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IMDbPro

Once a Thief

  • TV Series
  • 1996–19981996–1998
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
692
YOUR RATING
Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Nicholas Lea in Once a Thief (1996)
  • Action
  • Comedy
  • Crime
The misadventures of a gang of Canadian spies, agents, criminals and mobsters, including three spies, an enigmatic director and two grim-faced assassins.The misadventures of a gang of Canadian spies, agents, criminals and mobsters, including three spies, an enigmatic director and two grim-faced assassins.The misadventures of a gang of Canadian spies, agents, criminals and mobsters, including three spies, an enigmatic director and two grim-faced assassins.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
692
YOUR RATING
  • Creators
    • Glenn Davis
    • William Laurin
  • Stars
    • Sandrine Holt
    • Ivan Sergei
    • Nicholas Lea
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Glenn Davis
    • William Laurin
  • Stars
    • Sandrine Holt
    • Ivan Sergei
    • Nicholas Lea
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Episodes23

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season

    Photos9

    Sandrine Holt in Once a Thief (1996)
    Pat Mastroianni in Once a Thief (1996)
    Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Nicholas Lea in Once a Thief (1996)
    Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Nicholas Lea in Once a Thief (1996)
    Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Nicholas Lea in Once a Thief (1996)
    Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Nicholas Lea in Once a Thief (1996)
    Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, Nicholas Lea, and Michael Wong in Once a Thief (1996)
    Ivan Sergei, Sandrine Holt, and Nicholas Lea in Once a Thief (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sandrine Holt
    Sandrine Holt
    • Li Ann Tseias Li Ann Tsei
    23 episodes23 eps • 1996–1998
    Ivan Sergei
    Ivan Sergei
    • Mac Ramseyas Mac Ramsey
    23 episodes23 eps • 1996–1998
    Nicholas Lea
    Nicholas Lea
    • Victor Mansfieldas Victor Mansfield
    23 episodes23 eps • 1996–1998
    Jennifer Dale
    Jennifer Dale
    • The Directoras The Director
    23 episodes23 eps • 1996–1998
    Howard Dell
    Howard Dell
    • Agent Dobrinskyas Agent Dobrinsky
    15 episodes15 eps • 1997–1998
    Greg Kramer
    Greg Kramer
    • Murphyas Murphy
    11 episodes11 eps • 1997–1998
    Julian Richings
    Julian Richings
    • Camieras Camier
    11 episodes11 eps • 1997–1998
    Victoria Pratt
    Victoria Pratt
    • Jackie Janczykas Jackie Janczyk
    8 episodes8 eps • 1998
    Michael G. Brown
    • Detective Starkas Detective Stark…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1996–1998
    James Allodi
    James Allodi
    • Nathan Muckleas Nathan Muckle…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1997–1998
    Robert Ito
    Robert Ito
    • Tang Godfatheras Tang Godfather
    3 episodes3 eps • 1996–1998
    Michael Wong
    Michael Wong
    • Michael Tangas Michael Tang
    3 episodes3 eps • 1996–1998
    Gerry Quigley
    • Dr. Fryas Dr. Fry
    2 episodes2 eps • 1997–1998
    David Stinson
    David Stinson
    • Hot Dog Vendoras Hot Dog Vendor…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1997–1998
    George Takei
    George Takei
    • McCoy Matsumotoas McCoy Matsumoto
    1 episode1 ep • 1997
    Liisa Repo-Martell
    Liisa Repo-Martell
    • Nikkias Nikki
    1 episode1 ep • 1997
    John Hemphill
    • Master Jamboreeas Master Jamboree
    1 episode1 ep • 1997
    Nigel Bennett
    Nigel Bennett
    • Nicholas Loveas Nicholas Love
    1 episode1 ep • 1997
    • Creators
      • Glenn Davis
      • William Laurin
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Once a Thief
    5.2
    Once a Thief
    Once a Thief: Family Business
    5.6
    Once a Thief: Family Business
    Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
    6.0
    Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother
    Once a Thief
    6.7
    Once a Thief
    Black Summer
    6.5
    Black Summer
    Hawaii
    6.6
    Hawaii
    Jack Hunter and the Lost Treasure of Ugarit
    4.7
    Jack Hunter and the Lost Treasure of Ugarit
    Once a Thief
    6.5
    Once a Thief
    Dracano
    3.1
    Dracano
    Hospitality
    4.9
    Hospitality
    Power Play
    6.2
    Power Play
    The Donor
    4.7
    The Donor

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The two contract killers from the series, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Camier, were named after two of Samuel Barclay Beckett's novels, one of these novels being titled 'Murphy', and the other being titled 'Mercier et Camier'.
    • Connections
      Followed by Once a Thief: Brother Against Brother (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Tango Del Cuore
      Performed by Quartetto Gelato

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    Not bad for a knock-off.
    This series didn't have even three original episodes. Everything was taken from something else, which explains in part why it failed so badly. Putting John Woo's name on the show didn't help -- especially when anyone who knew his style could tell he had nothing to do with it.

    Canadian series' are typically low-budget, low-viewership dives, but "John Woo's Once a Thief" had potential. The two starring cast members, Ivan Sergei and Sandrine Holt, are both semi-talented individuals with a history of stealing the screen. Unfortunately, the non-existent plots and ridiculous story lines and dialogue helped kill this series pretty early. Supporting actors Nicholas Lea and Jennifer Dale both deserved better than filler time, and supporting cast member Vicky Pratt certainly deserved a spot in the opening credits, since her character was not only more interesting than BOTH the stars, she, unlike Lea and Dale, was given a storyline.

    Anyone thinking of starting a series in Canada should take note of OAT's ending. This show was so low-rated, it barely finished the year intact. Only a few fervent Nicholas Lea fans (which is precisely why they hired him for the show), who followed him from FOX's soap "The X Files", managed to keep this show on the air long enough to finish the season.
    helpful•1
    8
    • D'Amico
    • Jan 25, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Alliance Communications
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • John Woo's Once a Thief
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Alliance Communications Corporation
      • Baton
      • CTV Television Network
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

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