Mark Day (actor)

Mark Day
Mark Day in 2018 at TIFF
Born (1978-10-04) October 4, 1978 (age 46)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Broadcaster
Years active1999–present
Spouse
Kelly Hope Taylor
(m. 2010)
Children2
WebsiteMark Day Official Web Site

Mark Day (born October 4, 1978) is a Canadian actor and broadcaster from Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia.[1]

Career

[edit]

1999–2004: Halifax and Toronto

[edit]

In the fall of 1999, Day moved to Halifax and made his feature film debut as a young fisherman in the 2000 film Deeply starring Kirsten Dunst. His other early film roles include Songs in Ordinary Time starring Sissy Spacek and Beau Bridges,[2] A Glimpse of Hell starring James Caan, Julie Walking Home starring Miranda Otto and A Hole in One starring Meat Loaf and Michelle Williams.[3]

While on the set of the TV movie, The Pilot's Wife, Day met actor Dax Ravina. The two formed a close friendship and collaborated with director Jay Dahl on two award-winning short films.[3]

The first, Backjumping was shot in Halifax in the fall of 2003. It's described as fast-paced, clips over documentary interviews with Mike and Cameron, two sport fanatics who have tried and mastered it all. Feeling bored and unchallenged, they are looking for the next big thing in extreme sports.[4]

The film debuted at the BFI London Film Festival and went on to win several best film awards around the world.

Following the success of Backjumping, Day, Ravina and Dahl reunited to film Boyclops, a comedy chronicling the trials of a one-eyed teenager engaged in an epic athletic contest with a two-eyed rival.[3][5]

The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival and Atlantic Film Festival in 2004.[3]

Shortly after the film's release, Mark moved to Toronto.[3]

2004–2008: Toronto

[edit]

Shortly after moving to Toronto, he landed a recurring role on the critically praised Showcase Television sitcom It's Me...Gerald.[6]

In 2005, Day co-starred in the CBC Television pilot Cheap Draft, reuniting him with Dax Ravina and award-winning filmmaker Jay Dahl.[3]

While shooting Cheap Draft, he auditioned for the 8-part, one hour mini series October 1970. Day was offered a supporting lead role, playing Mark Lepage, Pierre Laporte's cabinet aide.[7] The show aired on CBC and was based on the October Crisis in Quebec involving the terrorist activities of the FLQ.[3]

In 2006, Day co-hosted the inaugural season of CBC's Hockeyville.[8] Mark traveled across Canada, meeting with communities vying for a chance to win $100,000 in arena upgrades and a National Hockey League hockey game. The initial four episodes were shot at the Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, with the final three episodes shot in Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena & Skating Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.

In 2008, Mark portrayed Leon Weeks in the CTV/CBS co-production police drama series Flashpoint[9] (Ep.317 "The Good Citizen"). Shortly after shooting Flashpoint, Day landed a role in the pilot episode of the A&E drama series Breakout Kings, playing the role of Jimbo Cantrell.

2009–Present: Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal

[edit]

In 2009, Day appeared in the first of five season's on CBC Television The Ron James Show. He played various roles in 54 episodes of the comedy series, including the voices of Pa James[9] and Cousin Davey in the L'il Ronnie cartoons.

After taking some time off from acting in 2014, Day returned to the screen in The Art of More, working alongside Dennis Quaid; Jacob's Wrath, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017; and Mommy's Little Angel in 2018. His feature film credits include; Fatman, Mafia Inc and the upcoming thriller Misanthrope starring Shailene Woodley.

He has several films in development as writer and producer, the first of which is based on the death of his best friend when he was 13 years old.

Mark Day is also an award winning News Anchor and Talk Show Host on CityNews in Ottawa.

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Deeply Tough Hal 2000 Toronto International Film Festival
2000 Songs in Ordinary Time Teen 1 CBS Television Studios
2001 Lexx Soldier Evans Sci-Fi
2001 Liocracy Jim's Son Comedy Network
2001 A Glimpse of Hell Sailor 2 FX
2002 K-19: The Widowmaker Russian Sailor 2 Toronto International Film Festival
2002 Julie Walking Home Priest Harper 2001 Toronto International Film Festival
2003 Backjumping Mike Pringle Short Film, BFI London Film Festival
2003 Hole in One Mark Tribeca Film Festival
2004 Boyclops Johnny 2004 Toronto International Film Festival
2004 Don't Break Up With Megan Rodney Atlantic Film Festival
2004 ReGenesis Sam Global Television Network
2005 It's Me...Gerald Brad 5 Episodes, Showcase
2005 Cheap Draft Leggs Pilot, CBC Television
2005 Devil's Perch Vikerton TV Pilot
2006 Hockeyville Host 7 Episodes, CBC Television
2006 Heartstopper Medical Examiner Feature Film
2007 October 1970 Mark Lepage 8 Episodes, CBC Television
2007 Adam Avenger Tapps Canadian Film Centre
2008 Flashpoint Leon Weeks CTV Television Network
2008 Breakout Kings Jimbo Cantrell A&E
2009-2014 The Ron James Show Various 43 Episodes, CBC Television
2015 To Each His Own Devil Mike Feature Film
2016 Jacob's Wrath Officer Murray Short, Cannes Film Festival
2016 The Art of More Doctor Crackle
2017 Pregnant at 17 Clarke Lifetime
2018 His Master's Voice Agent James Feature Film
2018 The Detectives Officer Bugging CBC Television, Episode: S01E02 "Project Hitchhiker"
2018 Mommy's Little Angel Ben Gilby Lifetime
2019 Twisted Officer Church
2020 Mafia Inc. Billy McMahon Feature Film
2020 Candy Cain Christmas Greg Hansen Hallmark
2020 Fatman Soldier Feature Film
2020 The Detectives Officer Higginbottom CBC Television, Episode: S03E03 "Starting Over"
2021 Daddy's Perfect Little Girl Peter Green Lifetime
2023 To Catch a Killer Titch Feature Film
2023 Lilly Skoffin Feature Film
2023 Transplant Roy CTV/NBC Television
2023 Streams Flow from A River Immigration Officer Bell/TMN Television

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Port Hawkesbury actor feeling effects of Cdn film, TV and radio workers strike" by Greg McNeil, Cape Breton Post (10 Jan, 2007) Retrieved from ProQuest 344826541
  2. ^ Songs in Ordinary Time (2000) Film details & synopsis at bfi.org.uk
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Mark Day – Biography". 2006. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023.
  4. ^ "A case of Day-ja vu" by Chris Connors, Cape Breton Post (29 Dec, 2005) Retrieved from ProQuest 344793356
  5. ^ "Port Hawkesbury actor stars in new TV series" by Lindsay Jones, Cape Breton Post (8 Sept, 2005) Retrieved from ProQuest 344782035
  6. ^ "It's me, a--hole" by LindsayJones, The Daily News (4 Sept, 2005) Retrieved from ProQuest 343431961
  7. ^ "Day lands role in October 1970 mini-series" at the Cape Breton Post (27 Oct, 2005) Retrieved from ProQuest 344786590
  8. ^ "Welcome to Hockeyville" by Chris Connors, Cape Breton Post (5 April, 2006) Retrieved from ProQuest 344809744
  9. ^ a b "What Flashpoint fans are saying as Canadian cop drama goes off duty" by Etan Vlessing at playbackonline.ca
[edit]