Biography for
Gordon Pinsent More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 July 1930, Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Birth Name

Gordon Edward Pinsent

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Mini Biography

Son of the late Stephen Arthur and Flossie (Cooper) Pinsent, Gordon served with the Royal Canadian Regiment from 1948-51. Gordon received an L.L.D. from the University P.E.I. in 1975, an Honorary doctorate from Queen's University in 1988, as well as from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Prince Edward Island. Gordon is a member of the Honorary Advisory Board for the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has a daughter Leah as well as a son and daughter from an earlier marriage (Barry and Beverly Kennedy). He has a brother named Harry. Gordon left Newfoundland at the age of 17 and began his career on stage. His first theatrical experiences were in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While there he was involved in the first live radio drama out of Winnipeg. He then moved east, working in Toronto and Stratford, Ontario. In addition to acting, he has written a number of stage plays including 'Corner Green' for the Newfoundland amateur drama festival. The play was staged in St. John's, Newfoundland in April of 1997, and was was based upon life his hometown of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Gordon is very active in charities.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Mini Biography

Gordon Edward Pinsent was born to Stephen Arthur and Flossie (Cooper) Pinsent on July 12, 1930. Gordon was known as "Porky" as a child, and dreamed of performing as early as he can remember. He served with the Royal Canadian Regiment from 1948-51. Gordon received an L.L.D. from the University P.E.I. in 1975, an Honorary doctorate from Queen's University in 1988, as well as from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Prince Edward Island. His wife is actress Charmion King, whom he met during his early theater days. He has a daughter, actress Leah Pinsent, from that union, as well as a son and daughter from an earlier marriage (Barry and Beverly Kennedy). He has two brothers, Harry and Haig, and three sisters: Nita, Hazel, and Lil, who passed away in 1998. Gordon left Newfoundland at the age of 17 and began his career on stage. His first theatrical experiences were in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While there, he was involved in the first live radio drama out of Winnipeg. He eventually moved east, working in Toronto and Stratford, Ontario. He has since won numerous credits and awards, and is one of Canada's most well-respected artists. In addition to acting, he directs and produces, and has written a number of novels and screenplays, as well as plays for the stage. He is a member of the Honorary Advisory Board for the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra, and is very active in various charities. His humorous and poignant autobiography, "By the Way", was published in September of 1992, and includes antecdotes of his personal life as well as his experiences in the entertainment business.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Someone who should know

Spouse

Charmion King	(November 1962 - 6 January 2007) (her death) 1 child
Irene Reid	(1951 - ?) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

Recipient of three Honorary Doctorates. Made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1980.

Father of Leah Pinsent.

When filming the movie The Shipping News (2001), he was the model for the Newfoundland accent for the rest of the cast, since this was the province in which he was born and raised.

One child with Charmion King, Leah Pinsent.

Uncle of animator Don Pinsent.

While living in California he was friends with Marlon Brando. On one occasion he and Brando attended a drive in movie together with Brando's wife and children.

His novel "The Rowdy Man" was turned into a classic Canadian film and later a musical which Gordon himself performed in PEI.

Won the Earl Grey award.

Has been awarded 3 Lifetime Achievement Awards including the John Drainie Award, and the Banf Film Festival Rocky Award for Body of Work.

Third cousin of Laura Vandervoort.

Ex-father-in-law of Michael Capellupo.

Father of actor and author Barry Kennedy (I), who appeared with him in two episodes of the series "Due South".

Personal Quotes

Early in my career, I figured out how to 'hit notes' - you know, to color them properly, to play the right chords. And I hit them pretty well, you know. But now I know precisely what to do with them. I can bring them down, down, down. And I can still be true to the rendition when I do it.

In acting, you're simply at the mercy of other people's perception of you. It can be a terrifying feeling. The rewards can be great, but there is no steady happiness in this business. There are peaks of joy and valleys of gloom. As you get older, you forget that it was an adventure at one time, that you were able to take the falls. You think 'I know I'm good. I've had it proven. Then why is it not working now?' You feel you can't take the falls. You say to yourself, 'Gee, I need this. This is all I can do in life.'

The truth is I got into this business because I skipped into this darkened theatre in Winnipeg when I was running away from a girlfriend. They were rehearsing, and while I was in there somebody offered me a small part in the play.