Top 50 Most Popular Canadian Actors Of All Time

Christopher Plummer is one of the greatest Canadian actors to have ever faced the camera.

A recipient of an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, the esteemed actor gained recognition for his exceptional performances in film, stage, and television.

After having gained widespread recognition for his performance as Captain Georg von Trapp in the classic musical drama The Sound of Music, Plummer was seen acting in acclaimed mainstream projects such as The Insider, A Beautiful Mind, Waterloo, and The Fall of the Roman Empire, among others.

He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Beginners.

Ryan Gosling is undoubtedly one of the biggest movie stars to have been born in Canada. Now a critically and commercially acclaimed performer, he was first seen on the television show The Mickey Mouse Club in 1993.

A recipient of a Golden Globe Award, he is popular for having played a part in both independent productions and blockbuster mainstream movies.

Gosling may have found fame after headlining the cult romantic drama The Notebook, but he went on to prove his mettle as an actor in critically acclaimed motion pictures such as Blue Valentine, Half Nelson, The Ideas of March, Drive, The Big Short, The Place Beyond the Pines, and La La Land.

He's also done his best to charm viewers worldwide by portraying Ken in Greta Gerwig's live-action Barbie film adaptation, which went on to gross over $1.4 billion at the global box office in 2023.

While it certainly was a fantasy drama driven primarily by Margot Robbie's fashion-forward Barbie, Gosling managed to hold his own and put his versatility on display as well. The project went on to become the top-grossing one of the year.

Elliott Page first caught the attention of the audience after having featured in the television franchise Pit Pony. For his performance in the same, he earned a Young Artist Award.

Soon after, he won critical acclaim after having delivered noteworthy performances in titles such as Hard Candy and Juno.

Page, who can be seen in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, received two well-deserved Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his character play in Gaycation.

Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser has been among the most popular Canadian stars in Hollywood. He's had a successful run both in the movies and on television.

His significant character play in The Mummy trilogy of films helped him make a mark in Hollywood. Soon, he was seen playing a role in other well-known titles such as Journey to the Center of the Earth, Gods and Monsters, and Crash.

Fraser has also appeared in television shows such as Texas Rising, The Affair, and Trust. He gained further acclaim for his remarkable character projection in 2022's The Whale.

One of the most popular and respected Canadian actors of all time, Jim Carrey has had an illustrious career as a leading actor in several acclaimed Hollywood productions.

Known for his highly enthusiastic slapstick performances, the actor first gained recognition after playing a recurring character in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color.

Carrey shot to fame as he continued to headline popular mainstream feature films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and Liar Liar.

To those who believed that he was only comfortable portraying comedic roles, Carrey proved them wrong in style after having delivered mind-blowing performances in cult classics such as Man on the Moon, The Truman Show, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, respectively.

Eugene Levy has been a part of the entertainment industry since the beginning of the 1970s. The actor and comedian was known for his role in the popular American Pie franchise of films. He started being in the news once again after the success of his brilliant creation Schitt's Creek.

Levy has been honored with the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, which happens to be the highest honor in performing arts in Canada.

In 2020, he also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his character play in Schitt's Creek.

Michael J. Fox is a well-known actor from Canada who first rose to prominence after having played the character of Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties.

However, he is best remembered for playing the role of Marty McFly in the critically and commercially successful Back to the Future trilogy of feature films.

Fox was also seen playing a significant role in several movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Some of his other better-known projects are Teen Wolf, The Secret of My Success, Casualties of War, Doc Hollywood, and The Frighteners.

Best known for playing the part of Captain Kirk in the Star Trek television series and feature films, William Shatner has been one of the most popular Canadian actors in Hollywood.

Shatner is known for his self-deprecating humor. He has written several books underscoring his numerous life experiences before, during, and after working in the Star Trek universe.

The actor has also participated in television shows. In addition, he hosted the reality-based television series Rescue 911; a show that went on to win a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Dramatic Series.

Dan Levy is not only known for being an entertaining actor but also for his unyielding caliber of writing, directing, and producing significant material for viewers.

The actor started his career as a television host and gained widespread recognition for playing the affable David Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt's Creek.

A recipient of four Canadian Screen Awards, Levy can also be seen in feature films such as Happiest Season and Admission.

This successful actor, comedian, and filmmaker has been a recipient of seven MTV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Even though he debuted in the television show King of Kensington in 1975, Mike Myers gained recognition after being a consistent performer on Saturday Night Live during the early 1990s.

His stint on the show even fetched him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

Furthermore, the actor found appreciation after playing titular roles in famous film franchises such as Wayne's World (1992–1993), Austin Powers (1997–2002), and Shrek (2001–2010).

Donald Sutherland is one of the most prominent faces to hail from Canada. Courtesy of an incredible career that has spanned over six decades, he is now considered to be one of the finest actors to have never been nominated for the coveted Academy Award.

However, he has won two Golden Globe Awards for his performances in television films such as Citizen X and Path To War.

The man rose to fame during the late '60s after having starred in full-length features such as The Dirty Dozen, M*A*S*H, and Kelly's Heroes. Sooner than later, he was seen making his presence felt both in leading and supporting roles in various mainstream projects.

A deserving inductee of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canadian Walk of Fame, Sutherland won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for his commendable character projection in the acclaimed miniseries The Undoing.

He has also received accolades for his performance in the television film Citizen X.

A recipient of a Critics' Choice Movie Award and three People's Choice Awards, Ryan Reynolds has been making his striking presence felt in the movie-making business for as long as three decades now.

Best known for headlining the Deadpool franchise of smash-hit motion pictures for Marvel, the actor has also participated in projects belonging to other genres such as National Lampoon's Van Wilder, 6 Underground, Life, The Proposal, and Free Guy.

He made his acting debut on television by performing in the teen drama Fifteen at the beginning of the '90s. It is important to mention that his breakthrough role came in the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl, which saw him playing the character of a medical student.

Reynolds, who has been married twice, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.

Kiefer Sutherland is a British-Canadian actor who is best known for playing the lead role in the popular Fox drama series 24.

The actor has been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada's Walk of Fame. He won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Satellite Awards for his performance in 24.

Some of his well-known character projections came in projects such as Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, Young Guns, Flatliners, A Few Good Men, The Three Musketeers, A Time to Kill, Phone Booth, and Melancholia.

Seth Rogen is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, and filmmaker who was first seen in the television show Freaks and Geeks in 1999.

Even though he initially started his career as a stand-up comedian, he continued to shape himself both as a writer and actor.

After having played a minor role in the mind-bending drama Donnie Darko, he started getting significant roles to play in well-received motion pictures such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Pineapple Express, This Is the End, and The Interview.

Martin Hayter Short has been a part of the entertainment industry for five decades now. The actor was first seen in the television show Right On. He soon went on to become quite a decorated personality in his home country.

An Officer of the Order of Canada, he can be seen playing an important part in numerous shows such as Mulaney, Maya and Marty, and The Morning Show.

Some of Short's well-known feature films are Three Amigos, Innerspace, Three Fugitives, Captain Ron, and Clifford.

Also, for his performance in the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building, he earned well-deserved nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award, the Golden Globe Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Critics Choice Television Award, respectively.

Popularly referred to as the "nicest guy in Hollywood", Keanu Reeves was first seen playing a minor role in the sitcom Hangin' In in 1984.

The actor made his feature film debut with Youngblood and found fame after having played a prominent role in the science fiction comedy film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.

An ardent fan of hockey, Reeves became a major motion picture star after participating in projects such as Speed, My Own Private Idaho, and Point Break.

However, it was only after the release of The Matrix series of feature films that he managed to become a name to vouch for internationally.

After consecutive box office flops, the man made a remarkable comeback by playing the titular role in the hugely successful John Wick franchise.

Named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022, he is also known to have directed the film Man of Tai Chi, which hit the screens in 2013.

The Lake House actor reprised his role for the fourth film in The Matrix franchise in 2021. However, the project bit the dust at the ticket windows.

Will Arnett has been entertaining viewers since the mid-1990s. He's not only a known screen performer but also a recognized voice actor, comedian, and producer.

He is best known for playing a significant part in popular shows such as Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman, and Murderville.

Having said that, one can also find the Emmy Award nominee participating in motion pictures such as Let’s Go To Prison, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, G-Force, Jonah Hex, and Show Dogs.

He has also lent his voice to characters in projects such as Ice Age: The Meltdown, Ratatouille, Monsters vs. Aliens, Despicable Me, and The Lego Movie franchise.

This actor and television director made a name for himself by playing the honorable Brandon Walsh in the renowned television series Beverly Hills, 90210.

The aforementioned show is credited with not only making him a teen idol of sorts but also with fetching him two deserving Golden Globe nominations.

Jason Priestley can also be seen in shows such as Call Me Fritz and Private Eyes. He made his directorial debut with the movie Cas & Dylan and was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2016.

Nathan Fillion is best known for playing the leading role of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds on Firefly. He went on to reprise his character in the show's film continuation, titled Serenity.

The actor first rose to prominence after playing a role in the show One Life to Live. He was even nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series for the same.

Fillion has also lent his voice to animation and video game projects.

Finn Wolfhard is one of the youngest mainstream actors to have been in the news over the past few years.

Now, the fact that he is already being counted among the most popular Canadian actors working today despite being less than a decade old in the industry speaks volumes about his growth as a performer.

While he began his career on the television show The 100, he found fame and appreciation after having played a crucial role in both the Netflix series Stranger Things and the successful It franchise of horror movies.

You'd be surprised to know that Wolfhard has already made his directorial debut with the comedy short film Night Shifts in 2020.

Hayden Christensen began his acting career on television. He is best known for playing the well-regarded character of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequel trilogy films.

After having played the main antagonist in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, he is all set to reprise his role in the forthcoming Disney+ series Ahsoka as well.

While Christensen can be seen in titles such as Awake, Jumper, Takers, and Little Italy, his performances in Life as a House and Shattered Glass are credited with bringing him critical acclaim.

Eric McCormack is an actor and singer who made his professional acting debut in the television film The Boys from Syracuse in 1987.

He started acting by continuously performing in high school plays at a young age, and is best known for participating in television shows such as Will & Grace, Travelers, and Perception.

For his much-acknowledged performance in Will & Grace, McCormack won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2001.

Michael Cera is yet another Canadian mainstream performer who started his career as a child actor. An actor and musician, he can be seen participating in quite a few television and film productions.

The actor is best known for having played a role in television and movie projects such as Arrested Development, Superbad, Juno, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and This Is the End.

Cera also went on to release his debut music album, titled True That, in 2014.

The talented and likable Jay Baruchel was first seen playing a role in the television series The Worst Witch in 1998.

Also a stand-up comedian and filmmaker, he is best known for having lent his voice to the character of Hiccup Haddock in the popular How to Train Your Dragon franchise of feature films.

That said, Baruchel can also be seen playing a key role in movies such as Blackberry, Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder, The Trotsky, Fanboys, She's Out of My League, and This Is the End.

Known for his work in film, television, and theatre, Victor Garber is one of the most distinguished Canadian actors in the history of motion pictures.

The actor is known to have appeared in feature films such as Titanic, Milk, Argo, Sleepless in Seattle, Legally Blonde, Sicario, and Happiest Season.

The magnificent performer has played a variety of roles on television as well. For his performance in the drama series Alias, Garber received three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series nominations.

Bruce Greenwood is an experienced screen actor who is best known for his memorable appearances in projects such as Thirteen Days and the Star Trek reboot series.

For his performance as the American President John F. Kennedy in Thirteen Days, he won a well-deserved Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture.

Also, a quality voice actor, Greenwood can be seen in movies such as Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Capote, and The Post, among others.

Glenn Ford was among the most dependable box office stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Often seen playing ordinary men caught up in odd circumstances, he had a screen career that spanned more than 50 incredible years.

Some of Ford's finest performances came in feature films such as Gilda, The Big Heat, Pocketful of Miracles, and 3:10 to Yuma.

Roy Dupuis is best known for his character projection of counterterrorism operative Michael Samuelle in the television series La Femme Nikita.

Courtesy of his involvement in English-language and bilingual projects, the actor has grown to be immensely popular in French-speaking areas of Canada over the years.

Dupuis has participated in several theater productions, television shows, and motion pictures throughout his career so far.

This Canadian-American actor made his acting debut in the feature film Crooked Hearts in 1991.

Not long after he first faced the camera, Joshua Jackson managed to make a name for himself by appearing in popular film and television projects such as Mighty Ducks, Shutter, Dawson's Creek, The Affair, Fringe, When They See Us, and Dr. Death.

For his performance in the Canadian independent feature film One Week, the actor received a well-deserved Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Among the most experienced screen performers to make it to our list, Leslie Nielsen is an actor who appeared in over 100 films in a career that spanned 60 years.

The actor is known to have enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and served in the Second World War. He first gained prominence by playing a part in motion pictures such as Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure.

However, the utilization of his trademark deadpan humor in titles such as Airplane! and The Naked Gun franchise marked a turning point in his career.

Shawn Ashmore was first seen in an episode of the television show Katts and Dog in 1989. He is best known for playing the character of Bobby Drake/Iceman in the X-Men series of motion pictures.

The actor was also seen in the second season of the acclaimed Amazon Prime Video superhero series The Boys.

Ashmore has mostly been seen participating in television shows. Some of his other credits include The Following, Conviction, and The Rookie, to name a few.

Best known for playing the role of Xavier Laflamme in the 2011 ice hockey film Goon, Marc-André Grondin made his acting debut in 1989.

For his performance in Jean-Marc Vallée's coming-of-age drama C.R.A.Z.Y., he won a deserving Jutra Award for Best Actor.

The Chameleon actor also received a Best Actor nomination at the 8th Canadian Screen Awards for his commendable character play in Mafia Inc. He served as one of the judges at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Awards in 2010.

John Candy was an actor and comedian known primarily for his work in Hollywood movies. He rose to fame as a screen performer during the 1970s.

First seen in Class of '44, the actor had been seen appearing in feature films such as Stripes, Splash, Summer Rental, Spaceballs, The Great Outdoors, Only the Lonely, and JFK.

Even though he was an established actor, Candy was a competent businessman as well. He was a co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

This award-winning Canadian actor was first seen playing a minor role in the popular television show 21 Jump Street in 1987.

Best known for his appearances in shows such as Supernatural, Stargate Atlantis, and Van Helsing, he has also had the fruitful experience of performing on stage.

That said, Heyerdahl is also well-known for having played the part of Marcus in the famous The Twilight Saga series of feature films.

Pablo Tell Schreiber made his feature film debut in 2001's Bubble Boy. He is well-known to the Canadian audience for his work in television, film, and stage.

While the actor can be seen in shows such as The Wire, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and American Gods, it was his performance in the prison drama Orange Is the New Black that earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Matthew Perry is an actor, comedian, and producer who made a name for himself by portraying the exciting character of Chandler Bing in one of the most loved sitcoms of all time, Friends.

The actor was also seen partaking in the short-lived television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Furthermore, he can be noticed in feature films such as Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, The Whole Nine Yards, and 17 Again.

Once an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live, Dan Aykroyd is not only a talented actor but also a comedian, producer, musician, and writer who has been making his presence felt within the entertainment industry since the mid-1970s. 

The Blues Brothers actor was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his character play of Boolie Werthan in the acclaimed 1989 drama film Driving Miss Daisy.

Aykroyd was also seen delivering a praiseworthy performance as the blueblood-turned-wretch in the comedy flick Trading Places in 1983.

Taylor Kitsch made his professional acting debut on television in 2006. He is best known for playing the role of Tim Riggins in the NBC television series Friday Night Lights.

Also seen in the second season of the acclaimed HBO series True Detective, the actor has appeared in feature films such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Battleship, John Carter, Savages, Lone Survivor, American Assassin, and 21 Bridges.

Raymond Burr had been a part of motion pictures since his debut in the mid-1940s.

The actor had a stretched and rich film career and was best known for his performances in television dramas such as Perry Mason and Ironside.

Some of his best film roles include playing the suspected villain in Alfred Hitchcock's cult classic Rear Window and Godzilla, King of the Monsters!.

For his character projection of Perry Mason, Burr won the Emmy Awards for acting in 1959 and 1961.

Besides being an actor, Phil Hartman was also a comedian, screenwriter, and graphic designer who had been making his presence felt in the film industry since the late 1970s.

Before joining Saturday Night Live (SNL) as one of its cast members, the celebrity had co-written the feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure.

For his undeniable contribution to SNL, Hartman won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 and was given the nickname "Glue" courtesy of his ability to hold the show together.

This actor and musician kick-started his acting career as a child and gained prominence as a teenager after having participated in motion pictures such as The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising and Race to Witch Mountain.

However, it can be said that Ludwig's breakout role came in 2012's The Hunger Games. Some of his other popular features are Lone Survivor and Bad Boys For Life.

In addition, he can also be seen playing the character of the legendary Viking Björn Ironside in the famed History Channel series Vikings.

Rick Moranis is an actor, comedian, musician, songwriter, writer, and producer.

He started his career in the entertainment industry by appearing in the sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV) in 1980.

Soon after, one could see him delivering decent performances in Hollywood feature films such as Strange Brew, Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Parenthood, and The Flintstones, to mention a few.

Cory Monteith was an actor and musician who had made a name for himself by playing the role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.

His successful stint on the show had allowed him to confidently act in films such as Monte Carlo and Sisters & Brothers.

However, due to his drug addiction, his family and friends had to intervene and convince him to go to rehab to recover quite early in his career.

Unfortunately for him, things didn't work out in the long run.

Corey Haim made his feature film debut in 1984's Firstborn and continued to rise as a performer throughout the 1980s.

The actor was seen in feature films such as Lucas, Silver Bullet, Murphy's Romance, License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream during the initial years of his career.

However, his performance in the supernatural dark comedy horror film The Lost Boys made him a household name and brought him a decent amount of fame.

Tommy Chong started appearing in motion pictures in the second half of the 1970s. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America during the late 1980s.

Best known for playing the popular and recurring character of Leo in the much-loved sitcom That '70s Show, he was seen playing the guitar for a Calgary soul group called the Shades during the 1960s.

Even though he is an actor, he has become a mini-cult personality of sorts courtesy of his affinity for marijuana-themed comedy albums and roles.

Alan Thicke was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2013. He was an actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host who made his acting debut in the late 1960s.

The actor was recognized for playing the character of Dr. Jason Seaver in the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains. Even though he hosted a variety of TV events, Thicke could also be seen in television and film projects such as Hope & Gloria, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, and Not Quite Human, among others.

Actor Patrick J. Adams is known to the mainstream audience for playing the character of Mike Ross in the popular series Suits.

For his character projection in the aforementioned show, he was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at the 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Adams has also made an appearance in other renowned television shows such as Pretty Little Liars, NCIS, and Legends of Tomorrow.

Robbie Amell is an actor and producer who is best known for having participated in quite a few television shows.

Some of his better performances came in series such as The Tomorrow People, The Flash, and Upload.

Also, Amell can be seen playing a part in movies such as Code 8, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins, and Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster, among others.

Aaron Ashmore made his debut in the feature film Married to It in 1991. He's perhaps best known for playing the character of Jimmy Olsen on Smallville.

The identical twin brother of actor Shawn Ashmore, he has also participated in films such as A Separate Peace and A Bear Named Winnie, among others.

An ardent fan of Star Trek, one can also find Ashmore performing in series such as Warehouse 13 and Killjoys.

Stephen Amell, who, aside from acting, has also been a professional wrestler, shot to instant fame after having headlined the popular superhero series Arrow.

Also known for portraying Casey Jones in the superhero film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the actor was even seen making appearances for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ring of Honor in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

The character that Amell played in Arrow allowed him to appear in several other superhero shows as well.