Anthony Sherwood
Encyclopedia
Anthony Sherwood is an award-winning Canadian actor
, producer and director.
" from Virginia. Sherwood's grandmother was an accomplished musician and music teacher, his mother was a singer, and his aunt was Portia White, Canada’s first and most famous Black opera singer and one of Nova Scotia’s most cherished icons. Sherwood’s family moved to Montreal where he commenced an eight-year career as a R&B singer before switching focus to acting.
, Razz ‘M Jazz, and The Music Man
and in 2009 he performed in the hit musical Dream Girls at the Grand Theatre in London. Sherwood eventually made the transition to film and began acting in several Canadian and American feature films. He has guest-starred in more than fifty television shows including; Due South
, Outer Limits
, Soul Food, Earth: Final Conflict
, PSI Factor, 1-800 Missing, Danger Bay
, Adventure Inc.
, Hidden Room, Diamonds, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
, Night Heat
, Aaron Stone
, The Best Years
, Ghost Writer and Counter Strike.
Sherwood has appeared in over seventy feature films including Honey
, The Guardian
, Hostile Takeover, Deadbolt
, Undue Influence
, Boss Girl Physical Evidence and Guilty As Sin
. He is best known for his roles in the television series Airwolf
as Jason Locke and in Street Legal
as Dillon Beck, a role for which he earned a 1992 Gemini Award
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. His role in Street Legal was the first continuing interracial relationship in a prime time television series in North America.
and Oliver Jones entitled, Rockin` In Paradise. In February 2010, he wrote, directed and produced an educational play on great African-Canadian hero, William Hall. In February 2008, Sherwood produced the original stage production Follow the North Star for the Federal Government of Canada. Follow the North Star was produced to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of British Imperial Act of 1833 – The Act to Abolish Slavery in the British Empire
and was presented in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Anthony has directed and produced many successful music concerts including the World AIDS Day
Concert in 2005 which was the largest music concert for World AIDS Day in Canada.
Sherwood owns a production company which specializes in productions emphasizing issues of social justice
and Black Canadians. His film company produced the feature documentary entitled, Honour Before Glory, which he wrote, produced and directed. The film won Second Prize at the 2002 Hollywood Black Film Festival
in Los Angeles and a 2002 Gemini Award
(Canada's most prestigious television award). Sherwood created and produced the documentary film, Music - A Family Tradition for the CBC
. which won a Gemini Award in 1997 and was nominated for an International Emmy Award
. He also produced and directed the documentary film entitled, Nowhere to Run, which looks at the global crisis of landmines. His film Mozambique – A Land of Hope looks at the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa and was broadcast on the Signature Series on OMNI Television
and was featured at the World AIDS Conference in Toronto in August, 2006. His documentary film, 100 Years of Faith, is a documentary about the oldest black church in the Province of Quebec
. In 2009, he produced and directed the documentary film Knocking On Heaven's Door which looked at the gang violence in Kingston, Jamaica
.
For seven years Sherwood was the host and narrator of the documentary
television series Forbidden Places for the Discovery Channel
. On this television series, Mr. Sherwood performed numerous duties including writer, director, narrator and host. Forbidden Places was nominated for Best Documentary Series on Canadian Television for two years in a row. For three successful seasons, he was the host of the television talk-show, In The Black
for OMNI Television, the first talk-show on Canadian television featuring exclusive interviews with prominent African-Canadians.
For the past twenty-five years, Sherwood has hosted dozens of events across Canada. He has served as an M.C. or spokesperson for many cultural, entertainment and political events. He has hosted the Stop Racism Concert in Vancouver with special guest Prince Charles and the 1999 Canada Day Celebration on Parliament Hill for former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
• 1998 Brampton Arts Acclaim Award
• 2000 Urban Alliance on Race Relations Award
• 2002 African-Canadian Achievement Award
• 2006 North American Black Historical Museum & Cultural Centre Award
• 2006 Planet Africa Award
• 2008 Harry Jerome Award
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, producer and director.
Biography
Sherwood's mother was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and his father was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Anthony’s mother was a fifth generation Canadian whose ancestors escaped to Canada using the "underground railroadUnderground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
" from Virginia. Sherwood's grandmother was an accomplished musician and music teacher, his mother was a singer, and his aunt was Portia White, Canada’s first and most famous Black opera singer and one of Nova Scotia’s most cherished icons. Sherwood’s family moved to Montreal where he commenced an eight-year career as a R&B singer before switching focus to acting.
Acting career
Sherwood began his acting career on stage and started in musical theatre. He starred in such musicals as Ain't Misbehavin', CabaretCabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
, Razz ‘M Jazz, and The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
and in 2009 he performed in the hit musical Dream Girls at the Grand Theatre in London. Sherwood eventually made the transition to film and began acting in several Canadian and American feature films. He has guest-starred in more than fifty television shows including; Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
, Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
, Soul Food, Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
, PSI Factor, 1-800 Missing, Danger Bay
Danger Bay
Danger Bay is a Canadian television series, produced in Vancouver, with first-run episodes broadcast on CBC Television starting October 18, 1984 and the Disney Channel starting October 7, 1985...
, Adventure Inc.
Adventure Inc.
Adventure Inc. is a dramatised adventure television series produced primarily in Canada which aired from September 30, 2002 to May 12, 2003. It was a co-production of Fireworks Entertainment , Tribune Entertainment Tribune Entertainment , M6 , Amy International , and Tele München...
, Hidden Room, Diamonds, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
, Night Heat
Night Heat
Night Heat is a Canadian police drama series, which aired on CTV from 1985 to 1991. The show also aired on CBS in the United States from 1987 to 1993 and was the first Canadian-produced drama series to air on an American network...
, Aaron Stone
Aaron Stone
Aaron Stone is a live-action, single-camera adventure series created by Bruce Kalish. Originally broadcast with the launch of Disney XD on February 13, 2009...
, The Best Years
The Best Years (TV series)
The Best Years is a Canadian teen drama series set in Boston, Massachusetts. The series was created by producer and writer of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Aaron Martin...
, Ghost Writer and Counter Strike.
Sherwood has appeared in over seventy feature films including Honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Hostile Takeover, Deadbolt
Deadbolt
A dead bolt or dead lock , is a locking mechanism distinct from a spring bolt lock because a deadbolt cannot be moved to the open position except by rotating the lock cylinder. The more common spring bolt lock uses a spring to hold the bolt in place, allowing retraction by applying force to the...
, Undue Influence
Undue influence
Undue influence is an equitable doctrine that involves one person taking advantage of a position of power over another person. It is where free will to bargain is not possible.-Undue influence in contract law:...
, Boss Girl Physical Evidence and Guilty As Sin
Guilty as Sin
Guilty as Sin is a 1993 film directed by Sidney Lumet. It stars Don Johnson and Rebecca De Mornay, and was produced by Hollywood Pictures.-Plot:Jennifer Haines is an up-and-coming Chicago attorney...
. He is best known for his roles in the television series Airwolf
Airwolf
Airwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
as Jason Locke and in Street Legal
Street Legal (TV series)
Street Legal is a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1994.-Synopsis:A spinoff from the 1985 television movie Shellgame, Street Legal focused on the professional and private lives of the partners in a small Toronto, Ontario law firm, Barr, Robinovitch and Tchobanian...
as Dillon Beck, a role for which he earned a 1992 Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. His role in Street Legal was the first continuing interracial relationship in a prime time television series in North America.
Writing, producing and directing career
Sherwood wrote and directed the original musical productions Ain't Got No Money, in Vancouver, Once Upon A Stage and Razz M'Jazz in Montreal, and But I Was Cool in Toronto. He wrote a new musical play with Canadian music legends Oscar PetersonOscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
and Oliver Jones entitled, Rockin` In Paradise. In February 2010, he wrote, directed and produced an educational play on great African-Canadian hero, William Hall. In February 2008, Sherwood produced the original stage production Follow the North Star for the Federal Government of Canada. Follow the North Star was produced to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of British Imperial Act of 1833 – The Act to Abolish Slavery in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and was presented in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Anthony has directed and produced many successful music concerts including the World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an...
Concert in 2005 which was the largest music concert for World AIDS Day in Canada.
Sherwood owns a production company which specializes in productions emphasizing issues of social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
and Black Canadians. His film company produced the feature documentary entitled, Honour Before Glory, which he wrote, produced and directed. The film won Second Prize at the 2002 Hollywood Black Film Festival
Hollywood Black Film Festival
The Hollywood Black Film Festival, dubbed the "Black Sundance," is an annual six-day film festival held in Los Angeles, California dedicated to enhancing the careers of new and established black filmmaking professionals by bringing their work to the attention of the film industry, press and public....
in Los Angeles and a 2002 Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
(Canada's most prestigious television award). Sherwood created and produced the documentary film, Music - A Family Tradition for the CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
. which won a Gemini Award in 1997 and was nominated for an International Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
. He also produced and directed the documentary film entitled, Nowhere to Run, which looks at the global crisis of landmines. His film Mozambique – A Land of Hope looks at the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa and was broadcast on the Signature Series on OMNI Television
OMNI Television
Omni Television, corporately styled as OMNI Television, is a Canadian television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications. It consists of the company's conventional television stations in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta which are licensed as multicultural stations...
and was featured at the World AIDS Conference in Toronto in August, 2006. His documentary film, 100 Years of Faith, is a documentary about the oldest black church in the Province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. In 2009, he produced and directed the documentary film Knocking On Heaven's Door which looked at the gang violence in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
.
For seven years Sherwood was the host and narrator of the documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
television series Forbidden Places for the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
. On this television series, Mr. Sherwood performed numerous duties including writer, director, narrator and host. Forbidden Places was nominated for Best Documentary Series on Canadian Television for two years in a row. For three successful seasons, he was the host of the television talk-show, In The Black
In the Black
In the Black is the fifth studio album by the all-female heavy metal band Kittie. The album was released on September 15, 2009. This is the first album from the band after signing with E1 Music and with bassist Ivy Vujic...
for OMNI Television, the first talk-show on Canadian television featuring exclusive interviews with prominent African-Canadians.
Social Activism
Sherwood has also been recognized as a dedicated social activist who continues to fight for the rights of all Canadians. He formed the first Black actors association in Canada that lobbied the television and film industry for equal opportunities. He is the former National Chairman of the March 21 Campaign for the Federal Government of Canada. March 21 is the International Day For the Elimination of Racism. Sherwood has received international recognition and awards for his efforts in raising awareness to the importance of racial equality.For the past twenty-five years, Sherwood has hosted dozens of events across Canada. He has served as an M.C. or spokesperson for many cultural, entertainment and political events. He has hosted the Stop Racism Concert in Vancouver with special guest Prince Charles and the 1999 Canada Day Celebration on Parliament Hill for former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Awards
• 1998 Martin Luther King Achievement Award• 1998 Brampton Arts Acclaim Award
• 2000 Urban Alliance on Race Relations Award
• 2002 African-Canadian Achievement Award
• 2006 North American Black Historical Museum & Cultural Centre Award
• 2006 Planet Africa Award
• 2008 Harry Jerome Award
.