Gordon Pinsent, a veteran of the Canadian film and television industry, has died at the age of 92.
The actor, best known for starring in Sarah Polley’s drama Away From Her and numerous Canadian TV shows, died in his sleep on Saturday, his family confirmed via deadline.
“Gordon Pinsent’s daughters Leah and Beverly, and his son Barry, today wish to announce the passing of their father peacefully asleep with his family by his side,” read a note written by actor Peter Keleghan, Pinsent’s son. -law.
“Gordon passionately loved this country and its people, purpose and culture until his last breath,” he added.
Although Pinsent worked in Canadian productions for most of his career, some of his best-known films were American productions, including the 1968 Norman Jewison-directed version of The Thomas Crown Affair and the classic blaxploitation film Blacula (1972), in which he starred a detective about the story of the vampire of the same name.
Film and TV star: Gordon Pinsent, a veteran of the Canadian film and television industry, has passed away at the age of 92. He starred in Sarah Polley’s movie Away From Her and several Canadian TV shows; seen in 2016 in Toronto
Other major projects included Babar: The Movie (1989), in which he voiced the title character, whom he would play in subsequent television adaptations for many years.
In 1970, he played the President of the United States in the cult sci-fi thriller Colossus: The Forbin Project, and he played a gang leader opposite Warren Oates in the 1971 neo-noir Chandler.
Pinsent was a jack-of-all-trades, and in 1974 he wrote a novel that served as the basis for his 1986 screenplay for John And The Missus, which he also directed and starred in.
He appeared with an all-star cast in 2001’s The Shipping News, but his most critically acclaimed role was probably in 2006’s Away From Her.
The film, which was adapted from a short story by Canadian Nobel Prize for Literature winner Alice Munro, starred Pinsent as the husband of an aging woman (played by Julie Christie) who begins to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Pinsent’s character, who cheated on his wife in the past, has her moved into a nursing home, but she completely forgets about their marriage in the first 30 days she is away from him, before turning to another resident for companionship.
The film was acclaimed by critics and nominated at the 80th Academy Awards for Best Actress for Christie’s role and Best Adapted Screenplay for Polley’s writing.
Pinsent also received Best Actor trophies for his role from the Genie Awards and the ACTRA Awards, both Canadian ceremonies.
Born on July 12, 1930, Pinsent spent four years in the Canadian Army in the 1950s before taking the stage in the next decade.
Although Pinsent spent most of his time in Canada, he lived in Los Angeles for six years, according to Deadline.
Lead Actor: Pinsent’s most critically acclaimed leading role was in 2006’s Away From Her (pictured), directed by Sarah Polley and based on a short story by Alice Munro. He played a man whose wife – who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease – forgets about him after she moves into a nursing home
South of the Border: Other major American films included The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and the cult classic Colossus: The Forbin Project; seen in 2012
Besides being an actor, novelist, director and screenwriter, he was also a playwright and a respected painter.
In 2017 he was the subject of the documentary The River Of My Dreams.
Pinsent was married to Charmion King from 1962 until her death from emphysema in 2007, a year after his Away From Her triumph.
He is survived by his daughter Leah and her husband Peter Keleghan who are both actors, his daughter Beverly and his son Barry who is also an actor.
