Hugh Webster (actor)

Hugh Webster
BornAugust 30, 1927
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
DiedMay 31, 1986(1986-05-31) (aged 58)
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1948–1986
Spouse
Jan Campbell
​
(m. 1952)​

Hugh Webster (August 30, 1927 – May 31, 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian actor.[1] Webster acted on stage, in television and film.

Biography

Born in Edinburgh, Webster studied art in England. Webster moved with his family to Canada in 1948.[2] He studied drama in Toronto,[3] and later formed his own theatre company in Oakville, Ontario.[2]

Webster was one of the early stars of Canadian television, notably appearing as a regular cast member in "Sunshine Sketches"' and in many episodes of CBC Television drama anthologies.[4] He regularly appeared in "The Defenders" 1960s television show in the United States.[2] He continued to work in television throughout his career, later appearing in "A Gift to Last", "The Newcomers" and "All the Days of my Life".[2]

He was also a frequent stage performer. Webster's early stage career began at Toronto's Crest Theatre in 1955 in Stanley Mann's The Gift of the Serpent. He also performed at the Stratford Festival, beginning in 1962 in The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest and Cyrano de Bergerac. He was most notable playing The Fool in a 1964 production of King Lear.[5] Webster won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Featured Male Performance in 1983 for his role in Toronto Free Theatre's production of Brian Friel's Translations.[6] He also performed at the Phoenix Theatre and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto.[2] Webster also toured with Canadian Players.[2]

Webster also had a career in film. He was most noted for his role in the film For Gentlemen Only, for which he and his costar Ed McNamara were joint winners of the Canadian Film Award for Best Actor in a Non-Feature at the 27th Canadian Film Awards in 1976.[7]

Personal life

He married Canadian-born actress Jan Campbell in October 1952. Webster died of cancer on May 31, 1986. He was survived by his second wife, Elizabeth, five children and four step-children.[2]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1970King of the GrizzliesShorty
1971The ReincarnateBerryman
1971Fortune and Men's EyesRabbit
1971Rip-OffMr. Duncan
1973Between FriendsCoker
1975For Gentlemen Only(short)
1976Find the LadyEddie
1977Who Has Seen the WindAb
1978Drying Up the StreetsDoc
1980AgencyInmate
1980Nothing PersonalEmerson
1980CrossoverMr. Wolfe
1981Dirty TricksMr. Darcy
1981The Last ChaseFetch
1982If You Could See What I HearSean
1983Never Cry WolfDrunk
1985Martin's DayGas Station Attendant
1985BayoWilf Taylor

References

  1. ↑ "Hugh Webster respected actor at Stratford". Toronto Star, June 2, 1986.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Award-winning actor appeared at Stratford". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. June 2, 1986. p. A15.
  3. ↑ "Veteran actor Hugh Webster dead at 59". Montreal Gazette. June 3, 1986.
  4. ↑ Miller, M. J. (1984). "Canadian Television Drama 1952-1970 Canada's National Theatre". Theatre Research in Canada / Recherches théâtrales au Canada. 5 (1).
  5. ↑ Whittaker, Herbert (June 18, 1964). "Langham's King Lear Truly Monumental". The Globe and Mail.
  6. ↑ Conlogue, Ray. "Thomson, Phipps take Doras for outstanding acting". The Globe and Mail. p. October 11, 1983.
  7. ↑ Topalovich, Maria (2000). And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing. ISBN 0-7737-3238-1.
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