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Louis Del Grande

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Louis Del Grande
Born (1943-03-23) March 23, 1943 (age 81)
Occupation(s)Actor, screenwriter, producer
Years active1964–2016
SpouseMartha Gibson

Louis Del Grande (born March 23, 1943) is a retired American-Canadian actor, comedian, and television writer. He is best known as the co-creator and star of the mystery-comedy CBC Television series Seeing Things (1981-87). He won four Gemini Awards for his work on the series, two for Best Actor in a Comedy Series and two for Best Comedy Series.

Early life

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Del Grande was born and raised in Union City, New Jersey. His father and brother were both institutionalized, while his sister underwent intensive psychiatric treatment. At age 16, Del Grande began acting in New York City, eventually landing a part in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.[1][2]

Career

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Del Grande moved to Toronto in 1964, drawn to Canada by the Stratford Festival,[1] and soon found work as a stand-up comedian and comedy writer. In 1975, he was hired as head writer for a new sitcom, The King of Kensington, which became a hit in Canada until the end of the decade. He also appeared in the show a handful of times as Fred, a friend of Al Waxman's lead character Larry King. Del Grande later became (with Jack Humphries) the show's co-producer (a Fifth Estate documentary said the two producers ran Kensington "with an iron hand").

After a brief stint in Hollywood, Del Grande returned to Toronto where he created, wrote and produced Seeing Things,[1] which aired from 1981 to 1987. Del Grande played a crime-solving clairvoyant tabloid reporter who was separated from his wife Marge (played by Del Grande's real-life wife, actress Martha Gibson). The series was popular and won Del Grande four Gemini Awards, two for best actor in a comedy and two for the show itself.[citation needed]

Outside Canada, Del Grande is probably best known as the ConSec scanner in the infamous "head explosion" scene in the David Cronenberg movie Scanners.[3] He has also appeared in numerous theatrical and television movies and series, including Monkeys in the Attic, Due South, The Outer Limits and Goosebumps.

Personal life

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Del Grande is married to Canadian actress Martha Gibson. For many years, the couple resided on Cape Breton Island.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Second Wind Howie
1980 Atlantic City Mr. Shapiro
1981 Scanners First Scanner
1981 Happy Birthday to Me Surgeon
1983 Of Unknown Origin Clete
1989 Speed Zone Mr. Benson
1992 Buried on Sunday Prime Minister
1993 Cadillac Girls Adam
1997 Hostile Intent Soames
2016 The Second Time Around Charlie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1973–75 Dr. Simon Locke Man / Al Kutner / Boulder 3 episodes
1975-79 King of Kensington Fred Actor; 2 episodes
Writer; 4 episodes
1978 Home to Stay Richard Television film
1978 Tom and Joann Norman
1980, 1981 The Littlest Hobo Kent / Detective Woods 2 episodes
1981 A Far Cry from Home Lawyer Television film
1981–87 Seeing Things Louis Ciccone Actor; 43 episodes
Writer; 2 episodes
Co-creator
1988 The Elephant Show Willy Bookem Episode: "The Early Years"
1990 Sanity Clause Leo Television film
1990 Clarence Brimmer
1991 Tropical Heat Glenn Lawson Episode: "Big Brother Is Watching"
1995 Sugartime Chuckie English Television film
1996 Due South Lyndon Buxley Episode: "We Are the Eggmen"
1997 F/X: The Series Director Episode: "Medea"
1997 North Shore Fish Markie Television film
1997 Let Me Call You Sweetheart Joe
1997 Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants Colombe
1998 The Outer Limits Detective Renfro Episode: "Criminal Nature"
1998 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Frank Stonehouse Television film
1998 Goosebumps Mr. Saur Episode: "Say Cheese and Die... Again"
1998 The Dumb Bunnies Mr. Grudge Episode: "Stressed to Impress"
1998 Traders Sonny Palin Episode: "Independence Days"
1999 Family of Cops 3 Sean the Bartender Television film
1999 Ned's Newt Dump Hermit / Big Criminal 2 episodes
1999, 2002 Lexx Louie / Roada
2000 Big Wolf on Campus Dr. Frank Stein Episode: "Frank Stein"

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kaufman, Michael T. (1984-05-21). "AMERICAN MYSTERY SERIES FOR CANADIAN TV A HIT". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  2. ^ a b https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.3234681 [bare URL]
  3. ^ Meyers, Ric (2011). For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Films. Eirini Press. ISBN 978-0-9799989-3-5.
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