Famous Canadians

Jerome Drayton (1945–2025), Boston Marathon winner

Jerome Drayton was one of the top long-distance runners of the 1970s and the last Canadian man to win the Boston Marathon. 

Dale Wilson (1950–2025), Dragon Ball Z, X-Men: Evolution voice actor

Dale Wilson was a voice actor best known for his work in the global hit series “Dragon Ball Z,” as well as animation like “Bionicle: Mask of Light,” “X-Men: Evolution,” and “Transformers” series.

Dayle Haddon (1948–2024), L'Oréal spokeswoman and actress

Dayle Haddon was a Canadian model-actress best known as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model and longtime L'Oréal spokeswoman.

Al MacNeil (1935–2025), Stanley Cup-winning hockey coach

Al MacNeil was a hockey player and NHL veteran who won four Stanley Cups as a coach and manager: three with the Montreal Canadiens and a fourth as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames.

Angus MacInnes (1947–2024), Star Wars’ Gold Leader

Angus MacInnes was a Canadian actor best known for playing Jon "Dutch" Vander, the Y-wing pilot Gold Leader in the original “Star Wars” film, as well as for giving audiences laughs in the comedy “Strange Brew.”

Chad Posthumus (1991–2024), Canadian basketball player

Chad Posthumus was a Canadian basketball player who played for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, among others, in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. 

Bill Hay (1935–2024), NHL Hall of Famer for Chicago Black Hawks

Bill Hay was a Hall of Fame hockey player best known for his eight seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks, including winning the NHL’s rookie of the year prize in 1960. 

Stephen Peat (1980–2024), former NHL enforcer

Stephen Peat was a right winger with the NHL’s Washington Capitals in the 2000s. 

Alex Janvier (1935–2024), one of Canada’s most renowned artists

Alex Janvier was a First Nations Canadian painter whose merging of Indigenous influences and modern art made him one of Canada’s most prized artists.

Ray St. Germain (1940–2024), well-known Winnipeg musician and TV host

Ray St. Germain was a popular Canadian musician and longtime host of Canadian television shows “Time for Living” and “Big Sky Country.” 

Maria De Aragon (1942–2024), actress who played Greedo in Star Wars

Maria De Aragon was a Canadian actress who worked in B movies in the 1970s before landing her best known – and uncredited – role, playing Greedo in “Star Wars.” 

Al Ruddy (1930–2024), Oscar-winning Godfather producer

Al Ruddy was an Oscar-winning producer who won acclaim for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby.” He also co-created the TV shows “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” 

Darren Dutchyshen (1966–2024), anchor on Canada’s The Sports Network 

Darren Dutchyshen was a longtime Canadian sports anchor best known as a mainstay on The Sports Network’s “Sportscentre.”

Alice Munro (1931–2024), Nobel Prize-winning writer

Alice Munro was a Nobel Prize-winning short story author whose acclaimed work focused on womanhood and rural living.

Ron Ellis (1945–2024), Stanley Cup champ with the Maple Leafs

Ron Ellis played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 16 seasons, including their Stanley Cup-winning year in 1967.

Bob Cole (1933–2024), Hall of Fame hockey broadcaster

Bob Cole was a Hall of Fame hockey commentator who was a mainstay on Canadian NHL broadcasts for 50 years.

Robert MacNeil (1931–2024), MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour co-anchor

Robert MacNeil was a Canadian-American journalist who co-founded the long running news program that is now known as “PBS NewsHour.” 

Chris Simon (1972–2024), Stanley Cup champ with Avalanche

Chris Simon was an NHL enforcer with such teams as the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, who won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche.

Eleanor Collins (1919–2024), Canada's First Lady of Jazz

Eleanor Collins was a jazz singer widely known as Canada's First Lady of Jazz, who broke ground on television when she became the first woman and first Black artist in Canada to host her own national television series, “The Eleanor Show.” 

Brian Mulroney (1939–2024), Canadian PM who improved ties with U.S. 

Brian Mulroney was a former Canadian prime minister who played an integral role in strengthening economic relations with the United States.

Chris Gauthier (1976–2024), actor in Once Upon a Time, Smallville

Chris Gauthier was a Canadian actor who played Smee in “Once Upon a Time” and Winslow Schott/Toyman in “Smallville,” among many other roles.

Nerene Virgin (1946–2024), star of Today’s Special 

Nerene Virgin was a Canadian actress and journalist who starred in the 1980s children’s TV show “Today’s Special.”

Norman Jewison (1926–2024), In the Heat of the Night director

Norman Jewison was the acclaimed director of "In the Heat of the Night," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "The Hurricane," known for confronting his audiences with racism and other social issues during a career spanning more than 50 years.

Shawn Barber (1994–2024), world champion pole vaulter 

Shawnacy “Shawn” Barber was a Canadian pole vaulter who won his event in both the World Championships and Pam American Games in 2015.

Gene Carr (1951–2023), former NHL player with the Kings, Rangers 

Gene Carr was an ice hockey forward in the NHL who played with the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, and he was known for his friendship with Eagles frontman .

Charles Officer (1975–2023), award-winning Canadian filmmaker

Charles Officer was an award-winning Canadian writer, documentarian, and filmmaker who was nominated for 10 Genie Awards for his 2008 film, “Nurse.Fighter.Boy,” and who directed episodes of “The Porter,” an historical drama series.

Chad Allan (1943–2023), founding member of the Guess Who

Chad Allan was a multi-instrumentalist musician who helped found Canadian rock band the Guess Who as their original lead singer.

George Cohon (1937–2023), founder of McDonald’s Canada

George Cohon was the founder of McDonald’s Canada who later brought the iconic hamburger chain to Russia.

Karl Tremblay (1976–2023), Les Cowboys Fringants singer

Karl Tremblay was the lead singer and cofounder of the Quebec folk rock band Les Cowboys Fringants.

Ryan Smolkin (1973–2023), founder of Smoke's Poutinerie

Ryan Smolkin was a restaurateur, entrepreneur, and social media personality who founded the restaurant chain Smoke's Poutinerie, with over 100 locations in Canada.

Hubert Reeves (1932–2023), celebrated astrophysicist and science icon 

Hubert Reeves was a Canadian astrophysicist who became a science icon thanks to his appearances on television shows and science documentaries, as well as his work discussing ecological issues. 

Chris Snow (1981–2023), NHL exec whose ALS fight was inspirational 

Chris Snow was the assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames who became an advocate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) awareness after he was diagnosed with the disease.

Bruce Guthro (1961–2023), singer for Runrig 

Bruce Guthro was a Canadian singer and songwriter with the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig in 1998, leading them through their greatest period of success until their disbandment in 2018.

Brad Maxwell (1957–2023), NHL All-Star with the North Stars

Brad Maxwell was a Canadian NHL defenseman who played for the Minnesota North Stars in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Alexandra Paul (1991–2023), Olympic ice skater

Alexandra Paul was a competitive ice dancer and figure skater who represented Canada in the 2014 Olympic Games.

Rick Jeanneret (1942–2023), Hall of Fame NHL broadcaster 

Rick Jeanneret was a Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Buffalo Sabres, the longest serving play-by-play announcer in NHL history. 

Bobby Baun (1936–2023), Toronto Maple Leafs hockey legend

Bobby Baun was a professional hockey player with the Toronto Maple Leafs who scored a game-winning goal in the 1964 Stanley Cup finals while skating on a broken ankle.

Sue Johanson (1930–2023), TV host and sex educator 

Sue Johanson was a Canadian sex educator known for her popular TV show, “Sunday Night Sex Show.”

Michel Cí´té (1950–2023), prominent Québécois actor

Michel Cí´té was a French-Canadian actor who starred in such movies as “C.R.A.Z.Y.” and “Cruising Bar.” 

Samantha Weinstein (1995–2023), actress in Carrie

Samantha Weinstein was a Canadian non-binary actress who starred in “Jesus Henry Christ” and appeared in the 2013 “Carrie” remake.

Gerry Hart (1948–2023), NHL player for Islanders, Red Wings

Gerry Hart was a Canadian hockey defenseman with NHL teams including the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. 

Gordon Lightfoot (1938–2023), Canadian folk-rock legend

Gordon Lightfoot was the Canadian folk-rock legend whose international hit songs included “Sundown,” “Rainy Day People,” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Tim Bachman (1951–2023), Bachman-Turner Overdrive founding guitarist 

Tim Bachman was a guitarist who co-founded the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO). 

Ron Cahute (1955–2023), folk musician with Burya

Ron Cahute was a Ukrainian-Canadian folk singer and accordionist who recorded with the band Burya.

Sharon Acker (1935–2023), Point Blank, Perry Mason actress

Sharon Acker was an actress known for movies and TV shows including “Point Blank” and “The New Perry Mason.”  

Lynn Seymour (1939–2023), renowned ballerina

Lynn Seymour was an acclaimed ballerina with London’s Royal Ballet, hailed as one of the greatest of her time.

Gordon Pinsent (1930–2023), prolific Canadian actor

Gordon Pinsent was a Canadian actor known for movies and TV shows including “Away from Her” and “The Red Green Show.”

George R. Robertson (1933–2023), Police Academy’s Chief Hurst

George R. Robertson was an actor best known for playing Chief/Commissioner Henry Hurst in the first six “Police Academy” movies.

Floyd Sneed (1942–2023), Three Dog Night drummer

Floyd Sneed was the drummer for Three Dog Night, known for hits including “Joy to the World” and “Mama Told Me Not to Come.”