Happy Canada Day

I offered to write a top 10 list on a Canadian topic for toptenz.net. The idea I eventually came up with was “Top 10 Canadian Characters on U.S. television.” I ended up doing a lot of research because I couldn’t find a compilation of these characters any where.

Canadians On American Television

It was easy to find lists on Canadian actors who appear in U.S. productions, TV characters in Canadian television, and lists of Canadian comedians. Wikipedia also has a category called Fictional Canadian People, which includes movies, comics, TV, but (surprisingly) not traditional fiction (hello… books?).

I worked pretty hard to come up with this list, so I thought I would share it. For my list of my top 10 favorite Canadian characters on American television, please visit toptenz.net.

Guidelines

All of the names on this list meet the following guidelines:

• 100% U.S. television series (cartoon, live action - no miniseries, TV movies, or co-productions)
• fictional show with fictional characters (not a news show, game show, docudrama, reality show)\
• characters are listed in the order of episodes they appeared in (most to least).

Wolverine (X-Men)

Various Actors (see below), 163 episodes, 1989 -2010

Wolverine and the X-Men: Steve Blum … Logan / … (26 episodes, 2008-2009)

The Super Hero Squad Show Steve Blum… (26 episodes, 2009-2010)

Black Panther, Kevin Michael Richardson, 1 episode 2010

X-Men Evolution: Scott McNeil, 41 episodes, 2000-2003

X-Men Cathal J. Dodd … Logan / … (66 episodes, 1992-1997)

Spiderman Cathal J. Dodd … Logan / … (2 episodes, 1995)

Pryde of the X-Men Patrick Pinney … Wolverine (except that he has an Australian accent!?) 1 episode,  1989

Wolverine is from Alberta.

Robin Scherbatsky (How I Met Your Mother)

Cobie Smulders, 112 episodes, 2005-2010

**bonus points because Cobie Smulders is actually Canadian

Shelly Tambo (Northern Exposure)

Cynthia Geary, 110 episodes, 1990-1995

The bar owner’s young girlfriend.

Dave Nelson (News Radio)

Dave Foley, 97 episodes, 1995-1999

**bonus points because Dave Foley is actually Canadian

Sgt Preston of the Yukon

Richard Simmons , 78 episodes, 1955-1958

Dudley Do-Right (Rocky and Bullwinkle)

Voice of Bill Scott, 39 episodes, 1969

Seth Bullock (Deadwood)

Timothy Olyphant, 36 episodes, 2004-2006

Brian (The Larry Sanders Show)

Scott Thompson, 35 episodes, 1995-1998

Ike Broslofski (South Park)

Voice of Sebastian Yu, 13 episodes 1997 - 2009

Eddie LeBec (Cheers)

Jay Thompson, 9 episodes, 1987-1989

Carla’s hockey player husband.

Mel Profitt (WiseGuy)

Kevin Spacey, 8 episodes, 1988

Danny Baker (30 Rock)

Cheyenne Jackson, 7 episodes, 2009-2010

Jacque Renault (Twin Peaks)

Walter Olkewicz, 3 episodes, 1990

French Canadian who deals cards, runs drugs, and tends bar.

Preston King (Twin Peaks)

Gavan O’Herlihy , 3 episodes, 1990-1991

A Mountie whose cocaine habit and murderous actions runs against normal stereotypes.

Donna (6 feet under)

Jayma Mays, 1 episode, 2005

Gullible, naive Canadian nanny. Quoting her employer in the show, Vanessa Diaz: Donna, you cannot bring strange people home. This isn’t Canada!

Honorary Mentions

Ike Broslofski (South Park)

Kyle’s adopted little brother, Sebastian Yu, 13 episodes 1997 - 2009)

Back-Stop (G.I. Joe Cartoon Series)

His real name is Robert A. Levin. Back-Stop was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Unable to confirm which of the many TV series he may have appeared on (not listed in the databases I searched).

Dick Solomon (3^rd Rock From The Sun)

He pretends to be Canadian but he’s actually an alien…

Kate Austen (Lost)

Played by real-life Canadian Evangeline Lily, 114 Episodes, 2004-2010. At first she said she was from Canada but then it came it out that she was from Iowa…

Did I miss anyone?

Let me know and I will add them! Happy Canada Day!

Sources:

http://www.pulpanddagger.com/movies/non-cantv.html

http://cultural-learnings.com/2010/02/08/a-canuck-in-an-american-sitcom-the-spatial-construction-of-canadian-identity-in-how-i-met-your-mother/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fictional_Canadian_people

http://www.longlostlist.net/listforum/main_character_profiles/Kate.htm