Dec 2, 2009 - Whose Line Is It Anyway? but this award also recognizes him for his ... conferences, sharing his knowledge
For Immediate Release December 2, 2009
COLIN MOCHRIE TO RECEIVE ACTRA TORONTO’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Toronto – December 2, 2009 – Canadian film and television star Colin Mochrie will receive ACTRA Toronto’s highest honour in 2010, the Award of Excellence. The award recognizes an outstanding body of work by a performer as well as their efforts on behalf of the acting community and Canadian culture. Previous winners include Sarah Polley, Paul Gross, Gordon Pinsent, Sonja Smits, Wendy Crewson, Peter Keleghan and Eric Peterson. “ACTRA Toronto’s Award of Excellence is bestowed upon a performer who has both a significant body of work and a proven history of giving back to the union’s membership,” said ACTRA Toronto President, Heather Allin. “Colin Mochrie may be well known for his work on Whose Line Is It Anyway? but this award also recognizes him for his generosity towards his union and its members. Colin has traveled with us to Ottawa to lobby for more Canadian drama, to Queen’s Park to petition for Status of the Artist legislation and he’s a tireless advocate for the Actors’ Fund of Canada. He has also devoted his time to participate in our member conferences, sharing his knowledge, and giving back personally on a face-to-face basis with our membership. Colin is an excellent addition to the esteemed winners of this prestigious award.” With over 50 film and television credits to his name Mochrie is a Canadian star recognized the world over. Mochrie has won two Canadian Comedy Awards, his first in 2001 for his work on Whose Line Is It Anyway? and another, for writing, in 2003 for his work on the classic Canadian series This Hour Has 22 Minutes. 2003 was also the year Mochrie shared a Gemini award for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series with his fellow 22 Minutes cast members. Mochrie is also a familiar face to Canadians for his work on Getting Along Famously, and Blackfly, while some of his upcoming work includes appearances in Puck Hogs, The Ron James Show and Gravy Train. He is currently in the middle of a North American comedy tour with his Whose Line Is It Anyway? costar, Brad Sherwood. Mochrie has a long history of cultural activism, from lobbying Queen’s Park for Status of the Artist legislation, to representing ACTRA at pivotal CRTC hearings and speaking out during recent federal elections against government censorship and cuts to the arts. Mochrie was recently elected to the ACTRA Toronto council and continues to give back to the performing community, accepting a seat on the Board of Directors of the Actors’ Fund, a charity which seeks to provide emergency financial aid to assist cultural workers recovering from an illness, injury or other drastic economic setbacks. The annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto will celebrate outstanding performances by ACTRA members on Friday, February 19, 2010 at the Carlu. Three juried awards for outstanding performances by male, female and voice talents will also be presented in addition to the Award of Excellence. This year’s awards will be hosted by Geri Hall (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) with musical performances by The Pocket Co. featuring Don Francks. ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada’s 21,000 professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven organization that continues to secure the rights and respect for the work of professional performers.
-30For more information: Chris Faulkner ACTRA Toronto Public Relations Officer P: 416.642.6710 E:
[email protected] 