Kenneth Clifford WelshCM (March 30, 1942 – May 5, 2022)^[2][3] was a Canadian actor,^[4] who made over 300 stage, film, and television appearances over a nearly 60-year career.

Educated at theNational Theatre School, he was a member of theStratford Shakespeare Festival for six years,^[5] before to New York and appearing in manyOff-Broadway andBroadway plays.^[5] Beginning in the late 1970s, he worked regularly in film and television, both in Canada and the United States. He was well-known to television audiences for his portrayal of the multi-faceted villainWindom Earle onTwin Peaks (1990–91, 2017), and for playingDr. Watson in a series ofCTVSherlock Holmes telefilms.

He was a four-timeGenie Award nominee - winningBest Supporting Actor for his performance inMargaret's Museum (1996), withBest Actor nods forReno and the Doc (1984) andLoyalties (1986). He also won fourGemini Awards, and was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award. In 2003, he was acclaimed to theOrder of Canada.

Welsh was born inEdmonton, Alberta, to a father who worked for theCanadian National Railway and mother who worked in a dress shop.^[6] He studied drama at school, as Alberta was the only province at the time which included drama on the curriculum.^[5] He continued his acting studies at theUniversity of Alberta under Gordon Peacock,^[1] before moving toMontreal to attend theNational Theatre School.^[5] He graduated in 1965.^[1]

Following graduation, he auditioned for theStratford Festival in Ontario and then spent the first seven years of his career on stage.^[4]

Following graduation, Welsh joined theStratford Festival in Ontario. He made his debut during the 1966 season inHenry V, playingSir Thomas Grey. He spent the next six years with the Festival, appearing in numerous Shakespearean roles. After their highly-successful 1973 European tour, he left the Festival, and took stints at theGuthrie Theater inMinneapolis and theGoodman Theatre inChicago. He was a member of the Guthrie's ensemble company during the mid-70's under artistic directorMichael Langham. In 1975, he won aJoseph Jefferson Award for his performance inThe Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Goodman.^[7]

He made hisOff-Broadway debut in the world premiere ofCurse of the Starving Class atThe Public Theater, and hisBroadway debut inThe Government Inspector. During the 1980's, he starred in such notable Broadway productions asPiaf,The Real Thing,Social Security, andFrankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.^[8] He directed and starred in multiple acclaimed stagings of theDylan Thomas-pennedradio dramaUnder Milk Wood.^[9]

Welsh also wrote the book forStandup Shakespeare, a cabaret musical that sets Shakespearean dialogue to contemporary jazz, baroque, samba and gospel-rock music.^[10]

In the 2010s, he was a member of Toronto'sSoulpepper Theatre Company.^[9]

He was a two-timeGenie Award nominee forBest Actor, receiving nods at the6th Genie Awards in 1985 for his portrayal of Reno Colt in the filmReno and the Doc^[11][12] and at the8th Genie Awards in 1987 for his performance as David Sutton inLoyalties,^[13] and a two-time Genie nominee forBest Supporting Actor, receiving a nomination at the5th Genie Awards in 1984 forTell Me That You Love Me^[14] and winning the award at the16th Genie Awards in 1996 forMargaret's Museum.^[15]

Reno and the Doc was written and directed byCharles Dennis; in 1997, Welsh directed Dennis in the latter's playSoHo Duo at the West Bank Theatre in New York City.^[16]

Welsh has portrayed historical figures includingThomas E. Dewey,Colin Thatcher,Harry S. Truman (twice),Thomas Edison,James "Scotty" Reston, GeneralHarry Crerar andJames Baker.^[17] He played Thomas Norval Hepburn, the father ofKatharine Hepburn, inMartin Scorsese'sThe Aviator (2004).

His role as the vice-president of the United States in the 2004 environmental disaster filmThe Day After Tomorrow sparked some controversy due to his physical resemblance toDick Cheney, the real-life vice-president at the time. DirectorRoland Emmerich later confirmed that he deliberately chose Welsh for that very reason. Emmerich stated that the character of the vice-president in the film was intended to be a not-so-subtle criticism of the environmental policies of theGeorge W. Bush administration.^[18]

Welsh's best-known television role is asWindom Earle, the primary antagonist and cunning foil toDale Cooper, during thesecond season of theTwin Peaks (1990–91, 2017). He playedDr. Watson in a series ofCTVSherlock Holmes telefilms, oppositeMatt Frewer as Holmes.

Welsh won fourGemini Awards out of six total nominations - Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series forAnd Then You Die (1987),Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher (1987), andHiroshima (1995). He wonBest Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series forDeadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story. He was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming for his performance in theHBO telefilmEdison: The Wizard of Light.

He made guest appearances on numerous series, includingSeeing Things, the 1980s revival ofThe Twilight Zone,The X-Files,Due South,^[19]Law & Order,The Practice,Murdoch Mysteries,Stargate Atlantis,Slings & Arrows,^[20]The Expanse,The Blacklist,Lodge 49, andThe Kids in the Hall.

In 2003, he was made a Member of theOrder of Canada.^[21]

Welsh married Lynne Mcilvride in March 2022.^[22] He had a son, musicianDevon Welsh (b. 1988), from his previous marriage.^[23][24]

Welsh was baptized byAnglican priest Rev. RuthAnne Ward in his house in the last months of his life. He was also a follower of American spiritual teacherAdi Da, who primarily focused on prioritizing spiritual enlightenment, Welsh narrated Da's 2000 audiobook, "What, Where, When, How, Why, and Who to Remember to Be Happy".^[25]

Welsh died on May 5, 2022, at the age of 80, from cancer.^[26] His son Devon announced on Twitter: "My dad passed away on Thursday peacefully at home. I will always love him beyond words. He lived a wonderful life, he was the best father I could have asked for, and he touched so many lives. Please make a toast, watch a film/TV show he was in, celebrate a giant of acting."^[27]

Upon his death, the officialACTRATwitter account eulogized him saying "Ken was one of Canada’s all-time great performers, with hundreds of memorable roles spanning decades."^[28]

His ashes were scattered inLake Ontario following cremation.

• Kenneth Welsh atIMDb
• Kenneth Welsh at theInternet Broadway Database
• Kenneth Welsh discography atDiscogs

• 1942 births
• 2022 deaths
• Canadian male film actors
• Canadian male television actors
• Canadian male voice actors
• Best Supporting Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
• Members of the Order of Canada
• Male actors from Edmonton
• 20th-century Canadian male actors
• 21st-century Canadian male actors
• Canadian people of British descent
• Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Canadian Screen Award winners
• Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States
• Canadian male Shakespearean actors
• Canadian male stage actors

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