The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television presents an annual award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role to the best performance by a lead actor in a Canadian film.Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. . The award was first presented in 1968 by the Canadian Film Awards, and was presented annually until 1978 with the exception of 1969, when no eligible feature films were submitted for award consideration, and 1974 due to the cancellation of the awards that year.
From 1980 until 2012, the award was presented as part of the Genie Awards ceremony; since 2013, it has been presented as part of the new Canadian Screen Awards.
From 1980 to 1983, only Canadian actors were eligible for the award; non-Canadian actors appearing in Canadian films were instead considered for the separate Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor.Jay Scott, "Canadian films do Jekyll and Hyde act". The Globe and Mail, February 27, 1982. After 1983, the latter award was discontinued, and both Canadian and foreign actors were eligible for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role."Genie rules changed to include Americans". Toronto Star, October 9, 1985.
In August 2022, the Academy announced that it will discontinue its past practice of presenting gendered awards for film and television actors and actresses; beginning with the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, gender-neutral awards for Best Performance will be presented, with eight nominees per category instead of five.Joseph Pugh, "Canadian Screen Awards switching to gender-neutral performance categories". CBC News, August 25, 2022. Lead performances are now honoured with the Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Film.
1960s Year Actor Film Ref 196820th Canadian Film Awards Gerard Parkes Isabel 196921st Canadian Film Awards No award presented this year
1970s Year Actor Film Ref 197022nd Canadian Film Awards Paul Bradley Goin' Down the Road Doug McGrath 197123rd Canadian Film Awards Jean Duceppe Mon oncle Antoine 197224th Canadian Film Awards Gordon Pinsent The Rowdyman 197325th Canadian Film Awards Jacques Godin O.K. ... Laliberté 1974No award presented 197526th Canadian Film Awards Stuart Gillard Why Rock the Boat? 197627th Canadian Film Awards André Melançon Bound for Glory (Partis pour la gloire) 197728th Canadian Film Awards Len Cariou One Man David Petersen Skip Tracer "Back stage". The Globe and Mail, October 15, 1977. Craig Russell Outrageous! Marcel Sabourin J.A. Martin Photographer (J.A. Martin photographe) 197829th Canadian Film Awards Richard Gabourie Three Card Monte John Juliani Marie-Anne "Four films nominated for Etrogs". The Globe and Mail, August 24, 1978. Frank Moore The Third Walker Christopher Plummer The Silent Partner
1980s Year Actor Film Ref 1980 1st Genie Awards Christopher Plummer Murder by Decree Geoffrey Bowes Something's Rotten Jay Scott, "Changeling leads Canadian Film Award nominees". The Globe and Mail, February 8, 1980. Robin Gammell Jack London's Klondike Fever Thomas Hauff Summer's Children Stephen Lack The Rubber Gun 1981 2nd Genie Awards Thomas Peacocke The Hounds of Notre Dame Jocelyn Bérubé The Handyman (L'Homme à tout faire) Jay Scott, "Genie nominations released". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1981. Lewis Furey Fantastica Winston Rekert Suzanne August Schellenberg The Coffin Affair (L'Affaire Coffin) 1982 3rd Genie Awards Nick Mancuso Ticket to Heaven Gabriel Arcand The Plouffe Family (Les Plouffe) Jay Scott, "Les Plouffe, Ticket to Heaven lead the pack: Academy lists Genie nominees". The Globe and Mail, February 4, 1982. Gordon Pinsent Silence of the North Christopher Plummer The Amateur Winston Rekert Heartaches 1983 4th Genie Awards Donald Sutherland Threshold Gilles Renaud A Day in a Taxi (Une journée en taxi) Jay Scott, "Top Genie prospects for Jack Miner move". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1983. Saul Rubinek By Design Marcel Sabourin Sweet Lies and Loving Oaths (Doux aveux) August Schellenberg Latitude 55° 1984 5th Genie Awards Eric Fryer The Terry Fox Story Pierre Curzi Lucien Brouillard Jay Scott, "11 nominations for Chapdelaine in Genie race". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1984. Guy L'Écuyer Au clair de la lune Nick Mancuso Maria Chapdelaine Alan Scarfe Deserters 1985 6th Genie Awards Gabriel Arcand The Crime of Ovide Plouffe (Le Crime d'Ovide Plouffe) Xavier Norman Petermann Mario Jay Scott, "Bay Boy reels in 11 Genie nominations". The Globe and Mail, February 15, 1985. Winston Rekert Walls Kiefer Sutherland The Bay Boy Kenneth Welsh Reno and the Doc 1986 7th Genie Awards John Wildman My American Cousin Serge Dupire The Alley Cat (Le Matou) "Scorecard of major nominees for tonight's Genie Awards on TV". Toronto Star, March 20, 1986. Ed McNamara Bayo Alan Scarfe Overnight R. H. Thomson Samuel Lount 1987 8th Genie Awards Gordon Pinsent John and the Missus Pierre Curzi The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain) John Allemang, "Arcand's Decline tops Genie nominations with 13". The Globe and Mail, February 5, 1987. Rémy Girard The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain) Winston Rekert The Blue Man Kenneth Welsh Loyalties 1988 9th Genie Awards Roger Lebel Night Zoo (Un Zoo la nuit) David Hemblen Family Viewing Liam Lacey, "Quebec film picks up 14 nominations: Zoo paces race for Genies". The Globe and Mail, February 17, 1988. Jason St. Amour Train of Dreams Gilles Maheu Night Zoo (Un Zoo la nuit) 1989 10th Genie Awards Jeremy Irons Dead Ringers Zachary Ansley Cowboys Don't Cry Elias Koteas Malarek Jan Rubeš Something About Love Saul Rubinek The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick Ron White Cowboys Don't Cry
1990s Year Actor Film Ref 1990 11th Genie Awards Lothaire Bluteau Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal) Maury Chaykin Cold Comfort "Bye Bye Blues in running for Genie Awards". Vancouver Sun, February 14, 1990. Michel Côté Cruising Bar Michael McManus Speaking Parts Stephen Ouimette The Top of His Head 1991 12th Genie Awards Rémy Girard Love Crazy (Amoureux fou) Brad Dourif Chaindance Craig MacInnis, "Too many jokers, not enough aces: Genie deck stacked for Black Robe". Toronto Star, November 24, 1991. Matthias Habich The Savage Woman (La Demoiselle sauvage) Saeed Jaffrey Masala Jean Rochefort Love Crazy (Amoureux fou) 1992 13th Genie Awards Tony Nardi The Saracen Woman (La Sarrasine) Jacques Godin Being at Home with Claude "Genie Award nominations". Toronto Star, November 20, 1992. Don McKellar Highway 61 Gildor Roy Requiem for a Handsome Bastard (Requiem pour un beau sans-coeur) Peter Weller Naked Lunch 1993 14th Genie Awards Tom McCamus I Love a Man in Uniform Roy Dupuis Cap Tourmente "Genie nominations". Calgary Herald, October 20, 1993. Rémy Girard La Florida Gilbert Sicotte Cap Tourmente R. H. Thomson The Lotus Eaters 1994 15th Genie Awards Maury Chaykin Whale Music Martin Drainville Louis 19, King of the Airwaves (Louis 19, le roi des ondes) Gary Farmer Henry & Verlin Elias Koteas Exotica Gilbert Sicotte Les Pots cassés 1995 16th Genie Awards David La Haye Water Child (L'Enfant d'eau) Lothaire Bluteau The Confessional (Le Confessionnal) "Nominees for the 1995 Genie Awards". Canadian Press, November 7, 1995. Matthew Ferguson Eclipse Clive Russell Margaret's Museum Peter Williams Soul Survivor 1996 17th Genie Awards William Hutt Long Day's Journey into Night Jason Cadieux Lilies "Over-the-edge Canadian films poised for Genie nod". Canadian Press, November 24, 1996. Matthew Ferguson Lilies Danny Gilmore Lilies Tom McCamus Long Day's Journey into Night Christopher Penn The Boys Club 1997 18th Genie Awards Ian Holm The Sweet Hereafter Robin Aubert The Countess of Baton Rouge (La Comtesse de Bâton Rouge) Bruce Greenwood The Sweet Hereafter Peter Outerbridge Kissed Alan Williams The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati 1998 19th Genie Awards Roshan Seth Such a Long Journey Rémy Girard Les Boys "Two films lead Genie pack". Waterloo Region Record, December 8, 1998. Tony Nardi Mr. Aiello (La Déroute) Jonathan Pryce Regeneration Samuel West Rupert's Land 1999 20th Genie Awards Bob Hoskins Felicia's Journey Gabriel Arcand Post Mortem Denis Bouchard Winter Stories (Histoires d'hiver) Joël Drapeau-Dalpé Winter Stories (Histoires d'hiver) Ralph Fiennes Sunshine Daniel MacIvor The Five Senses
2000s Year Actor Film Ref 2000 21st Genie Awards Tony Nardi My Father's Angel "Maelstrom sweeps Genie Awards". Cape Breton Post, January 31, 2001. David Cubitt The Perfect Son Colm Feore The Perfect Son Timothy Webber My Father's Angel James Whitmore Here's to Life! 2001 22nd Genie Awards Brendan Fletcher The Law of Enclosures Zachary Bennett Desire "Atanarjuat and The War Bride share lead for Genie Awards". Guelph Mercury, December 15, 2001. David La Haye Soft Shell Man (Un crabe dans la tête) Peter Outerbridge Marine Life Chris Owens The Uncles Zinedine Soualem Tar Angel (L'Ange de goudron) 2002 23rd Genie Awards Luc Picard Savage Messiah David Alpay Ararat "Egoyan's Ararat scoops nine Gemini nominations". Timmins Daily Press, December 12, 2002. Philip DeWilde Turning Paige Christopher Plummer Ararat Colin Roberts Flower & Garnet 2003 24th Genie Awards Rémy Girard The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares) Raymond Bouchard Seducing Doctor Lewis (La Grande séduction) Philip Seymour Hoffman Owning Mahowny Robert Lepage Far Side of the Moon (La Face cachée de la lune) Barry Pepper The Snow Walker 2004 25th Genie Awards Roy Dupuis Looking for Alexander (Mémoires affectives) Peter Howell, "Quebec films rule Genies; Aging Triplets named country's best film of 2004". Toronto Star, March 22, 2005. Michel Côté The Last Tunnel (Le Dernier Tunnel) "Being Julia up for best picture at Canada's Genies". St. Catharines Standard, February 9, 2005. David La Haye Battle of the Brave (Nouvelle-France) Ian McKellen Émile Nick Stahl Twist 2005 26th Genie Awards Michel Côté C.R.A.Z.Y. Adam Butcher Saint Ralph Guy Dixon, "Forget the awards. Watch the party". The Globe and Mail, January 26, 2006. Marc-André Grondin C.R.A.Z.Y. Paul Kaye It's All Gone Pete Tong Luc Picard Audition (L'Audition) 2006 27th Genie Awards Roy Dupuis The Rocket (Maurice Richard) Jay Stone, "Bon Cop, Bad Cop wins top Genie as best movie". Ottawa Citizen, February 14, 2007. Colm Feore Bon Cop, Bad Cop Randall King, "The Rocket scores with 13 Genie nominations". Winnipeg Free Press, January 10, 2007. Olivier Gourmet Congorama Patrick Huard Bon Cop, Bad Cop Luc Picard A Sunday in Kigali (Un dimanche à Kigali) 2007 28th Genie Awards Gordon Pinsent Away From Her Mark Medley, "Away From Her scoops six Genies, including best picture". Alaska Highway News, March 5, 2008. Roy Dupuis Shake Hands With the Devil Bruce Kirkland, "They dream of Genies; Canadian directors see films scoop 12 noms each". Winnipeg Sun, January 29, 2008. Marc Labrèche Days of Darkness (L'Âge des ténèbres) Claude Legault The 3 L'il Pigs (Les 3 p'tits cochons) Viggo Mortensen Eastern Promises 2008 29th Genie Awards Natar Ungalaaq The Necessities of Life (Ce qu'il faut pour vivre) Paul Gross Passchendaele Rupinder Nagra Amal Christopher Plummer Emotional Arithmetic Aaron Poole This Beautiful City 2009 30th Genie Awards Joshua Jackson One Week Jean-Carl Boucher 1981 Paul-Dylan Ivalu Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain) Clark Johnson Nurse.Fighter.Boy Stephen McHattie Pontypool
2010s