Christopher Gaze

Christopher Gaze
MBE CM OBC MSM
Born
Christopher Bower Gaze

Guildford, Surrey, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • host
  • director
Years active1973–present

Christopher Bower Gaze is an English–Canadian actor, host, artist, theatre and opera director residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Early life and education

Born in Guildford, Surrey, England, Gaze trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before coming to Canada in 1975,[1] spending three seasons at the Shaw Festival.

Career

Gaze moved to Vancouver in 1983 and in 1990 founded Bard on the Beach. Since the first season in 1990 where the budget was only $35,000, the annual budget now exceeds $10 million. In 2022 Bard on the Beach welcomed their two millionth patron and have welcomed an average of over 80,000 people per year.

In addition to performing and directing for Bard, Gaze's voice is heard regularly in cartoon series, commercials and on the radio. He also hosts Vancouver Symphony's popular Tea and Trumpets series and their annual Christmas concerts.

Christopher’s many honours include induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal (2004)[2], a Jessie Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Equus at The Playhouse (2004), Honorary Doctorates from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University[3][4], the BC Community Achievement Award (2007)[5], the Gold Medallion from the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America (2007)[6], the (Vancouver) Mayor’s Arts Award for Theatre (2011),[7] the Order of British Columbia (2012), The King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025)[8], the Order of Canada (2026)[9], and Member of the Order of the British Empire (2026)[10]. As an Olympic Ambassador, Gaze was honored to run with the Olympic torch for the 2010 Games. A public speaker with the National Speakers Bureau, Gaze frequently shares his insights on Shakespeare and theatre with students, service organizations and businesses.

Gaze narrated season 3 of Emmy Award-winning animation series Madeline (after Christopher Plummer stepped down).

Additionally, he has also performed voiceover roles for animation, most notably as Turaga Vakama in the first three Bionicle movies, as well as Diagnostic Drone in Beast Machines and Major Mint in Barbie in the Nutcracker.

His memoir, The Road to Bard, was published in May, 2026.[11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Running BraveAussie Sportscaster
1990Deep SleepGrey-Haired Man
1993Cool RunningsBritish Official
1997The Fearless FourNarratorEnglish version
1998Mummies Alive! The Legend BeginsVoice, direct-to-video
2000Grandma Got Run Over by a ReindeerQuincy
2001Barbie in the NutcrackerMajor Mint
2002Barbie as RapunzelKing Wilhelm
2003Bionicle: Mask of LightTuraga Vakama[12]
2004Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru NuiTuraga Vakama
(Narrator)[12]
2005Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows
2006Barbie Fairytopia: MermaidiaFungus Maximus
2006Barbie in the 12 Dancing PrincessesKing RandolphVoice
2007Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the RainbowFungus Maximus Voice
2007Barbie as the Island PrincessSagiVoice
2007The Ten CommandmentsAaronVoice
2009Stranger with My FaceHenry
2014Hattie's HeistArchie
2025LOOT: A Story of Crime and RedemptionDouglas LatchfordVoice

Television

Video games

References

  1. ↑ Szloboda, Sarah (7 June 2011). "Cue To Cue- A Conversation with Christopher Gaze". wwa.vancouverisawesome.com. Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  2. ↑ https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/136-1347
  3. ↑ https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/arphotos/items/1.0163694
  4. ↑ https://www.sfu.ca/convocation/honorary-degrees/past_honorary_degrees/2006.html
  5. ↑ https://bcachievement.com/awardee/christopher-gaze/
  6. ↑ https://www.childrenstheatrefoundation.org/page-31/page-5/
  7. ↑ https://www.straight.com/arts/mayors-arts-awards-announced#
  8. ↑ https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/5431-1347
  9. ↑ https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-1347
  10. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/birthday-honours-2026-overseas-and-international-list/the-kings-birthday-honours-2026-overseas-and-international-list-order-of-the-british-empire
  11. ↑ Ackerman, John. "Bard on the Beach artistic director Christopher Gaze looks back in a new memoir". CityNews. Rogers Digital Media. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Christopher Gaze (visual voice guide)". www.behindthevoiceactors.com. Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
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