Ronald Ellis Canada (born May 3, 1949) is an American actor and producer, with a specialty in portraying judges and detectives. He is best known for One on One (2001–2004), The Shield (2003–2004), and Lone Star (1996).

Early life Canada was born in New York City on May 3, 1949. Following completion of the Michele Clark broadcast journalism program at Columbia University, under the guidance of producer Fred Friendly, Canada commenced his career as a television news reporter in 1971 at WBAL-TV. In 1974, he began his three-year tenure at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. For his work in the nation's capital, Canada was nominated twice for Regional Emmy Awards, receiving the award in 1977. The following year he received an A.P. Award for Outstanding Reporting. While making the career transition he worked part-time as a broadcaster for Voice of America. He studied acting at The Folger Theatre Group under the tutelage of Franchelle Stewart Dorn. He moved from D.C. to New York in 1985.

Career Canada became the second actor to play the role of Troy Maxson in August Wilson's Fences at the GeVa Theatre in Rochester, New York (January 1986).

Canada has had a long career in both television and film, known primarily for his work in Cinderella Man, Wedding Crashers, and his recurring role as Under Secretary of State Ted Barrow on The West Wing. In 1996, Canada received the Dallas Film Critics Award and significant national attention for his performance as Otis Payne in John Sayles's film Lone Star.

He played the role of Iago in a "photo negative" version of Shakespeare's Othello at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Other notable stage credits include his role as Emmet Tate in Zooman and the Sign at New York's Signature Theatre and originating the role of Duncan Troy in Headstrong at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, which earned him an Audelco Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor. Off Broadway - In Old Age - playing Azell Abernathy, at New York Theatre Workshop, N.Y.C Broadway play - Network - with Bryan Cranston, Tony Goldwyn, and Tatiana Maslany. Canada portrayed UBS network chieftain Edward George Ruddy.

Filmography

Film Title Year Role Note1983 Barker D.C. CabPolice Officer #41986 Good to GoStooper1987 Adventures in BabysittingGraydon HeartTalk Show Guest1988 Arthur 2: On the RocksBartender1990 DowntownLowell Harris Cregan1992 Honey, I Blew Up the KidU.S. Marshal Preston Brooks Play NiceCoroner Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkCop in Times Square1993 Barbarians at the GateVernon Jordan1994 Getting Even with DadZinn Without WarningTerrence Freeman1995 Man of the HouseBob Younger Above SuspicionCaptain Lindsay Lloyd1996 Lone StarOtis "Big O" Payne Pinocchio's RevengeBarry1998 Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELDGabe JonesTV movie Park DayMr. Joseph Johnson1999 In Too DeepDr. Bratton2000 Death of a DogHassan 2001 Thank HeavenJoseph Johnson2003 Elden FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Van Zandt Herb Keble2004 National TreasureGuard Woodruff2005 Cinderella ManJoe Jeanette Wedding CrashersRandolph, the Clearys' Butler Just Like HeavenDr. Walsh2006 IslanderT. Hardy Paved with Good IntentionsGarrett Balden2007 SnowglobeAntonio Moreno2008 Ocean of PearlsDr. Wiiliam Ballard Noble ThingsMoses Mr. Bennett2009 Bob FunkSmiley2012 Lake EffectWinchester2013 Life TrackerUriel Patterson2014 Child of GraceDoctor2015 Ted 2 Judge Matheson Gold Peak Tea: Take Me Home Contest Voice Video short After WordsNelson2017 Cooper Crown HeightsJudge Marcy2018 BullyMr. 'Action' Jackson2020 Frederick Douglass Boulevard aka Food & Drink Boulevard aka FDBKarl Short film Detective Villiers2021Gerome Short film

Television Year Title Role Note1989 Dallas Dave Wallace1990 Cheers Agent Munson1991 Stat Anderson "Mary" Roche1992 Grover James Star Trek: The Next Generation Martin Benbeck Episode: "The Masterpiece Society" Doogie Howser, M.D. Officer Wilbur L.A. Law David Ellis 1993 NYPD Blue Zeke Odell1994 Murphy Brown Sergeant Foley Episode: "Crime Story" Babylon 5 Capt. Ellis Pierce Episode: "A Voice in the Wilderness, part 2"1995 Living Single Lanny Freedan Family Matters Dave McClure Episode: "Walking My Baby Back Home"1996 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Ch'Pok Episode: "Rules of Engagement" Murder One Judge Orrin Bell1996–1997 Tracey Takes On... Lawrence Episodes: "Health" and "Fantasy"1997 Due South Franco Devlin Episode: "Mountie and Soul"1999 Star Trek: Voyager Fesek Episode: "Juggernaut" 2000 City of Angels Dr. Ethan Carter2001–2004 One on One Richard Barnes (father of Flex)2001 Det. Franklin Potter Episode: "Empedocles"2001-2002 Philly Judge Henry Griffin2002 Frasier Judge Anderson Episode: "The Ring Cycle"2003–2004 LAPD Chief of Police Tom Bankston2003–2006 Under Secretary of State Theodore Barrow2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Gerry Barone Episode: "Fight Night"2004–2005 Jack & Bobby Adult Marcus Ride2006 Weeds Joseph 7th Heaven Dr. Sergey Barker2006–2007 Ugly Betty Senator Slater2006–2008 Boston Legal Judge Willard Reese2007 Stargate SG-1 Quartus2008 Law & Order Mr. Fuller Episode: "Bottomless"2009 Philip Raimey Episode: "Red Scare"2011 Let's Stay Together Garrison Lawrence Judge Gerald Blake Episode: "Fresh Pursuit"2013 Mr. Haskins Episode: "The Farm" Blue Bloods Deputy Director Tom Mason2014 Elementary Mr Rose Episode: "The Hound of the Cancer Cells" Grimm Stan Kingston2015 Mayor George Lyle Judge Polk2.42016 Madam Secretary Cameroonian Ambassador Jean Aissatou Episode: "Desperate Remedies"2017 Designated Survivor Reverend Dale Andrew Hart Episodes: "Not So Grand Jury" and "The Schtup List"2017–2019 Admiral Tucker Episodes: "Sanctuary", "Majority Rule" and "Command Performance"2018 Bull Judge Miles Skurnick Episode: "Survival Instincts" Seven Seconds Pastor Adler Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan D.N.I. Bobby Vig House of Cards Vincent Abruzzo Episode 67, 68 & 722022 Coleman Green Episode: "Tangled Strands of Justice" The Best Man: The Final Chapters Wellington Episodes: "Paradise", "The Wedding", and "The Invisible Man"2022–2023East New YorkMaurice HaywoodEpisodes: "Snapped", "Pound of Flesh", "In the Bag"2023 Girls5eva Dana WiggensEpisode: "Clarksville" Wu-Tang: An American Saga Uncle Sy Episodes: "A Better Tomorrow"2025The IrrationalEli MercerEpisode: "Ghost Ship"

Commercials Year Title Role 2016 Gold Peak Tea: Home Brew Delivery Voice Gold Peak Tea: Take Me Home

Radio Year Title Role 2021 Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye Abner Jenkins / Beetle

Video games Title Year Role Note2004 Ground Control II: Operation ExodusDrahk'Mar VicathVoice

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