Robert Holmes Thomson (born 1947), known as R. H. Thomson, is a Canadian television, film, and stage actor."R.H. Thomson". The Canadian Encyclopedia, March 6, 2011. 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 Thomson was born on September 24, 1947, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto and the National Theatre School.R. H. Thomson. Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia.
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.Mr. R.H. (Robert Holmes) Thomson GG Awards - Order of Canada citation. 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. In 2017 to 2019, Thomson co-starred in the Netflix series Anne with an E as Matthew Cuthbert.
Personal life
Thomson is married with two sons.At home with actor R.H. Thomson. Toronto Star, November 22, 2008.
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 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.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1979Jigsaw (L'Homme en colère)Borke1981Ticket to HeavenLinc StruncSurfacingDavidHappy MemoriesRick1982If You Could See What I HearWill Sly1983SnowJimShort1985Vision QuestKevinMartin's DayPaul MennenSamuel LountSamuel Lount1987Wednesday's Children: DavidJimShort1989 The First SeasonEric Anderson1990Defy GravityBill Fiddich1991 The QuarrelChaim Kovler1993Hal Kingswood1994MaxAndy Blake1995Duncan Campbell Scott: The Poet and the IndiansDuncan Campbell Scott1997Twilight of the Ice NymphsDr. Isaac SoltiSilent CradleDavid Greg1998Bone DaddyStone2000Knobloch2006Population 436Sheriff Jim CalcuttVideoWho Loves the SunArthur Bloom2008Well Kept Secrets - AthanassiaManuel2009ChloeFrank2010New YearTerry CookWhirligigAndre2011Jesus Henry ChristBilly Herman2018ClaraDr. Rickman2022StellarProfessor
Television Year Title Role Notes1976Of the Fields, LatelyBen MercerTV movie1978TylerTyler Dorsett1979An American Christmas CarolThatcher1980 A Population of OneJohn Trueman1981Escape from Iran: The Canadian CaperLee Schatz1982 I Married the Klondike Frank BertonMiniseries1983 The Terry Fox StoryDr. SimonTV movieCornet at NightThe Stranger1985Charlie Grant's WarCharlie GrantMiniseries The Ray Bradbury TheaterMorganEpisode: "The Crowd"1986 The Marriage BedDr. Jeff ReillyTV moviePhilip Marlowe, Private EyeFrank BarsleyEpisode: "Red Wind"1987Stranger in My BedDr. DavidsonTV movieAnd Then You DieDet. Sgt. James McGrathHeaven on EarthWilf HawthorneFord: The Man and the MachineEdsel FordMoonlightingDr. Steven HillEpisodes: "Tale in Two Cities" & "Father Knows Last"1988Glory Enough for AllDr. Frederick BantingTV movie The CampbellsAndrew JordanEpisode: "Last Time Around" The Twilight ZoneDr. BurrellEpisode: "Our Selena Is Dying"1989Champagne CharlieRobert MorganTV movieLove and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn ThatcherGerry Allbright1990–1996Road to AvonleaJasper DaleRecurring role1991Mark Twain and MeAlbert PaineTV movie1992–1993By Way of the StarsPriestMiniseries1993Bonds of LoveJake HobartTV movie1994 The Babymaker: The Dr. Cecil Jacobson StoryBill CastellanoMy BreastLukeBizet's DreamDelaborde/Escamillo1995Net WorthMilton Mound1996Murder at My DoorEd McNair1999Cry RapeRay MarcassiP.T. BarnumJames Anthony Bailey2000 The Dinosaur HunterRev. Smythe The Secret Adventures of Jules VerneCount Nicolai KugarinEpisode: "Rocket to the Moon"2001 The AssociatesAngus MacGregorEpisode: "Headfirst Into Hell" The Royal ScandalMycroft HolmesTV movie2002 The Stork DerbyHugh McLeanTrudeauMitchell SharpHell on Heels: The Battle of Mary KayRichard RogersTom StonePeter KrieghoffEpisode: "Deal"UniversityHarry CopelandEpisode: "Welcome to Dorchester"2003BugsReynoldsTV movie The Piano Man's DaughterFrederick WyattFull-Court MiracleRabbi Lewis2004Human CargoPeter FowlerMiniseries2006Prairie GiantDr. MouldsOctober 1970James Cross2008 The Englishman's BoyTom Hardwick2010Republic of DoyleFrancis ChafeEpisode: "The Tell-Tale Safe"2012KingRandall KingEpisode: "Freddy Boise"2013CrackedRobert KellyEpisode: "The Valley"2016Love's ComplicatedSenatorTV movie2017–2019Anne with an EMatthew CuthbertMain role2024Murdoch Mysteries Chief Inspector Francis StewartEpisodes: "A Heavy Heart" & "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"Murder in a Small Town Carlyle BurkeEpisode: "The Suspect"
Awards
Wins 1989 : Gemini Award, for Glory Enough for All 1983 : Gemini Award, for If You Could See What I Hear 2015: Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Theatre) 2018 : Canadian Screen Award, for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Anne with an E
Nominations 1982 : Genie Award, for Ticket to Heaven 1986 : Genie Award, for Samuel Lount 1986 : Gemini Award, for Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks 1987 : Gemini Award, for Screen Two 1987 : Gemini Award, for Ford: The Man and the Machine 1988 : Gemini Award, for And Then You Die 1993 : Genie Award, for The Lotus Eaters 1994 : Gemini Award, for Road to Avonlea 2008 : Gemini Award, for The Englishman's Boy
References
External links