Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Gordon Pinsent(1930-2023)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Gordon Pinsent in Republic of Doyle (2010)
French Trailer 2 for Two Lovers and a Bear
Play trailer2:07
Two Lovers and a Bear (2016)
13 Videos
21 Photos
Gordon Edward Pinsent was born on July 12, 1930 in Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, to Florence (Cooper) and Stephen Arthur Pinsent. 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.

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, 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.

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.

His wife until her death was 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.
BornJuly 12, 1930
DiedFebruary 25, 2023(92)
BornJuly 12, 1930
DiedFebruary 25, 2023(92)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 16 wins & 16 nominations

Photos21

Gordon Pinsent in Republic of Doyle (2010)
Mark Critch, Brendan Gleeson, Gordon Pinsent, and Mary Walsh in The Grand Seduction (2013)
Craig Olejnik and Gordon Pinsent in The Listener (2009)
Gordon Pinsent in The Pillars of the Earth (2010)
Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Julie Christie, Michael Murphy, and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Gordon Pinsent and Kristen Thomson in Away from Her (2006)
Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Olympia Dukakis and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Kevin Spacey and Gordon Pinsent in The Shipping News (2001)

Known for:

Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent in Away from Her (2006)
Away from Her
7.5
  • Grant Anderson
  • 2006
Paul Gross and David Marciano in Due South (1994)
Due South
8.0
TV Series
  • Fraser Sr.
  • Robert Fraser
Julianne Moore, Kevin Spacey, and Cate Blanchett in The Shipping News (2001)
The Shipping News
6.7
  • Billy Pretty
  • 2001
Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch in The Grand Seduction (2013)
The Grand Seduction
7.0
  • Simon
  • 2013

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Scarlett Hill
    • David Black
    • Released
    • TV Series
    • 1962–1964
  • Back Home Again (2021)
    Back Home Again
    • Jack Rabbit (voice)
    • Short
    • 2021
  • Canadian Film Fest Presented by Super Channel (2020)
    Canadian Film Fest Presented by Super Channel
    • Fred (segment "Age of Dysphoria")
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Gordon Pinsent and Laura Vandervoort in Age of Dysphoria (2020)
    Age of Dysphoria
    • Fred
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Gordon Pinsent and Sheila McCarthy in Night Shoot (2019)
    Night Shoot
    • Branch
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson in Private Eyes (2016)
    Private Eyes
    • Nevin Ainslie
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Yolanda Robinson in The Detour (2016)
    The Detour
    • Sleepy
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Paul Braunstein and Sheila McCarthy in Martin's Hagge (2016)
    Martin's Hagge
    • Man on Sidewalk
    • Short
    • 2016
  • Two Lovers and a Bear (2016)
    Two Lovers and a Bear
    • Bear's Voice
    • 2016
  • Reel East Coast (2015)
    Reel East Coast
    • Francis (segment "Life Doesn't Frighten Me")
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Pirate's Passage (2015)
    Pirate's Passage
    • Harry Freelove (voice)
    • TV Movie
    • 2015
  • Big News from Grand Rock (2014)
    Big News from Grand Rock
    • Stan
    • 2014
  • Babar and the Adventures of Badou (2010)
    Babar and the Adventures of Badou
    • King Babar (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2010–2013
  • Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch in The Grand Seduction (2013)
    The Grand Seduction
    • Simon
    • 2013
  • Leah Renee, Ryan Belleville, and Luke Macfarlane in Satisfaction (2013)
    Satisfaction
    • Dr. Faskin
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Nuts, Nothing and Nobody (2013)
    Nuts, Nothing and Nobody
    • (voice)
    • Short
    • 2013

Writer

  • Gordon Pinsent and Sheila McCarthy in Night Shoot (2019)
    Night Shoot
    • writer
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Paul Braunstein and Sheila McCarthy in Martin's Hagge (2016)
    Martin's Hagge
    • writer
    • Short
    • 2016
  • Heyday! (2006)
    Heyday!
    • written by
    • TV Movie
    • 2006
  • Win, Again!
    • Writer
    • TV Movie
    • 1999
  • John and the Missus (1987)
    John and the Missus
    • short
    • 1987
  • And Miles to Go
    • screenplay by
    • TV Movie
    • 1985
  • A Gift to Last (1978)
    A Gift to Last
    • created and written by
    • TV Series
    • 1978–1979
  • Up at Ours
    • creator
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1979
  • A Gift to Last (1976)
    A Gift to Last
    • Writer
    • TV Movie
    • 1976
  • The Rowdyman (1972)
    The Rowdyman
    • original screenplay
    • 1972

Director

  • Heyday! (2006)
    Heyday!
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 2006
  • Two Men
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1988
  • John and the Missus (1987)
    John and the Missus
    • Director
    • 1987
  • Deepa Mehta, Pawanjit Bains, and Sushma Sardana in For the Record (1976)
    For the Record
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 1985
  • A Far Cry from Home
    • Director
    • TV Movie
    • 1981
  • Once
    • Director
    • 1981

Videos13

The Grand Seduction
Clip 1:38
The Grand Seduction
The Grand Seduction
Clip 1:21
The Grand Seduction
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:56
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:09
Official Trailer
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Trailer 2:43
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Two Lovers and a Bear
Trailer 2:07
Two Lovers and a Bear
Two Lovers and a Bear
Trailer 2:06
Two Lovers and a Bear
Two Lovers and a Bear
Trailer 2:06
Two Lovers and a Bear
The Confessor aka. The Good Shepherd
Trailer 1:51
The Confessor aka. The Good Shepherd
The Shipping News
Trailer 1:54
The Shipping News
Nothing
Trailer 1:17
Nothing
Away From Her
Trailer 2:25
Away From Her

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
  • Born
    • July 12, 1930
    • Grand Falls, Dominion of Newfoundland [now Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada]
  • Died
    • February 25, 2023
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada(complications from a cerebral hemorrhage)
  • Spouses
      Charmion KingNovember 2, 1962 - January 6, 2007 (her death, 1 child)
  • Children
      Leah Pinsent
  • Relatives
      Don Pinsent(Niece or Nephew)
  • Other works
    Novel: "By the Way" a memoir
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Article
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    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.
  • 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.

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Production art
List
The Best Things to Watch in June
See the list
Production art
Photos
See These Trending Actors in Early Roles
Can you place the face?

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you seen?

Keep track of how much of Gordon Pinsent’s work you have seen. Go to your list.
Still frame
List
The 50 Most Popular Indian Web Series of All Time
See the list

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.