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John Bourgeois
Born (1956-08-11) August 11, 1956 (age 68)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Actor, director and teacher
Years active1987-present
SpouseMaria Ricossa
Children3

John Bourgeois (born August 11, 1956) is a Canadian actor, director, and educator.

Early life and education

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John Bourgeois was born in Ottawa, Ontario,[1] to a Québécoise father and New Brunswick mother.[2] He received his training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London and Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre in 1981.[2][3]

As a Concordia University journalism student, Bourgeois needed to take a class where he didn't need to write papers. He enrolled in an acting class during which he performed part of the play Death of a Salesman. In a 2013 interview with Richard Crouse, he called the experience "transformational" in inspiring him to pursue acting, and said "[he] was bitten".[1]

Career

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Bourgeois served as a production assistant for the 1978 film Blood Relatives, during which he was star Donald Sutherland's driver. He said in the 2013 interview that Sutherland's performance "wasn't just showing off" and "changed [his] view of the craft".[1] His initial time acting professionally on stage was on October 13, 1979.[4]

Bourgeois joined the Stratford Shakespeare Company in 1985 and portrayed a knight during the troupe's Chicago performance of King Lear.[5] He departed from Stratford Festival in 1987 and started to focus on directing.[4] In his directorial debut,[4] Bourgeois directed the Harbourfront Centre Studio Theatre's production of the play Landscape of the Body in 1988, starring Linda Goranson and Gwynyth Walsh and with Conrad Coates in a supporting role.[6] Toronto Star theatre critic Henry Mietkiewicz praised Bourgeois for his "sprightly direction" that stayed true to playwright John Guare's "revel[ing] in the wild eccentricities of his characters".[6] Bourgeois directed the Theatre Plus production of the Arthur Miller play The Price at Jane Mallett Theatre in 1989.[7] Henry Mietkiewicz praised Bourgeois for "faithfully follow[ing] Miller's instructions by allowing us to see the nobility and self-delusion in both men".[7]

Bourgeois cofounded Ziggurat Theatre with actors Simon Bradbury and Caro Coltman.[4] Ziggurat's first production was in 1988: Steven Berkoff's play Decadence, a "frank and vicious indictment of Margaret Thatcher's Britain".[4] In 1989, he directed Hunger, a play he adapted from Knut Hamsun's novel Hunger.[4] Canadian Jewish News reviewer Ben Rose wrote. "Adapter/director Bourgeois doesn't do this as elegantly as Bernard Shaw but the play has the virtue of staying right on topic."[8]

In 1990, Bourgeois and his wife starred in the Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune play at the Citadel Rice Theatre. Edmonton Journal theatre critic Liz Nicholls found Bourgeois' performance as Johnny to be "wonderfully volatile, comic, buoyant and vulnerable as the self-styled 'knight of the grill'".[9] He played the role of Gallimard in the play M. Butterfly at the Theatre Aquarius in Ontario in 1992. The Hamilton Spectator said his performance was "consistent, solid" and "very credible, very human, and the cornerstone to keeping this production rooted in reality".[10] He in 1994 received a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for directing the play The Taming Of The Shrew.[11] In 1995, he played the Ku Klux Klan recruiter Morgan Kale in Raymond Storey's 1992 play The Glorious Twelfth at the National Arts Centre in a performance that Ottawa Citizen theatre critic Janice Kennedy described as "creat[ing] a nice blend of sleazy hucksterism with zealous bigotry".[12]

He wrote and directed the one-man show Tansey's Brag, which was shown at Toronto Fringe Festival, about Michael Tansey, a Jesuit priest.[13] Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian gave the play three stars. He had a mixed review of the play, writing that Bourgeois is "excellent as Tansey, with a self-lacerating wit that stings as often as it amuses" and "he is capable of real emotion, both as writer and actor". Ouzounian criticized the play's writing, finding that it "tries to telescope too much into one hour, and some of its structure is awkward, leaning on offstage voices and discovered letters".[13]

In 2013, Bourgeois starred in the play God of Carnage at Panasonic Theatre.[1] Toronto Star theater critic Robert Crew wrote that Bourgeois "is the wonderfully work-absorbed lawyer Alan, who is clearly there on sufferance".[14] Critic Christopher Holle of Stage Door criticized Bourgeois' portrayal of Alan, writing, that he "does not tinge his polite conversation with Michael and Veronica with enough sarcasm that would point to his real view of them that emerges later".[15] Bourgeois has also worked for three months on Off-Broadway.[2]

In addition to his work in theatre, Bourgeois has performed on-screen in countless film and television productions. He had significant roles in the feature films Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story and Ginger Snaps and in the made for television movies Ms. Scrooge, My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story, The Interrogation of Michael Crowe, Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story, Love Thy Neighbor, Taking a Chance on Love, Unstable and When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story. Corpus Christi Caller-Times film critic Ricardo Baca praised Bourgeois' performance in the 2002 TV film Guilty Hearts starring Marcia Gay Harden, writing that he "plays deceit delightfully as the church's money hungry reverend".[16]

Bourgeois directed the short film Jimmy Pacheco, a "dark kidnap caper", in 1999, starring Henry Czerny, Jayne Eastwood, J. C. MacKenzie, Maria Vacratsis, and Bourgeois' wife, among others.[17] Jimmy Pacheco received nominations for Best Comedy at the Yorkton Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.[18]

In 2018, he guest starred as Eric's estranged father Phillip Hingston in the "Legacy" episode of the TV series Ransom.[19] He plays Police Chief Angus Pershing on the TV series Carter, which premiered in 2018.[18]

He has been the program director of Acting for Film and Television at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario, since 2005.[1][18]

Personal life

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Bourgeois bilingual in English and French.[2] He met his future wife Maria Ricossa during the North American tour of the Stratford Festival of Canada production of the William Shakespeare play King Lear.[20] Ricossa played Regan and Bourgeois played King of France and knights.[21] Directed by John Hirsch, the play toured from November 1985 to February 1986.[21][22] Bourgeois and Ricossa married when they finished the tour around 1986 .[20][5] Eric McCormack, a company member, gifted them a wine goblet and promised to give them a second one after five years.[20]

The couple have three daughters.[2] The oldest, Olivia,[23] was born in 1987 and the two youngest were twins born in 1989 or 1990.[2][24] Since Ricossa was born in Michigan, their children have dual citizenship from Canada and the United States.[2] In January 2005, Bourgeois and his wife, Maria Ricossa, played husband and wife for the first time in David Gow's play Bea's Niece at Tarragon Theatre.[20]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Sea of Love Young Cop
1990 Divided Loyalties Ebeneezer Cox
1993 Searching for Bobby Fischer Gym Parent
1995 Never Talk to Strangers Cop
1997 Murder at 1600 Captain Farr
1998 Protector Keenan Video
Seeds of Doubt Amos Caldwell
The Mighty Mr. Sacker
Conquest Morley
1999 Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story Jack Griffin
A Map of the World Judge Patterson
2000 Ginger Snaps Henry
2001 Maximum Capacity Glenn
2002 Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road Daniel Oliver
2003 Jericho Mansions Detective Carp
Rescue Heroes: The Movie Warren Waters Voice
Beyond Borders Rolly
2004 Sisters in the Wilderness: The Lives of Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill Thomas Traill
The Prince and Me Ben Morgan
A Different Loyalty Paul Tyler
2007 Split City Male Cop Short film
2016 X-Men: Apocalypse Pentagon General Radford
2017 Esmerelda's Castle Mr. Evans Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Seeing Things Episode: "A Vision in White"
1989 Street Legal Dolan Episode: "A World-Class City"
Friday the 13th: The Series Briggs Episode: "Bad Penny"
1990 Counterstrike The Kidnapper Episode: "The Dealbreaker"
1990-1992 E.N.G. Tough Guy / Ken Jones Episodes: "In Love and War" and "After the Fire"
1991 Top Cops Andrew Demers Episode: "Andrew Demers/Lynda Williams/Joseph Pollini/Rita Rowe"
Katts and Dog Episode: "Blind Spot"
1992 Beyond Reality Episode: "Justice"
Deadly Matrimony Eddie Segura TV movie
1992-1993 By Way of the Stars Miniseries, 6 episodes
1993 Matrix Brent Metcalf Episode: "Blindside"
JFK: Reckless Youth Burnet Two-part miniseries
1994 RoboCop Col. Albert Brox Episode: "Ghosts of War"
1994-1997 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Sergeant John Broderick 24 episodes
1995 Forever Knight Jake Episode: "The First Inside"
TekWar Ermano Lobo Episode: "Forget Me Not"
Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story Shifflett TV movie
1996 Double Jeopardy Detective Chase TV movie
Due South Colonel Shank Episode: "Starman"
Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance Myers TV movie
Traders Miro Surogin Episode: "Dancing with Mr. D"
1997 Dead Silence Major Daniel Tremaine TV movie
When Secrets Kill Chief Matthews TV movie
When Innocence is Lost Lyle Dunham TV movie
Once a Thief Mac's Father Episode: "Mac Daddy"
Bad to the Bone James Bacarelli TV movie
Wind at My Back Skip Roper Episode: "Moving Mountains" and "Radio Waves"
Ms. Scrooge Cratchit TV movie
Promise the Moon Mr. Waverly TV movie
1998 PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Lang Episode: "Kiss of the Tiger"
The Disappearing Act Detective Maas TV movie
Highlander: The Raven Harmon Frost Episode: "Birthright"
My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story Dr. Robert Sheppard TV movie
Ice Dr. Golding TV movie
1998-1999 Little Men Captain Hoffman 3 episodes
1999 La Femme Nikita Mischa Episodes: "Someone Else's Shadow" and "Opening Night Jitters"
First Comes Love Cowboy Bob TV movie
Rescue Heroes Warren Watters Unknown episodes
Black and Blue Commissioner TV movie
A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story Barry Huffman TV movie
Earth: Final Conflict Colonel Bramson Episode: "In Memory"
1999-2000 The City Payne 9 episodes
2000 Deliberate Intent Detective Gallon TV movie
Thin Air TV movie
2001 A Glimpse of Hell Adm. Johnson TV movie
Chasing Cain Woody TV movie
And Never Let Her Go David Stanton TV movie
Queer as Folk Dr. Perkins Episode: "Solution (How TLFKAM Got Her Name Back)"
Largo Winch John William Valance Episode: "Legacy"
The Pretender: Island of the Haunted Brother Menenicus TV movie
2002 Guilty Hearts Reverend Joseph Masters TV movie
The Associates Mr. Shoucaire Episode: "Freedomia"
Scared Silent Owen Bradley TV movie
Monk Commissioner Harry Ashcombe Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Psychic"
Witchblade Brogan Episode: "Veritas"
Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story Agent TV movie
The Interrogation of Michael Crowe Detective Claytor TV movie
Chasing Cain: Face TV movie
2003 Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story Peter Powers TV movie
Playmakers Stan Olczyk Episodes: "Gameday" and "Choice: Part 2"
Missing Joe Mastriani 4 episodes
The Reagans John Tower TV movie
Veritas: The Quest Glen Fallon Episode: "Avalon"
2004-2006 Puppets Who Kill Cop / Officer Hogsworth 3 episodes
2005 The Man Who Lost Himself J.J. Albrecht TV movie
Code Breakers Major General Frederick A. Irving TV movie
2006 Time Warp Trio King Sitaram & Ashok Voice, episode: "Dude, Where's My Karma?"
Love Thy Neighbor Detective Zeller TV movie
The Shakespeare Comedy Show Episode: #1.3 (segment "Interview with a Bear")
Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy Dr. Frank TV movie
Wedding Wars Senator Brighton TV movie
2007 The Dark Room William Russell TV movie
2008 Burn Up Robert Cooper Miniseries, episode: #1.2
XIII: The Conspiracy President Galbrain Two-part TV movie
2009 Taking a Chance on Love Older Ben Morrick TV movie
Unstable Dan Walker TV movie
2010 The Wild Girl Tolbert Phillips TV movie
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story Dr. Frank TV movie
The 19th Wife Brigham Young TV movie
Haven Max Hansen Episode: "Spiral"
2011 Breakout Kings Director Knox Pilot episode
The Kennedys Dr. Max Jacobson Miniseries, 3 episodes
Befriend and Betray Gavin Meadwell TV movie
Covert Affairs Chet Laguardi Episodes: "Begin the Begin" and "Around the Sun"
Flashpoint Sgt. Blount Episode: "Good Cop"
2012 Secrets of Eden Jim Halm TV movie
The Firm Allan Hoyt 3 episodes
2013 Murdoch Mysteries Warden Browning Episode: "Victoria Cross"
Copper Major John Augustus Boiles Episode: "To One Shortly To Die"
2014 A Day Late and a Dollar Short Dr. Cielto TV movie
The Listener Mark Benson Episode: "The Fugitive"
Heartland Walter Episode: "Walk a Mile"
2015 Lead with Your Heart Gary Walker TV movie
2016 Schitt's Creek Don Taylor Episode: "Happy Anniversary"
Shoot the Messenger Chief Ken Thomson 3 episodes
Designated Survivor Senator Hazelton Episode: "The Blueprint"
2017 Taken Cy Backer Episodes: "Off Side" and "Hail Mary"
Killjoys Kalla Seyon Trus Episode: "Necropolis Now"
Save Me Bizzemingway Episodes: "Possible Anaphylaxis" and "Code 5"
2018 Ransom Phillip Hingston Episode: "Legacy"
Carter Chief Angus Pershing Recurring role
Condor Nathan's Father Episodes: "A Good Patriot" and "A Question of Compromise"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Crouse, Richard (2013-11-21). "He Chose the Road Not Taken and It's Made All the Difference". CTV Television Network. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Donnelly, Pat (1992-03-07). "Rough Crossing a change of pace for director: Former Montrealer back after 11 years to mount a Stoppard production". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "John Bourgeois: Program Director, Acting for Film & Television". Humber College. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wagner, Vit (1989-10-13). "Ziggurat group wants your love . . . or hate". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  5. ^ a b Syse, Glenna (1986-01-09). "Now Paul Sills is New York-bound". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  6. ^ a b Mietkiewicz, Henry (1998-01-18). "Flair for the surreal subs for lack of sense". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  7. ^ a b Mietkiewicz, Henry (1989-05-28). "Miller's Price isn't right". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  8. ^ Rose, Ben (1989-11-02). "Bradbury keeps audience's attention through entire Hunger performance". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2018-10-15 – via Simon Fraser University.
  9. ^ Nicholls, Liz (1990-01-18). "Frankie makes for an easy evening". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "M. Butterfly takes wing Aquarius production is solid effort". The Hamilton Spectator. 1992-11-02. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  11. ^ "Dora nominations list". Toronto Star. 1994-05-18. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  12. ^ Kennedy, Janice (1995-11-19). "Play with frequent beauty and power fails to make a strong dramatic statement". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b Ouzounian, Richard (2000-07-07). "Review Dawe a true original at Fringe festival". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  14. ^ Crew, Robert (2013-11-28). "God of Carnage works if you enjoy blood sport: review". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  15. ^ Hoile, Christopher (2013-11-28). "Review - God of Carnage - Studio 180, Toronto - Christopher Hoile". Stage Door. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  16. ^ Baca, Ricardo (2002-02-10). "Unhappy wife, churchgoer indulge in secret affair - 'Guilty Hearts' features betrayal, infidelity, and finally murder". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Pacheco by a hair". Toronto Star. 1999-05-12. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  18. ^ a b c Stapiński, Grzegorz (2018-03-21). ""Carter", nowy serial w AXN (wideo)" (in Polish). SATinfo24. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  19. ^ "TV best bets for 5-12-18". The San Diego Union-Tribune. 2018-05-11. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  20. ^ a b c d Ouzounian, Richard (2014-12-30). "Marriage of love and stage - Maria Ricossa and John Bourgeois act as spouses Open in Tarragon Theatre's Bea's Niece next week". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  21. ^ a b Somerset, Alan (2018-08-19). "Shakespeare in Performance: Stage Production. King Lear (1985, Stratford Festival of Canada)". Internet Shakespeare Editions. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  22. ^ Sullivan, Dan. (1985-11-12). "Stage Review : Stratford 'Lear' Has A Hurricane-force Lear" (pages 1 and 2). Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original (pages 1 and 2) on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  23. ^ Wagner, Vit (1989-01-20). "Maria gets her wish to hunt cockroaches". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  24. ^ Adilman, Sid (1987-10-09). "CTV gives Terrilyn Joe Calgary Olympics plum". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
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Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Canadian male actors Category:21st-century Canadian male actors Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:Canadian male stage actors Category:Canadian male voice actors Category:Male actors from Ottawa