Paul Gross

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For the biologist and author, see Paul R. Gross.
Paul Gross

Gross at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Born Paul Michael Gross
April 30, 1959 (1959-04-30) (age 50)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupation Actor
Producer
Screenwriter
Composer
Director
Years active 1985-present
Spouse(s) Martha Burns (1988 - present)
Official website

Paul Michael Gross (born April 30, 1959),[1] is a Canadian actor, producer, director, singer and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the television series Due South as well as his 2008 war film Passchendaele, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. During Due South's final season, Gross acted as executive producer in addition to starring, wrote the season three opener and finale, the two part series finale and wrote and sang for the show, some of which can be found on the two Due South soundtracks. He later found success with another Canadian TV series, Slings and Arrows.

Contents

[edit] Early career

Gross studied acting at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, but he left during the third year of his study.[2] He went back later to complete the half-credit needed to receive his fine arts degree. He appeared in several stage productions, such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.[3] Other productions in which he appeared include Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme and As You Like It.[3]

After the play Successful Strangers, Gross starred in his first movie, Turning to Stone.

[edit] Due South

His role as upright Mountie Benton Fraser in the Due South television series brought him increased recognition. Like fellow actor David Marciano, he didn't want to do the show at first, and creator Paul Haggis didn't even know if he wanted Gross for the role, but following a meeting, Constable Benton Fraser was cast.[4]

When Due South was resurrected for the third season, Gross returned as Benton Fraser and assumed duties as Executive Producer and writer. He earned an estimated salary of $2–3 million per season, and at the time was the highest paid performer in Canadian entertainment history.[citation needed] He wrote several episodes of the last season of the series. His favourite episodes include "Gift of the Wheelman" and "All the Queen's Horses," and his episodes "Mountie on the Bounty" and "Call of the Wild" are of a similar style.[4]

[edit] Theatre

Gross appeared in the lead role in Hamlet at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2000.

[edit] Personal life

Gross married actress Martha Burns in 1987. The couple have two children, Jack and Hannah. Paul is involved with many groups and charities dealing with childhood poverty[citation needed].

[edit] Awards

In 2009, Gross received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.[5]

[edit] Trivia

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (November 2009)

Gross shares the exact same birthday with Canada's current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. April 30, 1959.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Films

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Turning to Stone Billy Debut
1989 Cold Comfort Stephen Miller
Divided Loyalties Walter Butler
1990 Getting Married in Buffalo Jump Alex Bresnyachuk
1991 Married to It Jeremy Brimfield
1992 Buried on Sunday Augustus Knickel
1993 Aspen Extreme T.J. Burke
1994 Whale Music Daniel Howl
XXX's & OOO's 'Bucky Dean
Paint Cans Morton Ridgewell
1997 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ned
1999 Murder Most Likely Patrick Kelly
2002 Men with Brooms Chris Cutter also Writer and Director
2004 Wilby Wonderful Buddy French
H2O: The Last Prime Minister (TV) Thomas David Mclaughlin also Writer and Executive Producer
2005 Burnt Toast Scott
2007 The Trojan Horse (TV) Thomas David McLaughlin also Writer and Executive Producer and it's Continuation or Part Two of H2O (film)
2008 Passchendaele Michael Dunne also Writer, Producer and Director
2010 Gunless The Montana Kid

[edit] Television series

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Chasing Rainbows Jake Kincaid 14 episodes
1989 Street Legal Steven Hines 2 episodes
1990 The Ray Bradbury Theater Skip 1 episode
1993 Tales of the City (mini-series) Brian Hawkins 6 episodes
1994-1999 Due South Constable Benton Fraser 67 episodes
1996-1998 The Red Green Show Kevin Black 5 episodes
2004 Monday Report Prime Minister Thomas David McLaughlin 1 episode
2003-2005 The Eleventh Hour Tony Joel 2 episodes
2003-2006 Slings and Arrows Geoffrey Tennant 18 episodes
2006 Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story John Diefenbaker
Hockey: A People's History Narrator 10 episodes
2009 Eastwick Darryl Van Horne Regular

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album
1997 Two Houses (with David Keeley)
2001 Love and Carnage (with David Keeley)

[edit] Singles

Year Single CAN Country Album
1997 "Voodoo" Two Houses
(with David Keeley)
1998 "32 Down on the Robert MacKenzie"
1999 "Papa's Front Porch" 61
2000 "Ride Forever"

[edit] References

  1. ^ "filmreference.com". Paul Gross. http://www.filmreference.com/film/8/Paul-Gross.html. Retrieved 2007-11-30. 
  2. ^ "TV.com". Paul Gross Biography. http://www.tv.com/paul-gross/person/80578/biography.html. Retrieved 2007-11-30. 
  3. ^ a b "Paul's stage roles". Paul Gross website. http://www.paulgross.org/stage.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-30. 
  4. ^ a b Due South. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  5. ^ "Paul Gross, Robert Lepage, awarded performing arts Governor General's awards". Vancouver Sun (Canwest). March 2, 2009. http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Paul+Gross+Robert+Lepage+awarded+performing+arts+Governor+General+awards/1345209/story.html. Retrieved 10 December 2009. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gross"