John Dunsworth


Biography

Born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia in 1946, Canadian actor John Dunsworth was one of ten children. He was drifting after high school, having dropped out of one university and started at another, when he took drama as an elective and found a course for the rest of his life. After spending a few years working on stage in Halifax, Dunsworth landed his first on screen role in the little seen C...

Biography

Born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia in 1946, Canadian actor John Dunsworth was one of ten children. He was drifting after high school, having dropped out of one university and started at another, when he took drama as an elective and found a course for the rest of his life. After spending a few years working on stage in Halifax, Dunsworth landed his first on screen role in the little seen Canadian film "Deep Sea Conspiracy" (1987). He continued to toil in supporting roles in film and TV, acting on shows like "The Jim Henson Hour" (NBC, 1989). In 1997, Dunsworth appeared in a TV movie called "Pit Pony" (1997), a period piece set around a coal mine. Dunsworth stayed with the cast when the film became a TV series, launching the career of a young Ellen Page. The following year, Dunsworth appeared in a short film called "One Last Shot" (1998), creating the role of trailer park manager Jim Lahey. The short would become the genesis of the series "Trailer Park Boys" (Showcase, 2001-07; Netflix, 2014-), which would go on to become of the most successful Canadian comedies of the period, airing on Canadian television from 2001-2007, then rebooted by Netflix in 2014. Dunsworth also had substantial roles on the TV series "Haven" (Showcase/Syfy, 2010-15), and was a regular on "Forgive Me" (Super Channel, 2013) a series following the life of a small town priest. Dunsworth passed away in 2017.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Swearnet Live (2014)
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2008)
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (2005)
The Hunt for the BTK Killer (2005)
Ambulance Girl (2005)
Robert B. Parker's Stone Cold (2005)
Blessings (2003)
Deputy
The Christmas Shoes (2002)
Dr. Julian
Too Young To Be a Dad (2002)
Manager
The Shipping News (2001)
The Real Howard Spitz (1998)
Sweet Angel Mine (1996)
Billy Lee Davis
Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story (1991)
1st Attorney

Art Department (Feature Film)

The Magic of Marciano (2000)
Set Decorator

Casting (Feature Film)

Bailey's Mistake (2001)
Casting
A Rumor of Angels (2000)
Casting
The Magic of Marciano (2000)
Casting
Deeply (2000)
Casting
Blue Moon (1999)
Casting (Halifax)
The Real Howard Spitz (1998)
Casting
Titanic (1997)
Extras Agent/Coordinator
Love and Death on Long Island (1997)
Casting
The Hanging Garden (1997)
Casting Director (Halifax)
Calm at Sunset (1996)
Local Casting
Sweet Angel Mine (1996)
Casting (Halifax)
Two If by Sea (1996)
Extras Agent/Coordinator
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Casting (Nova Scotia)
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Extras Casting
Mary Silliman's War (1994)
Casting (Halifax)
Buried on Sunday (1992)
Casting
Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story (1991)
Casting

Location Casting (Feature Film)

The Secret (1992)
Location Casting

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Reversible Errors (2004)
Ike
A Glimpse of Hell (2001)
Three Days (2001)
Tales From a Parallel Universe: I Worship His Shadow (1997)

Casting (TV Mini-Series)

Harlequin's Loving Evangeline (1998)
Casting
Tales From a Parallel Universe: Eating Pattern (1997)
Casting
Tales From a Parallel Universe: Super Nova (1997)
Casting
Tales From a Parallel Universe: I Worship His Shadow (1997)
Casting

Life Events

1987

Made feature debut as Mark in "Deep Sea Conspiracy"

1997

Was cast on many episodes of "Lexx"

1999

Played Jack Doyle on "Pit Pony"

2001

Had breakout role as Jim Lahey on "Trailer Park Boys"

2004

Reprised Jim Lahey role in "The Trailer Park Boys Christmas Special"

2006

Reprised Lahey yet again for "Trailer Park Boys: The Movie"

2010

Played Dave Teagues on "Haven"

2013

Appeared as Prelate on "Forgive Me"

Bibliography