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Peter Blais (born 1949) is a Canadian actor, best known for his frequent roles in the plays of George F. Walker.^[1]

Background[edit]

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Blais is the grandson of John Peter Macmillan, a naturalist who played a key role in establishing Cape Breton Highlands National Park.^[2] He attended Carleton University and joined the campus drama society, where he met Dan Aykroyd. They performed together in several amateur productions during the 1960s.^[3]

Through the early 1970s he continued to have stage acting roles,^[4] while also working as a textile artist and theatrical costume and set designer, most notably on a 1977 production of King Lear for Halifax's Neptune Theatre.^[5]

It was as a designer that he first began to collaborate with Walker, although he soon began to appear in acting roles in Walker's plays as well as designing them.^[6]

He was additionally the designer of the original Arthur Ellis Award statuette for the Crime Writers of Canada.^[7]

Acting career[edit]

His performances in Walker's plays included Beyond Mozambique (1978),^[6] Rumours of Our Death (1980),^[8] Theatre of the Film Noir (1981),^[9] Criminals in Love (1984),^[10] Better Living (1987),^[11] Zastrozzi, The Master of Discipline,^[12] Beautiful City (1987),^[13] Nothing Sacred (1988),^[14] and Love and Anger (1989).^[15] By the time of Love and Anger, Blais had a reputation as "the quintessential Walker actor", to the point that Walker wrote Love and Anger specifically for Blais to play the lead.^[6]

He did not appear in the original cast of Escape from Happiness, although he designed the sets,^[16] and subsequently stepped into the role of Rolly Moore after Eric Peterson departed the cast.^[17]

His other stage roles included productions of The Lark (1980),^[18] Glengarry Glen Ross (1986)^[19] and The Nerd (1988).^[20]

He has also had supporting and guest roles in film and television, most prominently recurring roles as Lennox Cooper in PSI Factor and Geoff/Parson Hubbard in Made in Canada.

In the late 1990s he retired from the theatre and moved to Nova Scotia, where he became a partner with artist Tom Alway in the Maritime Painted Saltbox Gallery in Petite Riviere, although he continued to appear in occasional film and television roles thereafter.^[21]

Awards[edit]

He has been a two-time Dora Mavor Moore Award nominee, receiving nods for Best Leading Actor, General Theatre at the 1985 Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Criminals in Love,^[22] and Best Supporting Actor, General Theatre at the 1988 Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Nothing Sacred.^[23]

He won a Golden Sheaf Award for Best Performance - Male at the 1999 Yorkton Film Festival for The Wager.

He received a Gemini Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series at the 14th Gemini Awards in 1999, for his work in PSI Factor.^[24]

Partial filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

Baby on Board (1992) — Bald Man
The Wager (1998) — Victor
Snow Angels (2007) — Mr. Eisenstat

Made-for-television films[edit]

Trudeau (2002) — McIlwraith
Plain Truth (2004) — Dr. Ziegler
Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making (2005) — Professor Émilken Caron

Television[edit]

Faerie Tale Theatre (1 episode) (1985) — Julius Caesar Rat
Star Wars: Ewoks (1985)— Additional Voices
The Ray Bradbury Theater (Skeleton) (1988) — Munigant
War of the Worlds (1 episode) (1989) — Ralph
Forever Knight (Crazy Love) (1995) — Barlow
PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (21 episodes) (1996–1999) — Lennox "L.Q." Cooper
TekWar (Redemption) (1996) — Jonas La Salle (1 episode, 1996)
Made in Canada (1998-2003) — Geoff (12 episodes)
Beach Girls (TV mini-series) (2005) — Judge

References[edit]

^ "Blais returning to Love and Anger". Toronto Star, April 29, 1990.
^ Janice Middleton, "The fabric of in Nova Scotia". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, May 6, 2017.
^ Dave Brown, "Orpheus is 100, still having fun". Ottawa Citizen, April 9, 2007, Page 2.
^ Herbert Whittaker, "A splendid Scandal reaches Sussex". The Globe and Mail, February 6, 1975.
^ Herbert Whittaker, "Neptune's Lear defies traditional approach, remains compelling". The Globe and Mail, January 13, 1977.
^ ^a ^b ^c Vit Wagner, "Walker's friend Blais at centre of his stage". Toronto Star, October 6, 1989.
^ "Crime Writers of Canada honors Murdoch, Wright". The Globe and Mail, May 25, 1984.
^ Ray Conlogue, "Actors the best feature of Rumors of Our Death". The Globe and Mail, January 21, 1980.
^ Carole Corbeil, "Walker's Film Noir is a-buzz with fun". The Globe and Mail, May 16, 1981.
^ Stephen Godfrey, "Criminals in Love hilarious despite flaws in second act". The Globe and Mail, November 8, 1984.
^ Ray Conlogue, "Better Living less than sum of parts". The Globe and Mail, May 27, 1986.
^ Robert Crew, "Zastrozzi returns in splendid form". Toronto Star, May 14, 1987.
^ Robert Crew, "Play's real anger diluted". Toronto Star, October 1, 1987.
^ Ray Conlogue, "Nothing Sacred best play the city has seen in years". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1988.
^ Robert Crew, "Love And Anger simply stunning". Toronto Star, October 12, 1989.
^ Liam Lacey, "Theatre Review: Escape from Happiness". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 1992.
^ "Walker play to get new cast for extended run". The Globe and Mail, March 25, 1992.
^ Norma Harris, "Lark doesn't really soar". The Globe and Mail, May 31, 1980.
^ Robert Crew, "Glengarry Glen Ross beautifully cast". Toronto Star, November 7, 1986.
^ Henry Mietkiewicz, "Burghoff's gamble pays off". Toronto Star, November 2, 1988.
^ Anne Calder, "A feast of colour and joy". Saltscapes, March 2022.
^ Henry Mietkiewicz, "Cats leads pack of Dora nominees". Toronto Star, September 5, 1985.
^ Robert Crew, "CentreStage play tops Dora Award nominees". Toronto Star, May 11, 1988.
^ "Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999.

External links[edit]

Peter Blais at IMDb

[1] "Blais returning to Love and Anger". Toronto Star, April 29, 1990.

[2] Janice Middleton, "The fabric of in Nova Scotia". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, May 6, 2017.

[3] Dave Brown, "Orpheus is 100, still having fun". Ottawa Citizen, April 9, 2007, Page 2.

[4] Herbert Whittaker, "A splendid Scandal reaches Sussex". The Globe and Mail, February 6, 1975.

[5] Herbert Whittaker, "Neptune's Lear defies traditional approach, remains compelling". The Globe and Mail, January 13, 1977.

[centrestage-6] Vit Wagner, "Walker's friend Blais at centre of his stage". Toronto Star, October 6, 1989.

[7] "Crime Writers of Canada honors Murdoch, Wright". The Globe and Mail, May 25, 1984.

[8] Ray Conlogue, "Actors the best feature of Rumors of Our Death". The Globe and Mail, January 21, 1980.

[abuzz-9] Carole Corbeil, "Walker's Film Noir is a-buzz with fun". The Globe and Mail, May 16, 1981.

[10] Stephen Godfrey, "Criminals in Love hilarious despite flaws in second act". The Globe and Mail, November 8, 1984.

[11] Ray Conlogue, "Better Living less than sum of parts". The Globe and Mail, May 27, 1986.

[12] Robert Crew, "Zastrozzi returns in splendid form". Toronto Star, May 14, 1987.

[13] Robert Crew, "Play's real anger diluted". Toronto Star, October 1, 1987.

[14] Ray Conlogue, "Nothing Sacred best play the city has seen in years". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1988.

[15] Robert Crew, "Love And Anger simply stunning". Toronto Star, October 12, 1989.

[16] Liam Lacey, "Theatre Review: Escape from Happiness". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 1992.

[17] "Walker play to get new cast for extended run". The Globe and Mail, March 25, 1992.

[18] Norma Harris, "Lark doesn't really soar". The Globe and Mail, May 31, 1980.

[19] Robert Crew, "Glengarry Glen Ross beautifully cast". Toronto Star, November 7, 1986.

[20] Henry Mietkiewicz, "Burghoff's gamble pays off". Toronto Star, November 2, 1988.

[21] Anne Calder, "A feast of colour and joy". Saltscapes, March 2022.

[22] Henry Mietkiewicz, "Cats leads pack of Dora nominees". Toronto Star, September 5, 1985.

[23] Robert Crew, "CentreStage play tops Dora Award nominees". Toronto Star, May 11, 1988.

[24] "Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Canadian actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
+'''Peter Blais''' (born 1949) is a [[Canada|Canadian]] actor, best known for his frequent roles in the plays of [[George F. Walker]].<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-blais-returning-to-love/145763117/ Blais returning to Love and Anger]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 29, 1990.</ref>
-{{BLP unsourced|date=December 2023}}
-'''Peter Blais''' is a Canadian actor. He has won a [[Golden Sheaf Award]] for "Best Performance - Male" in ''[[The Wager (1998 film)|The Wager]]'', and in 1999 he was nominated for a [[Gemini Award]] for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series" for his work in ''[[PSI Factor]]''.
+==Background==
-Blais attended [[Carleton University]] and joined the campus drama society, where he met [[Dan Aykroyd]]. They performed together in several amateur productions during the 1960s.
+A native of [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], Blais is the grandson of John Peter Macmillan, a naturalist who played a key role in establishing [[Cape Breton Highlands National Park]].<ref>Janice Middleton, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1975588241/8E2586EBB8FC42CDPQ/1 The fabric of in Nova Scotia]". ''[[Halifax Chronicle-Herald]]'', May 6, 2017.</ref> He attended [[Carleton University]] and joined the campus drama society, where he met [[Dan Aykroyd]]. They performed together in several amateur productions during the 1960s.<ref>Dave Brown, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-orpheus-is-100-still/145763346/ "Orpheus is 100, still having fun"]. ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', April 9, 2007, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-orpheus-is-100-still/145763377/ Page 2].</ref>
+Through the early 1970s he continued to have stage acting roles,<ref>Herbert Whittaker, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1239447273/CFD3C18C80074676PQ/1 A splendid Scandal reaches Sussex]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', February 6, 1975.</ref> while also working as a textile artist and theatrical costume and set designer, most notably on a 1977 production of ''[[King Lear]]'' for [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]]'s [[Neptune Theatre (Halifax, Nova Scotia)|Neptune Theatre]].<ref>Herbert Whittaker, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1241342611/CAD266D7F9B44142PQ/1 Neptune's Lear defies traditional approach, remains compelling]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 13, 1977.</ref>
-As a stage actor, he is best known for his frequent roles in the plays of [[George F. Walker]], including the role of Viktor in the original production and a 1994 revival of ''[[Nothing Sacred (play)|Nothing Sacred]]'' and the role of Pete Maxwell in the original production of ''[[Love and Anger (play)|Love and Anger]]''.
+It was as a designer that he first began to collaborate with Walker, although he soon began to appear in acting roles in Walker's plays as well as designing them.<ref name=centrestage>Vit Wagner, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-walkers-friend-blais-a/145785505/ Walker's friend Blais at centre of his stage]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', October 6, 1989.</ref>
+He was additionally the designer of the original [[Arthur Ellis Award]] statuette for the [[Crime Writers of Canada]].<ref>"[https://www.proquest.com/docview/386506328/9BD524A78C654881PQ/1 Crime Writers of Canada honors Murdoch, Wright]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 25, 1984.</ref>
+==Acting career==
+His performances in Walker's plays included ''Beyond Mozambique'' (1978),<ref name=centrestage/> ''Rumours of Our Death'' (1980),<ref>Ray Conlogue, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/386914528/F410590A72FA4970PQ/1 Actors the best feature of Rumors of Our Death]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 21, 1980.</ref> ''[[Theatre of the Film Noir]]'' (1981),<ref name=abuzz>[[Carole Corbeil]], "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/386839229/CC3B680BC35F4F97PQ/1 Walker's Film Noir is a-buzz with fun]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 16, 1981.</ref> ''Criminals in Love'' (1984),<ref>Stephen Godfrey, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1237595105/DC4F4A381F6942DDPQ/1 Criminals in Love hilarious despite flaws in second act]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 8, 1984.</ref> ''Better Living'' (1987),<ref>Ray Conlogue, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/1151451319/2CC18C187B9645C4PQ/1 Better Living less than sum of parts]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 27, 1986.</ref> ''[[Zastrozzi, The Master of Discipline]]'',<ref>Robert Crew, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-zastrozzi-returns-in-sp/145785839/ Zastrozzi returns in splendid form]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 14, 1987.</ref> ''Beautiful City'' (1987),<ref>Robert Crew, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-plays-real-anger-dilut/145786140/ Play's real anger diluted]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', October 1, 1987.</ref> ''[[Nothing Sacred (play)|Nothing Sacred]]'' (1988),<ref>Ray Conlogue, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/386006839/FB109011EC504B5BPQ/1 Nothing Sacred best play the city has seen in years]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 15, 1988.</ref> and ''[[Love and Anger (play)|Love and Anger]]'' (1989).<ref>Robert Crew, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-love-and-anger-simply-s/145786325/ Love And Anger simply stunning]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', October 12, 1989.</ref> By the time of ''Love and Anger'', Blais had a reputation as "the quintessential Walker actor", to the point that Walker wrote ''Love and Anger'' specifically for Blais to play the lead.<ref name=centrestage/>
+He did not appear in the original cast of ''[[Escape from Happiness]]'', although he designed the sets,<ref>Liam Lacey, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/385463299/89F40BFCE1B44DF8PQ/1 Theatre Review: Escape from Happiness]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', February 24, 1992.</ref> and subsequently stepped into the role of Rolly Moore after [[Eric Peterson]] departed the cast.<ref>"[https://www.proquest.com/docview/385440339/75CEBAD0573F4D16PQ/1 Walker play to get new cast for extended run]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', March 25, 1992.</ref>
+His other stage roles included productions of ''[[The Lark (play)|The Lark]]'' (1980),<ref>Norma Harris, "[https://www.proquest.com/docview/386962328/6C51159A4D924BDAPQ/1 Lark doesn't really soar]". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 31, 1980.</ref> ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' (1986)<ref>Robert Crew, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-glengarry-glen-ross-bea/145786795/ Glengarry Glen Ross beautifully cast]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', November 7, 1986.</ref> and ''[[The Nerd (play)|The Nerd]]'' (1988).<ref>Henry Mietkiewicz, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-burghoffs-gamble-pays/145787032/ Burghoff's gamble pays off]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', November 2, 1988.</ref>
+He has also had supporting and guest roles in film and television, most prominently recurring roles as Lennox Cooper in ''[[PSI Factor]]'' and Geoff/Parson Hubbard in ''[[Made in Canada (TV series)|Made in Canada]]''.
+In the late 1990s he retired from the theatre and moved to Nova Scotia, where he became a partner with artist Tom Alway in the Maritime Painted Saltbox Gallery in [[Petite Riviere Bridge, Nova Scotia|Petite Riviere]], although he continued to appear in occasional film and television roles thereafter.<ref>Anne Calder, [https://www.saltscapes.com/roots-folks/3390-a-feast-of-colour-and-joy.html "A feast of colour and joy"]. ''Saltscapes'', March 2022.</ref>
+==Awards==
+He has been a two-time [[Dora Mavor Moore Award]] nominee, receiving nods for [[Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Leading Actor (General Theatre)|Best Leading Actor, General Theatre]] at the [[1985 Dora Mavor Moore Awards]] for ''Criminals in Love'',<ref>Henry Mietkiewicz, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-cats-leads-pack-of-dora/145789110/ Cats leads pack of Dora nominees]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 5, 1985.</ref> and [[Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Supporting Actor (General Theatre)|Best Supporting Actor, General Theatre]] at the [[1988 Dora Mavor Moore Awards]] for ''Nothing Sacred''.<ref>Robert Crew, "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-centrestage-play-tops-d/145789386/ CentreStage play tops Dora Award nominees]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 11, 1988.</ref>
+He won a [[Golden Sheaf Award]] for Best Performance - Male at the 1999 [[Yorkton Film Festival]] for ''[[The Wager (1998 film)|The Wager]]''.
+He received a [[Gemini Award]] nomination for [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series|Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series]] at the [[14th Gemini Awards]] in 1999, for his work in ''PSI Factor''.<ref>"[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-major-gemini-awards-nom/145789658/ Major Gemini Awards nominations]". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 22, 1999.</ref>
 ==Partial filmography==
 ===Films===
-* ''[[Baby on Board (1991 film)|Baby on Board]]'' (1991) &mdash; Bald Man
+* ''Baby on Board'' (1992) &mdash; Bald Man
 * ''[[The Wager (1998 film)|The Wager]]'' (1998) &mdash; Victor
 * ''[[Snow Angels (film)|Snow Angels]]'' (2007) &mdash; Mr. Eisenstat
@@ Line 27: / Line 49: @@
 * ''[[Forever Knight]]'' (Crazy Love) (1995) &mdash; Barlow
 * ''[[PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal]]'' (21 episodes) (1996–1999) &mdash; Lennox "L.Q." Cooper
-* ''[[TekWar (TV series)|TekWar]]'' (Redemption) (1996)&mdash; Jonas La Salle (1 episode, 1996)
+* ''[[TekWar (TV series)|TekWar]]'' (Redemption) (1996) &mdash; Jonas La Salle (1 episode, 1996)
+* ''[[Made in Canada (TV series)|Made in Canada]]'' (1998-2003) &mdash; Geoff (12 episodes)
 * ''[[Beach Girls (TV miniseries)|Beach Girls]]'' (TV mini-series) (2005) &mdash; Judge
@@ Line 35: / Line 58: @@
 ==External links==
 *{{IMDb name|0086407|Peter Blais}}
-*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010417014048/http://www.geocities.com/dreampsi/cooperpage.htm L.Q. Coopers page] Psi Factor Fan site
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Blais, Peter}}
+[[Category:1949 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:20th-century Canadian male actors]]
+[[Category:20th-century Canadian male artists]]
+[[Category:21st-century Canadian male actors]]
+[[Category:21st-century Canadian male artists]]
 [[Category:Canadian male film actors]]
+[[Category:Canadian male stage actors]]
 [[Category:Canadian male television actors]]
 [[Category:Canadian male voice actors]]
+[[Category:Canadian textile artists]]
+[[Category:Canadian theatre designers]]
+[[Category:Canadian costume designers]]
 [[Category:Carleton University alumni]]
-[[Category:Canadian male stage actors]]
-[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
-{{Canada-screen-actor-stub}}