Imagine watching Hollywood movies without the likes of Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Leslie Nielsen, Ryan Gosling, Pamela Anderson, Eric McCormack or Christopher Plummer! Quite soulless, isn’t it? Now what if Hollywood is ripped off some of its most legendary movies like, ‘The Notebook’, ‘Back To the Future’, ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’, ‘Dumb and Dumber’, ‘The Matrix’ or even ‘The Sound of Music’? Bare and brazen it would be! Canadian actors have throttled much of the Hollywood film industry for generations now. Known for their inherent acting talent and skills, they have given Hollywood some of the best known films that have entertained and touched millions of lives from the world over. Born in Canada, these actors made their transition into Hollywood very swiftly and soon dominated the big screen with their superb acting, to-die-for looks, power-packed performance and natural body language. For their hard work in front of camera, Canadian actors have been bestowed with numerous awards and honors as well. Dig into this section and update yourself with a long list of Canadian actors who have steamed up the 70mm screen with their natural acting and killing expressions.
This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
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1
Ryan Gosling(Famous for His Roles in the Movies 'Notebook', 'La La Land' and The Big Short')
Birthdate: November 12, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, Canada
Ryan Gosling began his career as a child actor and gained recognition as an adult after starring in the commercially successful film, The Notebook, in 2004. Half Nelson, The Ides of March, The Big Short, La La Land and Blade Runner are some of his other popular films. He is also a musician and his band is called Dead Man's Bones.
Birthdate: February 21, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada
Despite not being from a family of actors, Ellen Page was exposed to the entertainment industry at a young age. Beginning her acting career at the age of ten, she quickly became a popular performer and went on to appear in many critically acclaimed films and TV shows. A feminist, she also identifies as an atheist. She is a vegan.
Birthdate: October 31, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newmarket, Canada
Died: March 4, 1994
John Candy was an important Canadian comedian and actor. In 2006, he was honored by Canada Post as he was featured on a postage stamp. Also a sports enthusiast, Candy was the co-owner of Toronto Argonauts, a football team that participates in the Canadian Football League. Under his ownership, the team won the 1991 Grey Cup.
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4
Hayden Christensen(Actor and Producer Known for His TV Series ‘Higher Ground’, ‘Forever Knight’ and ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’)
Birthdate: April 19, 1981
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Canadian actor, Hayden Christensen, is best known for his role of Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. However, many critics panned his acting in both the films. Shattered Glass, Awake, Jumper, Outcast, First Kill and The Last Man are some of his other notable films.
5
William Shatner(Famous for His Portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the 'Star Trek' Franchise)
Birthdate: March 22, 1931
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Canadian actor, William Shatner, is best known for his roles in the television series Boston Legal, a legal drama for which he won two Emmy Awards and Star Trek, a science fiction adventure. He has also worked in many other sitcoms and films and has authored a number of science fiction novels. He is a singer and a spoken-word artist too.
6
Seth Rogen(Actor and Comedian Popular for Starring in Films Like ‘Neighbors,’ and ‘Knocked Up’)
Birthdate: April 15, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Canadian actor Seth Rogen established himself as a bankable and popular comic actor when he starred in Hollywood films Knocked Up in 2007 and Funny People in 2009. His other notable films are Steve Jobs, The Interview, Like Father, Long Shot and An American Pickle. He is active in raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease and is an open marijuana user.
Birthdate: May 4, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Will Arnett is widely regarded as one of the most handsome and best-looking comedians of all time; he has been named in lists like Top 15 Sexiest Nerd Boys and The 20 Hottest New Faces in Comedy. Famous for his smooth baritone voice, Will is also a popular voice actor. In 2019, he became a Canada Walk of Fame inductee.
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Birthdate: December 17, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hamilton, Canada
Mainly known for his comic roles, Canadian actor Eugene Levy has had a career spanning over six decades, with Splash, Father of the Bride, Waiting for Guffman, American Pie and American Pie 2 being some of his memorable films. He has also acted in television and found success with the hit series, Schitt's Creek. He is also a writer and director.
Birthdate: May 11, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Calgary, Canada
Died: July 13, 2013
A talented young man whose life was snatched away too soon, Cory Monteith was a Canadian actor, singer, and musician who rose to fame after playing a role in the TV show ‘Glee.’ Despite being a great actor, he had a troubled life involving substance abuse and alcoholism that eventually caused his death at the age of 31.
Birthdate: March 27, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada
Nathan Fillion is a Canadian-American actor who came into prominence after playing Malcolm Reynolds in the TV series Firefly. His popularity and style prompted public artist, Martin Firrell, to choose Fillion as his subject for two works of public art. Fillion is also credited with co-founding a non-profit organization, Kids Need to Read, along with author PJ Haarsma.
11
Keanu Reeves(Television actor, Film actor, Actor, Film producer, Film director, Singer, Voice actor, Musician)
Birthdate: September 2, 1964
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
The star of John Wick, Speed and The Matrix films, Keanu Reeves has displayed his wide range as an actor, time and again. The humble Canadian actor has also famously given away his money to recognise the work of crew and to enable the production team to hire good actors.
12
Phil Hartman(Former Member of the Comedy Group 'The Groundlings' and 'Saturday Night Live', Co-writer of 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure')
Birthdate: September 24, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brantford, Canada
Died: May 28, 1998
Phil Hartman was a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He is credited with helping Paul Reubens develop his famous character, Pee-wee Herman, as part of his contribution to the popular comedy group The Groundlings. After he was murdered in 1998, Hartman was honored with several awards. In 2015, Rolling Stone named him one of the greatest Saturday Night Live cast members.
Birthdate: June 7, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brampton, Canada
Michael Cera is best known for his award-winning roles in Arrested Development, Superbad, and Juno. He has played voice roles, too. His work in theater earned him a Tony nomination. He has also toured as a bassist with an indie rock group and has released an album, True That.
Birthdate: May 8, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Stephen Amell is a Canadian actor who contributed to the commencement of the popular American media franchise The Arrowverse by portraying Oliver Queen / Green Arrow on the superhero television series Arrow. Also a well-known philanthropist, Stephen Amell has hosted several fundraising campaigns to benefit charity organizations, such as Fuck Cancer, Stand For The Silent, and Paws and Stripes.
Birthdate: April 18, 1953
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Rick Moranis is one of the most popular Canadian artists to make it big in the American film industry. Best known for playing father characters in children's films like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Rick proved to be a great father off-screen as he took a long break from his career to take care of his children, after the death of his wife.
Birthdate: December 3, 1968
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Brendan Fraser is the quintessential comical action hero of Hollywood. As a result of the stunts performed by him in movies, he has had to undergo many surgeries, including a laminectomy and partial knee replacement. He is also a successful amateur photographer and serves on the board of directors for a non-profit humanitarian organization called FilmAid International.
17
Matthew Perry(Best Known for His Role of 'Chandler Bing' on the TV Sitcom 'Friends')
Birthdate: August 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States
Matthew Perry gained worldwide popularity for playing the character of Chandler Bing on the television sitcom Friends. The sitcom ran from 1994 to 2004 and remains one of the most popular ones till date. He also starred in other television series and a number of films. He has had issued with vicodin, methadone, amphetamines and alcohol addiction.
Birthdate: April 8, 1981
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kelowna
Taylor Kitsch is a Canadian model and actor. Having played important roles in popular films like Battleship and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Taylor Kitsch serves as an inspiration to many aspiring actors as he managed to establish himself despite suffering from childhood problems, such as the separation of his parents at the age of one.
Birthdate: May 24, 1938
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada
Tommy Chong is best known for his marijuana-themed comedy albums and films of the Cheech & Chong series, in collaboration with Cheech Marin. He was seen as Leo on That '70s Show. He supports legalization of cannabis and is a NORML board member. He has faced many legal issues, too.
Birthdate: December 21, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: London, England
The son of famous Canadian actors, Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland followed in his parents' footsteps to become a famous actor. Apart from being a respected and decorated actor, Kiefer is also one of the controversy's favorite children, having been on the wrong side of the law several times.
Birthdate: December 13, 1929
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Died: February 5, 2021
Arguably the best Canadian actor of all time, Christopher Plummer is the only Canadian and one of the few actors to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting (winning Emmy, Tony, and Academy Award). He won the Academy Award at the age of 82, becoming the oldest person to do so. Not surprisingly, he is the most respected actor in Canada.
Birthdate: June 11, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Joshua Jackson is a popular Canadian-American actor who was inspired and influenced by comedian Jon Stewart during his childhood. Acting soon became his passion and he started playing prominent roles on stage, films, and TV series. Also known for his good looks, Joshua Jackson was ranked ninth in BuddyTV's list of TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2010.
Birthdate: December 23, 2002
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Best known as Mike Wheeler from Stranger Things, SAG Award-winner Finn Wolfhard has also appeared in It and its sequel. He was a vocalist and guitarist for the band Calpurnia and formed the indie-pop duo The Aubreys. Named to Forbes 30 under 30, he has also directed a short film.
24
Alan Thicke(Best Known for Playing Dr. Jason Seaver on the 1980s Sitcom 'Growing Pains')
Birthdate: March 1, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Died: December 13, 2016
Best known for his star role in the television sitcom Growing Pains, Alan Thicke was a Canadian actor, songwriter and television host, who began his career as a series regular in It's Our Stuff, eventually appearing in numerous films and television productions. Also a popular game and talk show host, he patronized many NGOs including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Birthdate: July 17, 1935
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Saint John, Canada
Donald Sutherland is arguably the greatest Canadian actor of all time. In an illustrious career, that spans over more than five decades, Sutherland has played an influential role in both Canadian and American entertainment industries. He won an Academy Honorary Award in 2017 for his immense contribution to cinema. He is the father of actors Kiefer, Rossif, and Angus Sutherland.
26
Dan Levy(Actor and Comedian Best Known for His Role of 'David Rose' on the CBC Sitcom 'Schitt’s Creek')
Birthdate: August 9, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Best known as David Rose from Schitt's Creek, Dan Levy, the son of actor Eugene Levy, is an Emmy-winning Canadian actor, who has also been a writer, producer, and director. He came out as gay at 18 but only made it known to the media in a 2020 interview.
Birthdate: May 25, 1963
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Scarborough, Toronto, Canada
Canadian actor Mike Myers is best known for his American Comedy Award-winning performance as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, and Goldmember in the Austin Powers franchise. Mike, an Officer of the Order of Canada, is also known as the voice of Shrek and has directed an award-winning documentary.
28
Jay Baruchel(Actor Known for His Roles in Comedy Movies “Knocked Up,” “Tropic Thunder” and “The Trotsky”)
Birthdate: April 9, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
Jay Baruchel is best known as Josh Greenberg from the series Man Seeking Woman and as Steven Karp from Undeclared. Fans also loved him in films such as The Trotsky, She's Out of My League, and The Hangover. He voiced Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon films.
Birthdate: December 23, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Died: March 10, 2010
Corey Haim was one half of the popular duo The Two Coreys. He became an icon during the 1980s, thanks to his success as an actor. Despite achieving success early in his life, he was troubled by financial issues and drug addiction problems throughout his career. He eventually died of pneumonia at the age of 38.
Birthdate: July 1, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
Dan Aykroyd is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and filmmaker. He is credited with co-founding the popular blues and soul revivalist band The Blues Brothers along with legendary comedian John Belushi. The Blues Brothers was conceived as a musical sketch for Saturday Night Live; its popularity turned it into an actual band and was later made into a film.
Birthdate: October 5, 2006
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia
Jacob Tremblay has gained considerable fame as a child actor for his award-winning performance as Jack Newsome in the Academy Award-nominated film Room. He has also appeared in in Before I Wake, Wonder, and Good Boys. He voiced Flounder in The Little Mermaid and Blue Winslow in The Smurfs 2.
Birthdate: May 21, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New Westminster, Canada
Died: September 12, 1993
Birthdate: March 16, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, Canada
Victor Garber is a Canadian singer and actor best known for his work in theatre, television, and film. Over the years, Garber has received nominations for several prestigious awards, such as Primetime Emmy Awards and Tony Awards. His work in critically acclaimed movies like Titanic, Argo, and Milk was also appreciated with Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Birthdate: May 19, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint-Isidore, Canada
Considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, Georges St-Pierre is a former professional mixed martial artist. Starting from 2008, he was named by Rogers Sportsnet as the Canadian Athlete of the Year for three consecutive years. When he defeated Michael Bisping at UFC 217, he became only the fourth fighter to be a multi-division champion in UFC history.
35
Simu Liu(Actor Known for Portraying ‘Shang-Chi’ in the Film Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings)
Birthdate: April 19, 1989
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Harbin, China
Born in China, Simu Liu moved to Canada at 5. A business administration graduate, he took to acting after being laid off by Deloitte. Trained in martial arts, he initially found work as a stunt man. He is best known for his Canadian Screen Award-nominated role in Blood and Water.
Birthdate: April 21, 1988
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Robbie Amell is a Canadian-American actor who became a US citizen, along with his wife Italia Ricci, after moving to Los Angeles. Also a producer, Robbie has played an important role in many Canadian film productions. An ice hockey enthusiast, Robbie is currently a fan of the Los Angeles Kings, although he supported the Toronto Maple Leafs while growing up.
Birthdate: August 27, 1981
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Toronto
Patrick J. Adams is a Canadian actor who has established himself as a celebrity in the United States. He befriended Meghan Markle while filming the legal drama series Suits and was included in the guest list at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Adams is also a passionate photographer; many of his photographs were showcased at Suits' Behind the Lens event.
Birthdate: May 1, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Quebec, Canada
Died: August 30, 2006
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-American actor. One of the most bankable stars of classical Hollywood cinema, Ford remained a crowd-puller throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Five of his movies have been chosen by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry. Off-stage, Glenn Ford was a notorious womanizer and had relationships with several actresses, including Marilyn Monroe.
Birthdate: March 26, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hamilton, Canada
Actor/comedian Martin Short is best known for his work on the shows SCTV and Saturday Night Live. He has also appeared in movies such as Father of the Bride and voiced characters in films such as Madagascar 3. He earned a Tony for his performance in the play Little Me.
Birthdate: February 9, 1992
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Avan Jogia is a Canadian actor and singer. He gained recognition with his performance in the American biographical TV film A Girl Like Me. Also an activist, Jogia co-founded Straight But Not Narrow, a non-profit organization which aims at changing the viewpoints of straight people about the LGBTQ community. Not surprisingly, he is loved and respected within the LGBT community.
41
Leslie Nielsen(Actor and Comedian Known for His Films: ‘Forbidden Planet’, ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ and ‘Airplane!’)
Birthdate: February 11, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Regina, Canada
Died: November 28, 2010
Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor who played more than 220 characters, appearing in over 150 television programs and 100 films in a career that spanned 60 years. In the latter part of his career, he gained recognition as a comedian and went on to become one of the most popular Canadian comedians of his generation.
Birthdate: April 26, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ymir, Canada
Best known as George "Pornstache" Mendez from the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, Pablo Schreiber also amazed audiences with his role of Nickolas "Nick" Sobotka in The Wire. He was nominated for a Tony for his Broadway play Awake and Sing! and narrated the audiobook American Psycho.
43
Tom Green(Actor, Television presenter, Blogger, Radio personality, Screenwriter)
Birthdate: July 30, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pembroke, Canada
Known for his shock comedy and his hit MTV show The Tom Green Show, Canadian comedian Tom Green had started performing stand-up comedy at age 15. A testicular cancer survivor, he had also once been married to Drew Barrymore. In 2021, he announced he would move back from LA to Canada permanently.
44
Antoni Porowski(Television Personality Who is the Food and Wine Expert on the Netflix Series 'Queer Eye')
Birthdate: March 14, 1984
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Antoni Porowski is a Polish-Canadian TV personality, actor, author, and chef. He served as the food and wine expert in the Netflix series Queer Eye. He is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. He is a self-taught cook. He was named the Sexiest Reality Star on People's annual list in 2019.
45
Elias Koteas(Actor known for acting in either supporting or leading roles in films from North America)
Birthdate: March 11, 1961
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
46
Paul Anka(Known for His Signature Hit Songs "Diana", "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder")
Birthdate: July 30, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
Paul Anka is a Canadian-American actor and singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, he has contributed to the success of popular musicians, such as Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson. He has also contributed to the theme of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Also known for his business ventures, Anka is credited with opening the popular restaurant and club, Jubilation.
Birthdate: March 14, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Canada
Daniel Gillies is a Canadian-New Zealander actor. Despite being born into a family of medical professionals, Daniel Gillies decided to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Although he initially had to work as a waiter and dishwasher, Gillies chose not to give up and eventually established himself as an actor.
Birthdate: November 6, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Guangzhou, China
Chinese-Canadian actor/singer Wu Yifan, better known as Kris Wu, previously performed as part of the South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO. He has also had a successful solo career, with hits such as Good Kid, and has starred in films such as Mr. Six and XXX: Return of Xander Cage.
Birthdate: April 28, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Drew Scott is best known for hosting Property Brothers and Buying and Selling with his twin brother, Jonathan. The twins are also owners of the brands Scott Living and Dream Homes, and have founded Scott Brothers Entertainment, with another bother. An avid philanthropist, he was named a "Habitat Humanitarian."
Birthdate: April 18, 1963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canadian-American actor-singer Eric McCormack is best known as Will Truman from Will & Grace, a role that earned him a Primetime Emmy. He has also appeared in lead roles in Lonesome Dove: The Series and Perception, and has delivered an award-winning performance in Here's to Life!