
Grant
The Red Green Story: We're All in This Together
(2008)
Hap Shaughnessy
Mysteries of the Great Lakes
(2008)
Narrator
The Spine
(2009)
Dan Rutherford
At Home by Myself... with You
(2009)
Narrator (voice)
An Unlikely Obsession
(2011)
Narrator (voice)
Still Rowdy After All These Years
(2011)
Self
Flight of the Butterflies
(2012)
Dr Fred Urquhart
Life Doesn't Frighten Me
(2012)
Francis Weary
Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town
(2012)
Elder Stephen Leacock / Narrator
Sex After Kids
(2013)
Dr. Keaton
The Grand Seduction
(2014)
Simon
Pirate's Passage
(2015)
Harry the Barber (voice)
Big News From Grand Rock
(2015)
Two Lovers and a Bear
(2016)
Bear (voice)
The River of My Dreams
(2017)
Age of Dysphoria
(2020)
Fred
Back Home Again
(2021)
Jack Rabbit (voice)
Writing
Directing