Chris Leavins
Encyclopedia
Chris Leavins is a Canadian
actor and writer based in Los Angeles
, USA
. He has appeared in a number of successful Canadian television shows and been nominated for two Gemini Award
s. Internationally, he is best known for his satirical internet show, Cute With Chris.
Leavins has been a cast member, or guest-star on some of Canada's most popular and critically acclaimed television series including Traders
(Gemini Winner 1997 and 1998 Best Dramatic Series), The Eleventh Hour
(Gemini Winner 2002-2003 Best Dramatic Series) and Slings and Arrows
(Gemini Winner 2006 Best Dramatic Series) which airs in America on the Sundance Channel. Leavins was also in the 1997 film The Hanging Garden
which won four Gemini Award
s.
Leavins was nominated for a Gemini Award
in the Best Supporting Actor category for his work as Christopher Todson in the series, Traders
, in 1997, and for Best Actor in a Guest Role for his work on Slings and Arrows
in 2007. He has also been nominated for a Gemini for his role in Todd and the Book of Pure Evil
in 2011.
An accomplished stage performer and playwright, Leavins' shows Posterchild, The Captain, and The Best Play in the Fringe Festival Ever have been performed across North America.
After 12 years living and working in Toronto
, Leavins moved to Los Angeles
, USA
in 2003. In 2006 he started the internet show Cute with Chris, a satirical video podcast
which he writes, anchors and produces himself in his apartment. The show features photos and letters sent in by viewers, which Leavins comments on, mocks, and subjects to polls on which is cutest. His show also features co-hosts: Colty, the female plastic horse, Pervy, the larger male perverted plastic horse with racist issues, and Peanuts, a bag of polystyrene peanuts that can only be understood by Leavins. Its popularity has increased over time, and the weekly episodes now regularly attract at least 100,000 views each. Chris abruptly ceased production of the show in June 2009. As of June 2011, absolutely no information has been given as to the possibility of a return, so it can be considered to have ended permanently.
On January 30, 2008, he performed a live version of the show for free at the 99-seat Hudson Theater in Hollywood, California
. The show sold out in 85 minutes. Another two shows, this time charging money for tickets, were put on at the Theatre Centre, Toronto on April 19 and April 20, 2008. Both sold out; the first in 20 minutes. Leavins has said that he sees this use of an Internet fan base to attract theatre audiences as a new model for success, and a solution to the difficulties that he experienced attracting audiences as a conventional writer and performer.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actor and writer based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He has appeared in a number of successful Canadian television shows and been nominated for two 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...
s. Internationally, he is best known for his satirical internet show, Cute With Chris.
Leavins has been a cast member, or guest-star on some of Canada's most popular and critically acclaimed television series including Traders
Traders (TV series)
Traders is a Canadian television drama series, which was broadcast on Global Television Network from 1995 to 2000.-Overview:Although Global had locked up most of NBC's "Must See Thursday" situation comedies for their Thursday night broadcasts, they lost the rights to broadcast the medical drama ER...
(Gemini Winner 1997 and 1998 Best Dramatic Series), The Eleventh Hour
The Eleventh Hour
The eleventh hour is a colloquial expression meaning "a time which is nearly too late". The phrase originates in the book of Matthew of the Christian Bible and references workmen being hired late in the day...
(Gemini Winner 2002-2003 Best Dramatic Series) and Slings and Arrows
Slings and Arrows
Slings and Arrows is a Canadian TV series set at the fictional New Burbage Festival, a Shakespearean festival similar to the real-world Stratford Festival...
(Gemini Winner 2006 Best Dramatic Series) which airs in America on the Sundance Channel. Leavins was also in the 1997 film The Hanging Garden
The Hanging Garden
The Hanging Garden is a 1997 British/Canadian movie written and directed by Thom Fitzgerald that is about the duality of life and death and the way seemingly very different choices in life can lead to similar outcomes....
which won four 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...
s.
Leavins was nominated for a 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...
in the Best Supporting Actor category for his work as Christopher Todson in the series, Traders
Traders (TV series)
Traders is a Canadian television drama series, which was broadcast on Global Television Network from 1995 to 2000.-Overview:Although Global had locked up most of NBC's "Must See Thursday" situation comedies for their Thursday night broadcasts, they lost the rights to broadcast the medical drama ER...
, in 1997, and for Best Actor in a Guest Role for his work on Slings and Arrows
Slings and Arrows
Slings and Arrows is a Canadian TV series set at the fictional New Burbage Festival, a Shakespearean festival similar to the real-world Stratford Festival...
in 2007. He has also been nominated for a Gemini for his role in Todd and the Book of Pure Evil
Todd and the Book of Pure Evil
Todd and the Book of Pure Evil is a Canadian comedy/horror television series that follows a group of high school students who confront the effects of a demonic book. The series premiered on Space Channel on September 29, 2010 with two back-to-back episodes...
in 2011.
Features/TV Movies
- Nothing to Lose (1994)
- Deeply, Deeply Trunk (1996)
- The Hanging GardenThe Hanging GardenThe Hanging Garden is a 1997 British/Canadian movie written and directed by Thom Fitzgerald that is about the duality of life and death and the way seemingly very different choices in life can lead to similar outcomes....
(1997) - American Whiskey Bar (TV-1998)
- Family of Cops III: Under Suspicion (TV-1999)
Television series
- TradersTraders (TV series)Traders is a Canadian television drama series, which was broadcast on Global Television Network from 1995 to 2000.-Overview:Although Global had locked up most of NBC's "Must See Thursday" situation comedies for their Thursday night broadcasts, they lost the rights to broadcast the medical drama ER...
(1996–2000) - RobocopRoboCopRoboCop is a 1987 American science fiction-action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centers on a police officer who is brutally murdered and subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as "RoboCop"...
(1994) - Due SouthDue SouthDue 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...
(1995) - La Femme Nikita (1998)
- Blue MurderBlue MurderBlue Murder were an English heavy metal band, founded by ex-Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes.-Background:Blue Murder was formed by John Sykes in 1988...
(2003) - Zoe Busiek: Wild Card (2004)
- The Eleventh HourThe Eleventh HourThe eleventh hour is a colloquial expression meaning "a time which is nearly too late". The phrase originates in the book of Matthew of the Christian Bible and references workmen being hired late in the day...
(2003, 2004, 2005) - Todd and the Book of Pure EvilTodd and the Book of Pure EvilTodd and the Book of Pure Evil is a Canadian comedy/horror television series that follows a group of high school students who confront the effects of a demonic book. The series premiered on Space Channel on September 29, 2010 with two back-to-back episodes...
(2010-present)
An accomplished stage performer and playwright, Leavins' shows Posterchild, The Captain, and The Best Play in the Fringe Festival Ever have been performed across North America.
After 12 years living and working in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Leavins moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2003. In 2006 he started the internet show Cute with Chris, a satirical video podcast
Video podcast
Video podcast is a term used for the online delivery of video on demand video clip content via Atom or RSS enclosures...
which he writes, anchors and produces himself in his apartment. The show features photos and letters sent in by viewers, which Leavins comments on, mocks, and subjects to polls on which is cutest. His show also features co-hosts: Colty, the female plastic horse, Pervy, the larger male perverted plastic horse with racist issues, and Peanuts, a bag of polystyrene peanuts that can only be understood by Leavins. Its popularity has increased over time, and the weekly episodes now regularly attract at least 100,000 views each. Chris abruptly ceased production of the show in June 2009. As of June 2011, absolutely no information has been given as to the possibility of a return, so it can be considered to have ended permanently.
On January 30, 2008, he performed a live version of the show for free at the 99-seat Hudson Theater in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The show sold out in 85 minutes. Another two shows, this time charging money for tickets, were put on at the Theatre Centre, Toronto on April 19 and April 20, 2008. Both sold out; the first in 20 minutes. Leavins has said that he sees this use of an Internet fan base to attract theatre audiences as a new model for success, and a solution to the difficulties that he experienced attracting audiences as a conventional writer and performer.