Les Carlson
Les Carlson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leslie Merle Carlson February 24, 1933 Mitchell, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | May 3, 2014 (aged 81) |
| Alma mater | University of South Dakota |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1967–2010 |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Hamilton (divorced) Joan Warren (1983–2014; his death) |
| Children | 2, including Ben |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Battles / wars | Korean War |
Leslie Merle Carlson (February 24, 1933 – May 3, 2014) was an American actor, who spent most of his professional life in Canada. He is known to film audiences for his work with directors David Cronenberg and Bob Clark, and was also a prolific stage actor.[1] He was nominated for the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cronenberg's Videodrome (1983), and won a Dora Award for his performance in the Athol Fugard play Valley Song (1996).[1]
Early life
Carlson was born in Mitchell, South Dakota, in 1933. He was a multi-sport athlete in his youth, playing football, basketball, and track and field.[1] During the Korean War, he served in the United States Air Force. He earned both a BFA and a MA from the University of South Dakota,[2] which he attended in the 1950s on the G.I. Bill.
Career
Carlson's acting career performing in several stage plays in both the U.S and England. He immigrated to Canada in the late 1960s and began acting in many films, TV shows, and stage productions in the early '70s.
His most memorable film roles were in the horror classic Black Christmas and Deranged, both in 1974 and as a pushy Christmas tree salesman in A Christmas Story in 1983. Carlson appeared in four movies from director David Cronenberg, including Videodrome and The Dead Zone. His portrayal of the antagonist Barry Convex in Videodrome earned him a Genie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His TV appearances include The X-Files, Friday the 13th: The Series, 21 Jump Street and Road to Avonlea.
His stage performances included the premiere of Leaving Home, A Walk in the Woods in 1991 at the Gateway Theatre, Death and the Maiden in 1993 with the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, the musical Jekyll & Hyde in 1996 for the Canadian Stage Company, Glengarry Glen Ross, Hamlet, and All My Sons.[3] He played notable stints with the Tarragon Theatre, the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival, and the Theatre Calgary.[1]
Personal life
Carlson was married to actress Patricia Hamilton and they had one child together, actor Ben Carlson. He had another son, Edmund Carlson, with his second wife, Joan Warren, in 1988.[4]
Death
Carlson died of cancer in Toronto, Ontario, aged 81, on 3 May 2014.[5]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Neptune Factor | Brigs | |
| The Hard Part Begins | The Mechanic | ||
| 1974 | Deranged | Tom Sims | |
| Black Christmas | Bill Graham | ||
| 1975 | The Last of the Four Letter Words | ||
| 1976 | Love at First Sight | Stu | |
| Shoot | Jim | ||
| 1977 | I Wasn't Scared | Master Warrant Officer George Lewinsky | |
| Raku Fire | |||
| Deadly Harvest | The Minister | ||
| Who Has Seen the Wind | Joe Pivotte | ||
| 1978 | High-Ballin' | Bud | |
| 1979 | Lost and Found | Jean-Paul | |
| 1980 | Circle of Two | Doctor | |
| Nothing Personal | Marshal | ||
| 1981 | Mr. Patman | Mr. Abernathy | |
| Improper Channels | |||
| 1983 | Videodrome | Barry Convex | |
| The Dead Zone | Brenner | ||
| A Christmas Story | Christmas Tree Man | ||
| 1984 | That's My Baby | Max | |
| 1986 | The Fly | Dr. Brent Cheevers | |
| 1987 | Smart Street | Marty | |
| Rolling Vengeance | Misty's Father | ||
| 1989 | Sing | Suit | |
| 1990 | Chaindance | Willy | |
| 1991 | K2 | Dexter | |
| 1992 | Impolite | Billy | |
| 1995 | Young Again | Mr. Dillon | |
| 1999 | The Wishing Tree | Professor | |
| 2000 | Camera | The Actor | Short film |
| Silver Man | Mule | ||
| The Spreading Ground | Magyar | ||
| 2001 | Short 6 | The Actor | |
| 2002 | Left Behind II: Tribulation Force | Eli | |
| 2005 | Looking for Angelina | Justice Britton | |
| 2007 | Your Beautiful Cul de Sac Home | Harry Peale |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Norman Corwin Presents | 1 episode - Letters from an Only Child | |
| 1974 | Deedee | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 1975 | King of Kensington | 1 episode - Where's Cathy? | |
| 1977 | Custard Pie | Aldo Ludwit | (credited as Les Carlson) |
| Who Has Seen the Wind | Joe Pivotte | (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| The New Avengers | Douglas Collings | 1 episode - Emily | |
| 1978 | Catsplay | TV movie | |
| 1981 | Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper | Laingen | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) |
| 1982 | Shocktrauma | Elton Bates | Television Film (credited as Les Carlson) |
| 1982, 1983 | The Littlest Hobo | 2 episodes - Forget Me Not, Trucker | |
| 1985 | Night Heat | Harder | 1 episode - Ancient Madness |
| 1986 | The Laurenceville Stories | Conover | TV mini-series |
| Unnatural Causes | Bob | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 1987 | American Playhouse | Conover | 1 episode - The Prodigious Hickey |
| Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel | Mr. Marty Charles Lawson | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 1988 | War of the Worlds | Detective #1 | 1 episode - The Walls of Jericho |
| The Twilight Zone | Jim Hilsen | 1 episode - The Hunters (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 1989 | Looking for Miracles | Principal | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) |
| Friday the 13th: The Series | Arkwright | 1 episode - The Prisoner | |
| Street Legal | Squire/Michael | 2 episodes - Romeo and Carol, See No Evil (1987–1989) | |
| 1990 | Scales of Justice | Larry Proke | 1 episode - Regina vs Horvath (credited as Les Carlson) |
| Mom P.I. | Jack Millsteinare | 1 episode - Looking for a Living | |
| Neon Rider | Brent Paxton | 1 episode - All's Fair | |
| MacGyver | "Sparky" / Doctor | 2 episodes - Ma Dalton, Passages (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 21 Jump Street | Professor Gray | 1 episode - Diplomats for Sale | |
| 1991 | Road to Avonlea | Mr. Lawson | 7 episodes - The Story Girl Earns Her Name, The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's, The Materializing of Duncan McTavish, Aunt Abigail's Beau, Malcolm and the Baby, Sara's Homecoming, Dreamer of Dreams (1990–1991) (credited as Les Carlson) |
| The Girl from Mars | Mr. Sharbut | Television film | |
| 1992 | Highlander: The Series | Sam Thompson | 2 episodes - Free Fall, Deadly Medicine |
| To Grandmother's House We Go | Doorman | Television film | |
| Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster | Theo Polasek | Television film | |
| 1993 | Morning Glory | Howard Pride | Television film |
| A Stranger in the Mirror | Harry Durkin | Television film | |
| No Child of Mine | Television film | ||
| 1994 | The X-Files | Dr. Spitz Dr. Troisky |
2 episodes - "Born Again", "Little Green Men" |
| 1995 | The Song Spinner | Lorie | Television film |
| 1996 | Moonshine Highway | Pappy | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) |
| Side Effects | Dr. Herschel Eisen | 1 episode - You Can Run | |
| Beyond the Call | Dan | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 1997 | Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal | Dr. Dale Hoff | 1 episode - Donor |
| 2000 | Catch a Falling Star | Man At Station | Television film |
| The Harlan County War | Udell | Television film | |
| The Last Debate | Pat Tubbs | Television film | |
| 2001 | Haven | Old Man | TV mini-series |
| Bailey's Mistake | Stableman | Television film | |
| Stolen Miracle | Mr. Neelandson | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 2002 | Odyssey 5 | Ruckner | 1 episode - Astronaut Dreams |
| The Berenstain Bears | Gramps | 1 episode - Trouble with Grown-ups/Too Much TV (credited as Lesley Carlson) | |
| 2004 | Anonymous Rex | Man | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) |
| Snow | Chester | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | |
| 2005 | Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye | Mr. Weaver | 1 episode - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |
| Plague City: SARS in Toronto | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) | ||
| 2010 | At Risk | George Finlay | Television film (credited as Les Carlson) |
| Haven | Vaughn Carpenter | 1 episode - "As You Were" |
References
- ^ a b c d "Leading man Leslie Carlson left his heart with the theatre". The Globe and Mail. 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ "University of South Dakota". usd.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Carlson, Leslie". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ Obituary: Leading man Leslie Carlson left his heart with the theatre, The Globe and Mail, June 12, 2014.
- ^ "Leslie Merle CARLSON Obituary" (paid notice in the May 9 to May 10 issue of the Toronto Star), legacy.com. Accessed November 1, 2022.