Nicholas Campbell
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Campbell sometimes credited as Nick Campbell, is a Canadian actor and filmmaker, who has won three Gemini Award
s for acting. The movies Naked Lunch
, Prozac Nation
and the TV series Da Vinci's Inquest
are some examples of his acting work.
, Ontario
, Canada
and raised in Montreal
. He went to Toronto's Upper Canada College
and Kingston's Queen's University
where he originally studied pre-Law but later switched to English and Drama. He continued his studies in England
studying five years at the London Drama Studio and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
(RADA). Campbell spent 40 weeks touring the country with the York Theatre Royal Repertory Company. His debut film role was in The Omen
, released in 1976. After he returned from England he divided his time between Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York. In the 1990s he moved back to Canada.
and The Hitchhiker. Starting his acting career in the movies he had small roles in A Bridge Too Far (1977), The Eagle Has Landed
(1976) and in the Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me
(1977). Campbell was third-billed in the 1985 movie Certain Fury. Playing Billy Quinn in CBC's Major Crime (1997) he won a Gemini Award for best actor for his work. His television credits also include the role of Bobby Kennedy in Hoover vs. The Kennedys
(Gemini
nominee for best actor in a miniseries), Going Home (nominated for BAFTA Award), and The Valour and the Horror. Other works include The Sleep Room, Diana Kilmury: Teamster (Gemini nomination for best supporting actor in a drama) and The Diary of Evelyn Lau. Campbell has also worked extensively with David Cronenberg
, appearing in such films as Naked Lunch
, The Dead Zone
, Fast Company
, and The Brood
. Campbell has made guest appearances on TV shows including Space: 1999
, Airwolf
, Blue Murder, (Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role Dramatic Series in 2001) A Nero Wolfe Mystery
, Street Legal
, and Highlander: The Series
.
In addition to his acting career, Campbell is also an accomplished filmmaker. He wrote and directed the documentary Stepping Razor; Red X (Genie nomination for best documentary).
From November 20 through December 13, 2008, Campbell is starring in The Company Theatre's production of Festen at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto
, Canada.
He has three sons and currently resides in Vancouver
, British Columbia
.
brought him critical acclaim. Da Vinci's Inquest was nominated for many Gemini Awards. Of the 11 Geminis the show won, it received three for best writing in a dramatic series and three for best dramatic series. Campbell received the Gemini Award for best performance in a continuing leading dramatic role for his work on the series. Campbell also directed a number of episodes of Da Vinci’s Inquest.
In 2005, Da Vinci's Inquest ended its run. In Da Vinci's City Hall
, which ran the following season, the character followed his real-life inspiration, Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell
(no relation to Nicholas), into municipal politics. No more episodes are planned, but there is talk of a series of TV films that would continue the narrative.
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 for acting. The movies Naked Lunch
Naked Lunch (film)
Naked Lunch is the 1991 Canadian/British/Japanese film adaptation, directed by David Cronenberg, of William S. Burroughs' novel of the same name...
, Prozac Nation
Prozac Nation (film)
Prozac Nation is a 2001 American drama film directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg, starring Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs and Anne Heche. . It is based on an autobiography of the same name by Elizabeth Wurtzel, which describes Wurtzel's experiences with major depression...
and the TV series Da Vinci's Inquest
Da Vinci's Inquest
Da Vinci's Inquest is a Canadian dramatic television series that aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2005. Seven seasons of thirteen episodes each were filmed for a total of ninety-one episodes....
are some examples of his acting work.
Early life
Campbell was born in TorontoToronto
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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
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...
and raised in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. He went to Toronto's Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
and Kingston's Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
where he originally studied pre-Law but later switched to English and Drama. He continued his studies in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
studying five years at the London Drama Studio and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
(RADA). Campbell spent 40 weeks touring the country with the York Theatre Royal Repertory Company. His debut film role was in The Omen
The Omen
An original score for the film, including the movie's theme song Ave Satani, was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, for which he received the only Oscar of his long career. The score features a strong choral segment, with a foreboding Latin chant...
, released in 1976. After he returned from England he divided his time between Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York. In the 1990s he moved back to Canada.
Career
His over 40 starring film and television credits include series leads on DiamondsDiamonds (TV series)
Diamonds is a Canadian television series, which aired from 1987 to 1989. The show starred Nicholas Campbell as Mike Devitt and Peggy Smithhart as Christina Towne, a divorced couple who continued to work together as private investigators...
and The Hitchhiker. Starting his acting career in the movies he had small roles in A Bridge Too Far (1977), The Eagle Has Landed
The Eagle Has Landed (film)
The Eagle Has Landed is a 1976 film version of the novel The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins. It was directed by John Sturges and starred Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall...
(1976) and in the Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me
The Spy Who Loved Me (film)
The Spy Who Loved Me is a spy film, the tenth film in the James Bond series, and the third to star Roger Moore as the fictional secret agent James Bond. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert and the screenplay was written by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum...
(1977). Campbell was third-billed in the 1985 movie Certain Fury. Playing Billy Quinn in CBC's Major Crime (1997) he won a Gemini Award for best actor for his work. His television credits also include the role of Bobby Kennedy in Hoover vs. The Kennedys
Hoover vs. The Kennedys
Hoover vs. The Kennedys: The Second Civil War is a four-hour 1987 made-for-television mini-series depicting the political struggles between FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and President John F. Kennedy and Attorney-General Robert F. Kennedy. The film takes place between the 1960 Democratic National...
(Gemini
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...
nominee for best actor in a miniseries), Going Home (nominated for BAFTA Award), and The Valour and the Horror. Other works include The Sleep Room, Diana Kilmury: Teamster (Gemini nomination for best supporting actor in a drama) and The Diary of Evelyn Lau. Campbell has also worked extensively with David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
, appearing in such films as Naked Lunch
Naked Lunch (film)
Naked Lunch is the 1991 Canadian/British/Japanese film adaptation, directed by David Cronenberg, of William S. Burroughs' novel of the same name...
, The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone (film)
The Dead Zone is a 1983 horror-thriller film based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film stars Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and Tom Skerritt...
, Fast Company
Fast Company (1979 film)
Fast Company is a 1979 film by Canadian director David Cronenberg. It was written by Phil Savath, Courtney Smith, Alan Treen and Cronenberg, and stars William Smith, John Saxon, Claudia Jennings and Nicholas Campbell...
, and The Brood
The Brood
The Brood is a 1979 Canadian horror film written and directed by David Cronenberg, starring Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar and Art Hindle.The film depicts a series of murders committed by what seems at first to be a group of children...
. Campbell has made guest appearances on TV shows including Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
, 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....
, Blue Murder, (Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role Dramatic Series in 2001) A Nero Wolfe Mystery
A Nero Wolfe Mystery
A Nero Wolfe Mystery is a television series adapted from Rex Stout's classic series of detective stories that aired for two seasons on the A&E Network. Set in New York City in the early 1950s, the stylized period drama stars Maury Chaykin as Nero Wolfe and Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin...
, 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...
, and Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985...
.
In addition to his acting career, Campbell is also an accomplished filmmaker. He wrote and directed the documentary Stepping Razor; Red X (Genie nomination for best documentary).
From November 20 through December 13, 2008, Campbell is starring in The Company Theatre's production of Festen at the Berkeley Street Theatre 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...
, Canada.
He has three sons and currently resides in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Da Vinci's Inquest
Campbell's role as coroner Dominic Da Vinci in Da Vinci's InquestDa Vinci's Inquest
Da Vinci's Inquest is a Canadian dramatic television series that aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2005. Seven seasons of thirteen episodes each were filmed for a total of ninety-one episodes....
brought him critical acclaim. Da Vinci's Inquest was nominated for many Gemini Awards. Of the 11 Geminis the show won, it received three for best writing in a dramatic series and three for best dramatic series. Campbell received the Gemini Award for best performance in a continuing leading dramatic role for his work on the series. Campbell also directed a number of episodes of Da Vinci’s Inquest.
In 2005, Da Vinci's Inquest ended its run. In Da Vinci's City Hall
Da Vinci's City Hall
Da Vinci's City Hall is a Canadian dramatic television series, which premiered on CBC Television on 25 October 2005. The series was a spinoff of the long-running Canadian series Da Vinci's Inquest...
, which ran the following season, the character followed his real-life inspiration, Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell
Larry Campbell
Larry W. Campbell was the 37th Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is currently a member of the Canadian Senate. Starting in 1969 Campbell worked for the RCMP in Vancouver and then in 1973 as a member of the Drug Squad...
(no relation to Nicholas), into municipal politics. No more episodes are planned, but there is talk of a series of TV films that would continue the narrative.
Filmography
- The Spy Who Loved MeThe Spy Who Loved Me (film)The Spy Who Loved Me is a spy film, the tenth film in the James Bond series, and the third to star Roger Moore as the fictional secret agent James Bond. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert and the screenplay was written by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum...
, 1977 - A Bridge Too Far, 1977
- H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to ComeH. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to ComeH. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come is a Canadian science fiction motion picture first released in May 1979.Although credited to H. G. Wells, the film takes only its title and some character names from The Shape of Things to Come, Wells' speculative novel from 1933. The plot bears no...
, 1979 - YesterdayYesterday (1981 film)Yesterday is a 1981 film directed by Lawrence Kent, starring Vincent Van Patten and Claire Pimparé. It is a love story of a young soldier maimed in Vietnam, who allows his former girlfriend to believe he's dead to spare her anguish.-Cast:...
1981 - The Dead ZoneThe Dead Zone (film)The Dead Zone is a 1983 horror-thriller film based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film stars Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and Tom Skerritt...
, 1983 - Certain FuryCertain FuryCertain Fury is a 1985 American action/drama film directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and starring Tatum O'Neal and Irene Cara....
, 1985 - Terminal ChoiceTerminal ChoiceTerminal Choice is a German electronic rock band. It was formed by singer Chris Pohl in 1993.- History :Their lyrics are sung in German and English...
, 1985 - Rampage, 1988
- Naked LunchNaked Lunch (film)Naked Lunch is the 1991 Canadian/British/Japanese film adaptation, directed by David Cronenberg, of William S. Burroughs' novel of the same name...
, 1991 - Shadow of the Wolf, 1993
- Champagne For Two, 1993
- Dancing in the Dark, 1995
- A Cool, Dry PlaceA Cool, Dry PlaceA Cool, Dry Place is a 1999 movie adapted by Matthew McDuffie from the novel Dance Real Slow by Michael Grant Jaffe. It was directed by John N. Smith...
, 1999 - New Waterford GirlNew Waterford GirlNew Waterford Girl is a Canadian drama-comedy film, released in 1999. The film was directed by Allan Moyle, and written by Tricia Fish.New Waterford Girl stars Liane Balaban as Agnes-Marie "Moonie" Pottie, a teenager in New Waterford, Nova Scotia who dreams of life beyond her small-town home...
, 2000 - Prozac NationProzac Nation (film)Prozac Nation is a 2001 American drama film directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg, starring Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs and Anne Heche. . It is based on an autobiography of the same name by Elizabeth Wurtzel, which describes Wurtzel's experiences with major depression...
, 2001 - Turning PaigeTurning PaigeTurning Paige is a 2001 Canadian drama film directed by Robert Cuffley. The film focuses on the life of Paige and her family a she comes to terms with tragedy in the family's past...
, 2001 - Cinderella ManCinderella ManCinderella Man is a 2005 American drama film by Ron Howard, titled after the nickname of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and inspired by his life story. The film was produced by Howard, Penny Marshall, and Brian Grazer.-Plot:James J...
, 2005
Starring TV roles
- The Hitchhiker (The Hitchhiker), 1983
- The InsidersThe InsidersThe Insiders was a mid-1980s American television detective series starring Nicholas Campbell, Stoney Jackson and Gail Strickland.-Notes:The one season program aired on Tuesday nights on ABC in the fall of 1985...
(Nick Fox), 1986 - DiamondsDiamonds (TV series)Diamonds is a Canadian television series, which aired from 1987 to 1989. The show starred Nicholas Campbell as Mike Devitt and Peggy Smithhart as Christina Towne, a divorced couple who continued to work together as private investigators...
(Mike Devitt), 1987 - Hoover vs. The KennedysHoover vs. The KennedysHoover vs. The Kennedys: The Second Civil War is a four-hour 1987 made-for-television mini-series depicting the political struggles between FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and President John F. Kennedy and Attorney-General Robert F. Kennedy. The film takes place between the 1960 Democratic National...
(mini series) (Robert F. KennedyRobert F. KennedyRobert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
), 1987 - Da Vinci's InquestDa Vinci's InquestDa Vinci's Inquest is a Canadian dramatic television series that aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2005. Seven seasons of thirteen episodes each were filmed for a total of ninety-one episodes....
(Dominic Da Vinci), 1998 - Human CargoHuman CargoHuman Cargo is a 2004 Canadian television miniseries. The series won seven Gemini Awards and two Directors Guild of Canada Awards. It premiered on CBC Television on January 4, 2004 and starred Kate Nelligan, Cara Pifko, and Nicholas Campbell....
(Jerry Fischer), 2003 - Da Vinci's City HallDa Vinci's City HallDa Vinci's City Hall is a Canadian dramatic television series, which premiered on CBC Television on 25 October 2005. The series was a spinoff of the long-running Canadian series Da Vinci's Inquest...
(Dominic Da Vinci), 2005 - The Quality of Life (TV movie) (Dominic Da Vinci), 2008
- The Englishman's BoyThe Englishman's BoyThe Englishman's Boy is a novel by Guy Vanderhaeghe, published in 1996 by McClelland and Stewart. It won the Governor General's Award for English language fiction in 1996, and was a nominee for the Giller Prize...
(Shorty McAdoo), 2008 - FlashpointFlashpoint (TV series)Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama television series that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and ran on CBS in the United States for its first three and a half seasons. In 2011, Ion Television began airing new episodes of the series in the United States...
(George Orsten, security manager), 2008 - The BorderThe Border (TV series)The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by...
(Dougie Jacson, father of Gray Jackson), 2008 - Murdoch MysteriesMurdoch MysteriesMurdoch Mysteries is a Canadian drama television series that airs on Citytv, featuring Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch, a police detective working in Toronto, Ontario in the 1890s. The television series is based on the Detective Murdoch series of novels by Maureen Jennings. The fifth season was...
(Buffalo BillBuffalo BillWilliam Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
), 2009 - Republic of DoyleRepublic of DoyleRepublic of Doyle is a Canadian comedy-drama television series, which debuted 6 January 2010 on CBC Television.The show stars Seán McGinley and Allan Hawco as Malachy and Jake Doyle, a father and son who partner as private investigators in St...
(Martin Poole), 2010 - HavenHaven (TV series)Haven is a supernatural drama television series loosely based on the Stephen King novel The Colorado Kid. The show, filmed on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, is an American/Canadian co-production. The one-hour drama premiered on July 9, 2010, on Syfy...
(Garland Wournos), 2010