Gil Bellows (born June 28, 1967) is a Canadian actor, producer, screenwriter, and director. Upon graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he began acting in films and television. Bellows also earned critical acclaim for his stage performances in The Snake and the Vein (1990-1992) and Flaubert's Latest (1992). For his first starring role in Love and a .45 (1994), his acting received positive reviews. Bellows gained wide attention for his performance as Tommy, a pivotal role in The Shawshank Redemption (1994). The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including “Best Picture” and is considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made.
On television, Bellows is best known for playing Billy Thomas, the romantic lead in the popular Fox ’s legal dramedy series Ally McBeal (1997–2002). His performance earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award, and when his character finally united with the title character, the show reached a record-breaking audience of nearly 17 million viewers.
Throughout his career Bellows, has continued to work in both film and television. His film credits include The Weather Man (2005), House at the End of the Street (2012), and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019). On television, he has had recurring roles in Smallville (2010), American Gods (2021), Chucky (2023-2024), and more.
As a producer, Bellows has several notable accomplishments, including Mick Jackson’s HBO biographical drama Temple Grandin (2010), which earned him both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Peabody Award. He produced, starred in, co-wrote, and co-directed the film 3 Days in Havana (2013), and also produced the Amazon Prime Video series Patriot (2015–2017), where he received story credits as well.
Stage works
A Snake in the Vein (1990–1992) Flaubert's Latest (1992) The best of schools (circa early 1990s) 24-Hour Play (2002) Great Writers Series: The Ox-Bow Incident (2004)
Films +YearTitleRoleProducerNotesRef.1989The First SeasonRonne1994Love and a .45Watty WattsThe Shawshank RedemptionTommy Williams1995Miami RhapsodyMattBlack Day Blue NightHitchhiker Dodge1996The Substance of FireVal Chenard1997Snow White: A Tale of TerrorWillWitch Way LoveMichaelWhite LiesPunk GuyThe AssistantFrank AlpineDinner at Fred'sRichard1998Say You'll Be MineMasonJudas KissLizard Browning2000Beautiful JoeEltonChasing SleepDetective Derm2003Fast Food HighDale WhiteBlind HorizonDr. Theodore Conway2004EMRParamedicHow's My DrivingJimmyShort filmChildstarIsaacPursuedBen Keats2005Keep Your DistanceDavid DaileySweet LandCo-producerProducer onlyThe Weather ManDon2008The PromotionMitchKill Kill Faster FasterJoeProducerBlack Crescent MoonSamPasschendaeleRoysterToronto StoriesHenry2010HappenchanceStanShort filmUnthinkableAgent VincentA Night for Dying TigersJackHunt to KillBanksNeighborsVernShort film2011The Year Dolly Parton Was My MomPhilGirl Walks into a BarEmmitThe Maiden Danced to DeathFred2012The SamaritanBartender BillHouse at the End of the StreetOfficer Bill Weaver2013Mad ShipArchie CameronLouis CyrRichard Kyle FoxParklandDavid Powers3 Days in HavanaJack PettyProducerAlso co-director and co-writer2014ExtraterrestrialSheriff MurphyLeading LadyDaniel TaylorThe CallingDetective Ray GreenKill the MessengerDEA Agent Miller2015Girl on the EdgeJake GreenWeepah Way for NowJohnLife on the LinePok' ChopBusiness EthicsZachary CranstonExecutive producerShort film2016Dead DrawHarrisonShe Has a NameAlex2017Blood HoneyMarvin HeathADDictedProfessor Jeff Mueller2019Run This TownDetective LoweyNation's FireJosip AleksanderScary Stories to Tell in the DarkChief TurnerBusiness EthicsEdwin MurkExecutive producerDrowningFrank2020Two Deaths of Henry BakerHenry Baker / Sam Bird2021AwakeDr. Katz2026Voicemails for IsabelleJill and Isabelle's Dad2026How We Stand2027Post-production
Television +YearTitleRoleProducerNotesRef.1991Law & OrderHoward MetzlerEpisode: "The Violence of Summer"1992Flying BlindGerardEpisode: "Single White Eurotrash"1993Going to ExtremesBen2 episodes1995Silver StrandBrian Del PisoTV movie1996Radiant CityBert KramerTV movie1997–2002Ally McBealBilly Thomas68 episodes1998The PracticeEpisode: "Axe Murderer"1999Ally13 episodes2000The Courage to LoveDr. Gerard GaultierTV movie2001Night VisionsKeith MillerEpisode: "Dead Air/Renovation"Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She CreatureMilesTV movie2001–2002The AgencyMatt Callan23 episodes2002Whitewash: The Clarence Bradley StoryMike De GuerinTV movieSecond StringDan HellerTV movie20031st to DieChris RaleighTV movieThe Twilight ZoneMaj. Rob MaloneEpisode: "Homecoming"2004Karen SiscoSpecial Agent Donny PepperEpisode: "Dog Day Sisco"Zeyda and the HitmanJeff KleinTV movieCooking LessonsProfessor MochaTV movieA Bear Named WinnieColonel BarretTV movie2005Terminal CityAri Sampson10 episodes2006Final Days of Planet EarthLloyd WalkerTV movie2008The CleanerMickey EfrosEpisode: "Pilot"InfectedBen MosherTV movie24: RedemptionFrank TramellTV movie2010SmallvilleMaxwell Lord2 episodes#8FlashForwardTimothy3 episodesGoblinNeil PerkinsTV movieCriminal MindsJeff JoyceEpisode: "JJ"Temple GrandinExecutive ProducerProducer only2010–2012True JusticeNikoli Putin4 episodes2011SanctuaryCaleb2 episodesTrading ChristmasRay JohnsonTV movie2012BossVacarro2 episodesVegasGeorge Grady3 episodes2013DeleteLt. General Michael Overson2 episodes2014CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLee BermanEpisode: "Kitty"Falling SkiesNick PhillipsEpisode: "Mind Wars"BonesMason BarnesEpisode: "The Money Maker on the Merry-Go-Round"AscensionHarris Enzmann3 episodes2015–2018PatriotLawrence LacroixExecutive producer14 episodes - Also story writer201611.22.63FBI Agent James P. Hosty2 episodesEyewitnessGabe Caldwell10 episodes2017Between UsMattTV short2018The DetectivesDet. Peter BakerEpisode: "Nine Shots"2019The Handmaid's TaleDoctorEpisode: "Heroic"SuitsDan FoleyEpisode: "Windmills"JettEvans9 episodes2020Cherish the DayTherapistEpisode: "Synopsis"The Twilight ZoneDick WarrenEpisode: "You Might Also Like"Love in the Time of CoronaPaul4 episodes2021American GodsBill Sanders3 episodes2022Women of the MovementGerald Chatham4 episodes2023–2024ChuckyWarren Pryce6 episodes2024Alert: Missing Persons UnitInspector Hollis Braun6 episodes2025Law & Order Toronto: Criminal IntentCSIS Toronto Region Director Tom
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