Colm Feore
Colm Feore is a Canadian-American actor celebrated for his commanding presence in classical theatre, particularly during his 13-season tenure at the Stratford Festival where he portrayed iconic Shakespearean roles such as Hamlet, Richard III, and King Lear, as well as his acclaimed performances in film and television that span historical dramas, blockbusters, and character-driven series.[1][2] Born on August 22, 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts, Feore moved to Ottawa as a child and later attended Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario, before graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal in 1980.[1] His professional debut came in 1981 at the Stratford Festival, where he quickly rose to prominence as an associate artistic director and lead performer, earning praise for his versatility in productions like My Fair Lady (as Henry Higgins) and Romeo and Juliet (as Romeo).[1] Feore's stage work extended beyond Stratford to include engagements with Theatre Calgary and other Canadian companies, solidifying his reputation as a master of the classical repertoire.[2] In film, Feore has delivered memorable supporting roles in international hits, including the eccentric Glenn Gould in Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993), the auctioneer in The Red Violin (1998)—for which he won a Jutra Award—Admiral Husband E. Kimmel in Pearl Harbor (2001) and Dr. Malcolm Walsh in Face/Off (1997), collaborating with directors such as Michael Bay, John Woo, Clint Eastwood, and Sidney Lumet.[1][2][3][4][5] His television career includes standout portrayals of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in the CBC miniseries Trudeau (2002), earning him a Gemini Award, as well as Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere in The Borgias (2011–2013) and President Richard Adar in Battlestar Galactica (2005).[1] More recent credits feature Nathan in the Paramount+ series Landman (2024), Dr. Keith Mitchell in She Came Back (2024), and a guest role in Murdoch Mysteries that garnered a 2025 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Guest Performance in a Drama Series.[6][7][8][9] Feore's contributions to Canadian arts were recognized with his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada on November 21, 2013, honoring his role in bridging classical theatre with contemporary screen work and inspiring generations of performers.[10] He also received a Genie Award nomination for The Red Violin and contributed to the success of bilingual films like Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006), which won a Golden Reel Award.[1] Married to choreographer Donna Feore, with whom he has collaborated on Stratford productions, Feore continues to balance high-profile projects with his enduring commitment to theatre.[2]Early life and education
Early years
Colm Feore was born on August 22, 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrant parents. His father, a radiologist, was pursuing postgraduate studies in the city at the time, while his mother accompanied him during the early stages of her pregnancy.[11][12] Shortly after Feore's birth, his mother and he relocated to Dublin, Ireland, before joining his father in Ottawa, Canada, around 1961 when Feore was about three years old. The family settled initially in Ottawa, marking their primary North American base following the brief U.S. stint, before moving again to Windsor, Ontario, in 1964 when Feore was six. In Windsor, Feore grew up in a bilingual environment, attending French immersion schools, which contributed to his later fluency in the language. He has a brother, Rory Feore, who is also an actor.[12][13][14][15] Feore's childhood in Windsor was marked by a growing interest in performance, influenced by his participation in school plays where he often took on roles like princes or kings. Though initially self-conscious about performing, he soon embraced the activity, finding enjoyment in the dramatic arts during his elementary years at Georges P. Vanier Elementary School. His father's career in radiology, eventually leading to a position as head of the department at Windsor General Hospital, provided a stable family backdrop.[16][12][11] This early exposure laid the groundwork for Feore's passion, transitioning into more structured dramatic pursuits at Ridley College starting in grade 8.[12]Education
Feore attended Ridley College, a private boarding school in St. Catharines, Ontario, during his high school years in the 1970s, graduating in 1977. There, a drama teacher recognized his potential and encouraged him to audition for professional theatre programs, nurturing his early interest in acting that had begun in childhood.[1][12][17] Following high school, Feore enrolled at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, Quebec, where he trained in the three-year acting program focused on classical theatre from 1977 to 1980. The curriculum emphasized rigorous performance techniques, voice, movement, and textual analysis, preparing students for professional stages through intensive practical work.[1][14][18] During his time at the school, Feore participated in student productions, including a performance in Angels, a collage adapted from Tennessee Williams' works directed by Fred Euringer, which allowed him to apply classroom techniques in a collaborative environment. Immersed in Montreal's bilingual cultural milieu, he further developed proficiency in French alongside his native English, enhancing his versatility as an actor in Canada's diverse theatre landscape.[19][20] Feore graduated from the National Theatre School in 1980 and promptly pursued professional opportunities, auditioning successfully for roles that launched his theatre career.[1][21][14]Career
Theatre career
Feore made his professional debut at the Stratford Festival in 1981, following his graduation from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1980. He joined the festival's Young Company in 1983 and performed across 13 seasons through 1994, rising to prominence as a versatile classical actor in roles such as the youngest-ever Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (1984), Iachimo in Cymbeline, Iago in Othello, Richard III in Richard III, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet in Hamlet, and Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac. During this period, he also served as associate artistic director from 1994 to 1995, contributing to the festival's artistic direction during a transitional phase.[22] Over the course of 17 seasons at Stratford from 1981 to 2006, with periodic returns thereafter, Feore solidified his reputation as one of Canada's foremost interpreters of Shakespearean leads, appearing in over 40 productions and embodying complex figures like Macbeth in Macbeth (2009) and the title role in King Lear (2014). His tenure highlighted his command of verse and physicality in demanding repertory schedules, often playing multiple roles per season to showcase the breadth of classical repertoire. Feore's work extended beyond acting to administrative contributions, fostering the festival's commitment to rigorous ensemble training. Feore's theatre involvement reached beyond Stratford, including significant engagements at major Canadian venues such as Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Theatre Calgary, Edmund Tyrone in Long Day's Journey Into Night at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, and James Tyrone Jr. in A Moon for the Misbegotten at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. He participated in international tours with Stratford ensembles, bringing Canadian interpretations of Shakespeare to global audiences, and has been noted for his role in cross-cultural productions.[22] Throughout his career, Feore has championed Canadian theatre through mentorship of emerging actors at institutions like the National Theatre School and advocacy for sustained funding and classical education programs, emphasizing the live stage's unique demands on performers. His returns to Stratford in later years, such as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (2002), Cassius in Julius Caesar (2005, Broadway), and Richard III (2022), underscore his enduring influence on the form. Off-Broadway, he played Claudius and the Ghost in a 1999 production of Hamlet at New York's Public Theater.[22][23]Film career
Feore's entry into film came through supporting roles in Canadian and American productions during the 1990s and early 2000s. He first gained notice in Hollywood with his portrayal of Dr. Malcolm Walsh, a government agent, in John Woo's action thriller Face/Off (1997), opposite John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. This was followed by another supporting turn as the enigmatic Leppenraub in Kasi Lemmons' mystery-drama The Caveman's Valentine (2001), starring Samuel L. Jackson.[24] These early appearances established Feore as a versatile character actor capable of handling intense, authoritative supporting parts. A significant breakthrough arrived with his lead performance as the eccentric pianist Glenn Gould in François Girard's Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993), a critically acclaimed anthology that earned him international recognition and is often cited as a pivotal moment in his screen career.[25] Drawing from his extensive stage background, these performances highlighted Feore's command of complex characterizations in cinematic formats. Feore expanded into major Hollywood projects in the mid-2000s, often cast as formidable antagonists or leaders. He appeared as defense attorney Martin Harrison in the musical crime drama Chicago (2002), executive producer John Wolfe in the sci-fi thriller Paycheck (2003), and the villainous Lord Marshal Zhylaw in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004). His portrayal of the Frost Giant king Laufey in Marvel's Thor (2011) further cemented his presence in blockbuster cinema. Feore has frequently discussed embracing these villainous or authoritative roles, attributing them partly to his "angular bone structure," while expressing a desire to diversify beyond such typecasting through varied character work.[26][27] His bilingual skills, honed through fluency in French, shone in the buddy-cop comedy Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006), where he played Ontario detective Martin Ward alongside Patrick Huard's Quebec officer, blending English and French dialogue to satirize Canadian cultural divides.[1] Feore reprised the role in the sequel Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2 (2017), demonstrating his ease with cross-lingual performances. In recent years, he has balanced mainstream and independent projects, including roles in the dystopian thriller Humane (2024), a voice part as Frank Fafnir in the animated SuperKlaus (2024), Dr. Keith Mitchell in the horror film She Came Back (2024), and a voice role in the stop-motion short The Girl Who Cried Pearls (2025).[28][29][9] These works reflect Feore's ongoing efforts to explore diverse genres and formats while maintaining his reputation for authoritative presence.Television career
Feore's television career commenced in the 1980s with early appearances in Canadian productions, marking his entry into broadcast media. He provided the voice for the character Max Ray in the animated series Centurions, which aired in 1986 and featured a team of powered-armor heroes combating villains. His first notable live-action role came in the 1985 CBC TV movie The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar, an adaptation of David Gardner's play where he portrayed a supporting character in a rural Ontario setting. In 1993, Feore appeared in the biographical TV film Gross Misconduct: The Life of Dr. Stone, playing a role in the dramatization of a controversial medical case. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Feore built a strong presence in Canadian television through miniseries and leading roles. He starred as the titular artist Cornelius Krieghoff in the 1994 CBC miniseries Krieghoff, earning praise for his portrayal of the 19th-century painter. Feore then took the lead as investigative reporter Kevin Sharpe in the CTV series Bury the Lead (also known as The Investigation), which ran from 2000 to 2002 and followed a journalist uncovering corporate scandals. He also made guest appearances in U.S. series, including a 2004 episode of The West Wing as the British Ambassador to the United States, and President Richard Adar in Battlestar Galactica (season 1, 2005). Feore achieved international breakthroughs in the late 2000s and 2010s with complex antagonist roles in American series. In 2009, he portrayed President Henry Taylor in season 7 of 24, a role that evolved into a villainous arc involving national security threats. From 2016 to 2017, he played General Ted Brockhart, a high-ranking military official drawn into political intrigue, in seasons 4 and 5 of House of Cards. Feore starred as Sir Reginald Hargreeves, the adoptive father of the Umbrella Academy siblings, in Netflix's The Umbrella Academy from 2019 to 2024 across four seasons. In 2024, he joined Taylor Sheridan's Landman as Nathan, a high-stakes oil industry figure. He also portrayed Pierre Trudeau in the CBC miniseries Trudeau (2002), earning a Gemini Award. Throughout his career, Feore has balanced Canadian content, such as recurring guest spots in Murdoch Mysteries—including a role in the 2024–2025 season that garnered a 2025 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Guest Performance in a Drama Series—with international streaming roles, often evolving toward portrayals of authoritative antagonists that highlight his commanding presence. This trajectory reflects his versatility in serialized storytelling, from procedural dramas to high-concept sci-fi.[6]Awards and honors
Acting awards
Colm Feore has earned recognition for his acting through various competitive awards and nominations, particularly highlighting his contributions to Canadian theatre, film, and television. His performances have been honored by prestigious bodies such as the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and international guilds, underscoring his versatility across media. In television, Feore won the Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series for his portrayal of Pierre Trudeau in the 2002 CBC miniseries Trudeau. This acclaimed role earned him widespread praise for capturing the former Canadian prime minister's charisma and complexity.[30] For his film work, Feore received Genie Award nominations for Best Actor for The Perfect Son (2001) and Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2007). The film Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993), in which he played the titular pianist, secured multiple Genie wins, including Best Motion Picture. On the international stage, Feore was part of the ensemble cast of Chicago that collectively won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in 2003, recognizing the film's vibrant depiction of 1920s Chicago underworld.[31] He also won the Jutra Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Red Violin (1999).[32] More recently, Feore's supporting role in the 2020 indie drama Sugar Daddy garnered him the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021. This win highlighted his nuanced portrayal of a manipulative figure in a story of ambition and exploitation.[33] In 2025, he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Guest Performance in a Drama Series for his role in Murdoch Mysteries.[6] Feore's Canadian-centric achievements include over a dozen major wins and nominations from bodies like the Gemini Awards (now Canadian Screen Awards) and Genie Awards (now Canadian Screen Awards for film), reflecting his enduring impact on national storytelling.Other honors
In recognition of his extensive contributions to the performing arts, Colm Feore was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2013, one of the country's highest civilian honors, for his work as an actor bridging stage and screen.[10] Feore has received several honorary degrees for his impact on Canadian culture. In 2002, the University of Windsor conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree, acknowledging his early career ties to the region and his rising prominence in theatre and film.[34] In October 2012, Wilfrid Laurier University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters, recognizing his lifetime dedication to the arts and bilingual storytelling in Canadian media.[35] The Stratford Festival, where Feore performed for over a decade, honored him with its Legacy Award in 2016, celebrating his enduring influence on classical theatre and his role in elevating the festival's international profile.[36] In 2019, he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in the Screens and Voices category, Canada's premier tribute to performers for their body of work across stage, film, and television.[37] Earlier in his career, Feore was presented with the NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction at the 2007 Banff World Media Festival, a special achievement honor for his versatile contributions to Canadian broadcasting and screen acting.[38]Personal life
Family
Colm Feore was first married to actress Sidonie Boll from 1983 until their divorce in 1994.[39][40] The couple had one son, Jack Feore, born in 1989.[41] Feore has been married to choreographer and theatre director Donna Feore (née Starnes) since August 8, 1994.[42] Together, they have two children: son Thomas (Tom) Feore, born in 1995, and daughter Anna Feore, born in 1997.[41] The family resides in Stratford, Ontario, where Donna has built a prominent career directing and choreographing productions at the Stratford Festival, often aligning with Feore's acting seasons there.[43] Their collaborations include shows such as Oliver!, Don Juan, and My Fair Lady, where Donna served as choreographer while Feore performed leading roles.[44] Feore's children have pursued distinct paths. Jack Feore has followed in his parents' footsteps as an actor, appearing in films like The Silencing (2020) and Warning (2021).[45] Thomas Feore studied law at the University of Toronto, earning his JD in 2020, and has built a career as a commercial litigation lawyer at Bennett Jones LLP as of 2025.[46][47] Anna Feore is a professional beach volleyball player for Team Canada and, as of 2024, a medical student at University College Cork.[48][49][50] The Feore family has provided mutual support amid Colm's frequent career relocations for film and theatre work, with Donna and the children maintaining a stable home base in Stratford that allows for reunions during festival seasons.[41] This arrangement has enabled Feore to balance high-profile roles abroad with family life, as he has noted the challenges of extended absences but the rewards of returning to a collaborative household environment.[51]Citizenship and languages
Colm Feore holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrant parents, the family returned to Ireland shortly after his birth, where he spent his early years, before relocating to Ottawa, Ontario, when he was three, and later to Windsor, Ontario, eventually becoming a Canadian citizen.[1][52] Feore is fluent in French, a skill he developed through immersion education in Windsor and further honed at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, enabling him to bridge Anglophone and Francophone cultures in bilingual performances.[10][14][20] He has resided primarily in Stratford, Ontario, since the 1990s, where he has deep ties to the local theatre community, though he spent formative years in Windsor and Ottawa, studied in Montreal, and maintained periods in Los Angeles for film and television work.[52][53][41] In his personal interests, Feore draws from his Irish heritage, enjoying storytelling, classical literature, and amateur music, including piano, which aligns with roles like his portrayal of pianist Glenn Gould.[54] He advocates for arts education and serves as an honorary patron for Canada's Theatre Museum.[55] Feore supports Canadian theatre funding through his involvement with institutions like the Stratford Festival and participates in philanthropy for children's health, notably as a lead in fundraising campaigns for SickKids Foundation.[56]Filmography
Films
- 1988: Iron Eagle II as Yuri Lebanov[57]
- 1989: The Nutcracker Prince as Pantaloon (voice)
- 1990: Beautiful Dreamers as Dr. Maurice Bucke
- 1993: Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould as Glenn Gould
- 1997: Face/Off as Dr. Malcolm Walsh[58]
- 1998: City of Angels as Jordan
- 1999: The Insider as Richard Scruggs
- 2001: Pearl Harbor as Adm. Husband E. Kimmel
- 2002: Chicago as Martin Harrison[59]
- 2002: The Sum of All Fears as Olson
- 2003: Paycheck as Mr. Wolfe
- 2003: National Security as Detective McDuff
- 2004: The Chronicles of Riddick as Lord Marshal
- 2005: The Exorcism of Emily Rose as Karl Gunderson
- 2006: Bon Cop, Bad Cop as Martin Ward
- 2007: The Poet as Col. Ilya Hass
- 2008: Changeling as Dave Mercer
- 2008: Flash of Genius as Graham
- 2010: Salt as Foreign Minister
- 2011: Thor as Laufey[60]
- 2014: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Donald Menken
- 2014: Elephant Song as Dr. Lawrence Green
- 2015: Painkillers as Dr. Troutman
- 2016: Mean Dreams as the Chief
- 2017: Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 as Martin Ward
- 2017: The Curse of Buckout Road as Rev. Mike
- 2018: Anon as Sal
- 2018: Greta as Chris McCullen
- 2019: The Prodigy as Dr. Arthur Jacobson
- 2019: Astronaut as Marcus
- 2020: My Salinger Year as Daniel
- 2020: Sugar Daddy as Gordon
- 2020: Akilla's Escape as Benji
- 2021: Trigger Point as Miles
- 2023: Six Days to Die as Sheriff
- 2024: She Came Back as Dr. Keith Mitchell[9]
- 2024: Humane as Secretary-General
- 2024: SuperKlaus as Frank Fafnir (voice)
- 2025: The Girl Who Cried Pearls as Narrator (voice)[61]
Television
- 1981: Seeing Things (series; guest role)[62]
- 1986: Centurions (animated series; voice of Max Erickson, 60 episodes)[62]
- 1987: The Boys from Syracuse (TV musical; Antipholus of Ephesus)[62]
- 1989–1990: Friday the 13th: The Series (series; Anton Pascola in 1 episode, Alex Dent/Billy Frazer in 1 episode)[62]
- 1990: War of the Worlds (series; Nikita, 1 episode)[62]
- 1990: Personals (TV movie; Mel Gilbert)[62]
- 1994: Krieghoff (miniseries; Cornelius Kreighoff)[62]
- 1995: Truman (miniseries; Charlie Ross)[62]
- 1995: Friends at Last (TV movie; Phillip Connelyn)[62]
- 1997: The Escape (TV movie; Charles)[62]
- 1998: The Lesser Evil (TV movie; Harry)[62]
- 1999: Storm of the Century (miniseries; Andre Linoge)[62]
- 2000: Nuremberg (miniseries; Rudolf Hess)[62]
- 2002: Trudeau (miniseries; Pierre Elliott Trudeau)[62]
- 2008: 24: Redemption (miniseries; Henry Taylor)[62]
- 2009: 24 (series; Henry Taylor, 12 episodes)[62]
- 2011–2013: The Borgias (series; Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere, 29 episodes)[62]
- 2013: Beauty and the Beast (series; Alastair, recurring, 5 episodes)[62]
- 2013–2014: House of Cards (series; Raymond Tusk, 20 episodes)[62]
- 2016–2017: House of Cards (series; General Ted Brockhart, 10 episodes)[62]
- 2017: 21 Thunder (series; Declan Gallard, 8 episodes)[62]
- 2019: For All Mankind (series; Wernher von Braun, 1 episode)[62]
- 2019–2024: The Umbrella Academy (series; Sir Reginald Hargreeves, 36 episodes)[62]
- 2022: The Boys Presents: Diabolical (animated miniseries; voice role)[62]
- 2024: Landman (series; Nathan, 10 episodes; season 2 upcoming in 2025)[62]
- 2024: Murdoch Mysteries (series; George Crabtree Senior, 1 episode)[6]
Theatre credits
Stratford Festival roles
Colm Feore joined the Stratford Festival in 1981, establishing himself as one of its leading actors through a career spanning over 40 productions across 17 seasons, primarily from 1981 to 2006, followed by returns in 2014 and subsequent years.[63][54] His work at the festival encompasses a wide range of Shakespearean leads, classical roles, and musical theatre characters, often performing multiple parts in ensemble seasons to showcase the repertory tradition.[63] Feore's early breakthrough came with romantic and tragic leads in Shakespearean plays, evolving into more complex villainous and authoritative figures over time. Notable seasons highlight his versatility, such as 2006, when he took on three demanding roles in quick succession, and 2009, balancing dual title characters. Below is a selection of his key Stratford Festival roles in chronological order:| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Romeo and Juliet | Romeo | Festival debut in a leading role, opposite Seana McKenna as Juliet.[64][65] |
| 1987 | Othello | Iago | Supporting antagonist in John Neville's production.[66] |
| 1991 | Hamlet | Hamlet | Title role in a First World War-era adaptation.[67] |
| 2002 | My Fair Lady | Henry Higgins | Musical lead in a revival running from May to November.[63] |
| 2006 | Oliver! | Fagin | Title musical role, opening the season in April.[68] |
| 2006 | Coriolanus | Coriolanus | Shakespearean lead directed by Antoni Cimolino, running May to September.[69] |
| 2006 | Don Juan | Don Juan | Molière adaptation, August to October; multi-role season.[63] |
| 2009 | Macbeth | Macbeth | Title role directed by Des McAnuff, previews starting May.[70] |
| 2009 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Cyrano | Dual title roles in repertory; multi-role season.[71][63] |
| 2014 | King Lear | King Lear | Title role directed by Antoni Cimolino, May to October.[72][73] |
| 2014 | The Beaux' Stratagem | Archer | Restoration comedy role, July to October; multi-role season.[63] |
| 2022 | The Miser | Harper | Molière lead in a world premiere adaptation.[63][74] |
| 2022 | Richard III | Richard III | Title role directed by Antoni Cimolino, opening the Tom Patterson Theatre in May.[75][76] |