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R. H. Thomson

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For the Seattle civil engineer, see Reginald H. Thomson.
R. H. Thomson
CM
Thomson in 2024
Born
Robert Holmes Thomson

(1947-09-24) September 24, 1947 (age 77)
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
EducationUniversity of Toronto
National Theatre School of Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1976–present
SpouseLaurie Matheson
Children2

Robert Holmes Thomson CM (born September 24, 1947), known as R. H. Thomson, is a Canadian actor.[1] With a career spanning five decades he remains a regular presence on Canadian movie screens and television. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the arts, and to war veterans.

Life and career

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Thomson was born on September 24, 1947, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto and the National Theatre School.[2]

His own play The Lost Boys was staged at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in March 2000 and at Canadian Stage in February 2002. He has also hosted programming for CBC Radio and CBC Television. Thomson has portrayed a number of historical figures including Samuel Lount, Edsel Ford, Frederick Banting, Duncan Campbell Scott, Mitchell Sharp, and James Cross.

In 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.[3] In May 2015 Thomson received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Eric Peterson performed in his honour at the gala celebrating the laureates at the National Arts Centre.[4]

Personal life

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1914-1918-Vigil Project (2009). Names of more than 68,000 Canadians who died in WWI were projected over 6 nights onto monuments including St. Paul's Church in Halifax.

Thomson is married with two sons.[5]

Thomson has had a long-standing interest in Canada's military and war veterans. In 1995 he narrated a three-part documentary series about Canada's involvement in international conflicts. On the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, in which nearly 3,600 Canadians died, he co-created, with lighting designer Martin Conboy, a commemoration in which the name of each fallen soldier was projected onto the National War Memorial. The following year in 2009, he and Conboy undertook an ambitious project to project the names of the more than 68,000 Canadians who died in World War I onto famous monuments across the country. Projections occurred during the night. In 2010, the Government of Canada honoured Thomson for this effort with a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.[6]

R.H. Thomson at a CFC reception, for Business for the Arts, 2013

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Jigsaw (L'Homme en colère) Borke
1981 Ticket to Heaven Linc Strunc
Surfacing David
Happy Memories Rick
1982 If You Could See What I Hear Will Sly
1983 Snow Jim Short
1985 Vision Quest Kevin
Martin's Day Paul Mennen
Samuel Lount Samuel Lount
1987 Wednesday's Children: David Jim Short
1989 The First Season Eric Anderson
1990 Defy Gravity Bill Fiddich
1991 The Quarrel Chaim Kovler
1993 The Lotus Eaters Hal Kingswood
1994 Max Andy Blake
1995 Duncan Campbell Scott: The Poet and the Indians Duncan Campbell Scott
1997 Twilight of the Ice Nymphs Dr. Isaac Solti
Silent Cradle David Greg
1998 Bone Daddy Stone
2000 Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace [de] Knobloch
2006 Population 436 Sheriff Jim Calcutt Video
Who Loves the Sun Arthur Bloom
2008 Well Kept Secrets - Athanassia Manuel
2009 Chloe Frank
2010 New Year Terry Cook
Whirligig Andre
2011 Jesus Henry Christ Billy Herman
2018 Clara Dr. Rickman
2022 Stellar Professor

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Of the Fields, Lately Ben Mercer TV movie
1978 Tyler Tyler Dorsett
1979 An American Christmas Carol Thatcher
1980 A Population of One John Trueman
1981 Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper Lee Schatz
1983 The Terry Fox Story Dr. Simon
Cornet at Night The Stranger
1985 Charlie Grant's War Charlie Grant
The Ray Bradbury Theater Morgan Episode: "The Crowd"
1986 The Marriage Bed Dr. Jeff Reilly TV movie
Philip Marlowe, Private Eye Frank Barsley Episode: "Red Wind"
1987 Stranger in My Bed Dr. Davidson TV movie
And Then You Die Det. Sgt. James McGrath
Heaven on Earth Wilf Hawthorne
Ford: The Man and the Machine Edsel Ford
Moonlighting Dr. Steven Hill Episodes: "Tale in Two Cities" & "Father Knows Last"
1988 Glory Enough for All Dr. Frederick Banting TV movie
The Campbells Andrew Jordan Episode: "Last Time Around"
The Twilight Zone Dr. Burrell Episode: "Our Selena Is Dying"
1989 Champagne Charlie Robert Morgan TV movie
Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher Gerry Allbright
1990–1996 Road to Avonlea Jasper Dale Recurring role
1991 Mark Twain and Me Albert Paine TV movie
1992–1993 By Way of the Stars Priest Miniseries
1993 Bonds of Love Jake Hobart TV movie
1994 The Babymaker: The Dr. Cecil Jacobson Story Bill Castellano
My Breast Luke
Bizet's Dream Delaborde/Escamillo
1995 Net Worth Milton Mound
1996 Murder at My Door Ed McNair
1999 Cry Rape Ray Marcassi
P.T. Barnum James Anthony Bailey
2000 The Dinosaur Hunter Rev. Smythe
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne} Count Nicolai Kugarin Episode: "Rocket to the Moon"
2001 The Associates Angus MacGregor Episode: "Headfirst Into Hell"
The Royal Scandal Mycroft Holmes TV movie
2002 The Stork Derby Hugh McLean
Trudeau Mitchell Sharp
Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay Richard Rogers
Tom Stone Peter Krieghoff Episode: "Deal"
University Harry Copeland Episode: "Welcome to Dorchester"
2003 Bugs Reynolds TV movie
The Piano Man's Daughter Frederick Wyatt
Full-Court Miracle Rabbi Lewis
2004 Human Cargo Peter Fowler Miniseries
2006 Prairie Giant Dr. Moulds
October 1970 James Cross
2008 The Englishman's Boy Tom Hardwick
2010 Republic of Doyle Francis Chafe Episode: "The Tell-Tale Safe"
2012 King Randall King Episode: "Freddy Boise"
2013 Cracked Robert Kelly Episode: "The Valley"
2016 Love's Complicated Senator TV movie
2017–2019 Anne with an E Matthew Cuthbert Main role
2024 Murdoch Mysteries Chief Inspector Francis Stewart Episodes: "A Heavy Heart" & "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

Awards

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Wins

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Nominations

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References

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  1. ^ "R.H. Thomson". The Canadian Encyclopedia, March 6, 2011.
  2. ^ R. H. Thomson. Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia.
  3. ^ Governor General announces 74 new appointments to the Order of Canada
  4. ^ "R.H. Thomson". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  5. ^ At home with actor R.H. Thomson. Toronto Star, November 22, 2008.
  6. ^ "Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation > (R.H.) Robert Thomson". Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
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