Yannick Denis Bisson[1] (born May 16, 1969) is a Canadian film and television actor and director. He is famous for playing Detective William Murdoch on the series Murdoch Mysteries for over 15 years, since 2008.[2]

Yannick Bisson
Bisson in 2011
Born
Yannick Denis Bisson

(1969-05-16) May 16, 1969 (age 55)
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1984–present
Known forMurdoch Mysteries
Spouse
Shantelle Bisson (aka Chantal Craig)
(m. 1990)
Children3

Early life

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Bisson was born in Montreal, Quebec, and is of French and English ancestry.[3] He moved to Toronto, Ontario, as a teenager and his acting career began when he was still in high school. His father, noting his son's interest in acting, encouraged him to reply to a newspaper advertisement seeking "child actors".[4]

Career

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Bisson's first major role was in the 1984 CBC movie of the week Hockey Night, alongside Megan Follows and Rick Moranis. He starred in the Canadian television series Learning the Ropes from 1988 through 1989. From 1994 through 1997, he starred in the syndicated action series High Tide, co-starring Rick Springfield. He moved back from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1998 when he was cast as the lead in CBC'S Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy. From 2000 though 2004, he had a recurring role as attorney Brian Tedrow on the Showtime drama Soul Food.[citation needed]

He starred as FBI agent Jack Hudson in the PAX TV series Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye[5][6] and in the short-lived CBC drama Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy.[7]

He appeared on Falcon Beach in season two as well as in several Lifetime cable movies, such as Crazy for Christmas and I do (but I don't), and the Disney Channel movie Genius.[8] Bisson was a guest star on Flashpoint[9] and starred in the television movies Brothers by Choice and Keshan. He appeared as Jon in all of the Roxy Hunter movies to date. Bisson is featured in a series of commercials for CIBC. He starred in the 2001 TV movie Loves Music, Loves to Dance based on the book by Mary Higgins Clark. He provided the voice of Ferdie in the children's animated series Maxie's World.[citation needed]

Bisson plays the lead in the CBC Television drama series Murdoch Mysteries[10] and made his directorial debut with the show's fourth-season episode "Buffalo Shuffle".[11]

Starting on December 30, 2013, Bisson starred as a preschool teacher in The Adventures of Napkin Man on CBC Television.[12]

Bisson was awarded the Fan's Choice Award at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards on March 13, 2016.[13] Murdoch Mysteries has been awarded several Canadian Screen Award Golden Screen Awards in 2017, 2018 and 2020.[14]

Bisson played as Martin Bartell, in Hallmark Channel's Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. He is introduced in "Three Bedrooms, One Corpse" as a CIA agent Bartell who moves to town, falls in love with Teagarden, and later dates her. Bisson left the series in 2018 as his character does not feature in the later novels.

Bisson received the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence in 2017 for his lifetime of work.[15][16]

Bisson was the host of Discovery Canada Channel's Star Racer reality show.[17][18]

Personal life

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Bisson is married to Chantal Craig,[19][20] a former actress, model, Toronto Argonauts Cheerleader, and fitness instructor who currently works as a television content creator and writer.[21]

The couple met in high school and married in 1990.[3] They have three daughters: Brianna, Dominique and Mikaela.[22][23] Craig made guest appearances on two of Bisson's television series, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye and Murdoch Mysteries. Their daughter played "Penny Renton" in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries entitled "Love and Human Remains." Dominique Bisson had a part as Gloria Abercrombie in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries, season 2, entitled "Snakes and Ladders". Craig is now known as Shantelle Bisson, a producer, author, parenting expert and regular contributor to Zoomer Magazine. She is the owner of Shantilly's Place, a marina in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario. [citation needed]

Yannick Bisson is also an avid bicyclist and bicycle collector.[24] He formerly worked as a builder between acting jobs to support his family.[25]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Hockey Night Spear Kozak
1986 Toby McTeague Toby
My Pet Monster Rod Video
Where's Pete Pete Short film
1999 Velocity Trap Franklin J. Robinson
2004 Some Things That Stay Dr. Ostrum
2005 Crazy For Christmas Peter Archer
2008 Animal 2 Dillen
Nothing Really Matters Leo
2010 Casino Jack Oscar Carillo
2012 Your Side of the Bed Steve
2016 Static Billy Short film
Year by the Sea Cahoon
Another WolfCop Swallows
2018 Hellmington Professor Freeborn
2020 Anything for Jackson Rory
A Perfect Plan Gerry

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Hockey Night Spear Kozak TV film
1986 Brothers by Choice Scott
1986–88 Danger Bay Larry / Todd 2 episodes
1987 First Offender Jeff TV film
Night Heat Regan Episode: "The Kid"
Maxie's World Ferdie (voice)
1988 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ty Episode: "Twisted Sisters"
Learning the Ropes Mark Randall Main role, 13 episodes
1989 Pray for Me, Paul Henderson Mike Stanoulis
Rookies Corey
Street Legal Lennie Smith Episode: "Complex Offer"
1991 Gold: The World's Play Johnny TV film
Gold: The Merchants of Venice
Gold: The Dynamiters
Gold: Frenchie's Gold
Gold: A Fistful of Gold
1991–93 The Hidden Room John / Glenn 2 episodes
1992 Tropical Heat Harry Jr. Episode: "Double Fault"
The Ray Bradbury Theater Roger (ages 18–22) Episode: "Some Live Like Lazarus"
Catwalk Nick Episode: "Here Today"
1993 Matrix Rick Beals Episode: "Blindside"
Top Cops Mike Sheehan Episode: "Craig Gravel and Jerry Jones/Mike Sheehan and Stephen Davis"
1994 The Forget-Me-Not Murders Greg Gale TV film
1994–97 High Tide Joey Barrett Main role, 63 episodes
1995 Young at Heart Joey TV film
1999 Genius Mike MacGregor
Relic Hunter Stavros Vordalos Episode: "Myth of the Maze"
1999–2000 Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy Richmond P. Hobson, Jr. Main role, 26 episodes
2000 The Moving of Sophia Myles Rev. Young TV film
2000–04 Soul Food Brian Tedrow Recurring role, 14 episodes
2001 The Pretender 2001 NSA Agent Edward Ballinger TV film
Twice in a Lifetime Julian Fanshaw Episode: "Mama Mia"
Mutant X Richard Saunders Episode: "Fool for Love"
Undergrads Crougar / Stoner Dave (voice) Recurring role, 10 episodes
Loves Music, Loves to Dance Charley / Paul Nash TV film
The Day Reagan Was Shot Buddy Stein
2002–05 Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye Jack Hudson Main role, 56 episodes
2003 See Jane Date Max Garrett TV film
Missing Bruce Skeller Episode: "Thin Air"
Playmakers Police Detective Episode: "Choice: Part 1"
2004 I Do (But I Don't) James "Jay" Corina TV film
2005 Kevin Hill Austin Brooks Episode: "Sacrificial Lambs"
Crazy for Christmas Peter Archer TV film
2006 The Secrets of Comfort House Curtis
2007 Falcon Beach Michael Prescott 4 episodes
The Dresden Files Sergeant Darren Munzer Episode: "Second City"
Roxy Hunter and the Mystery of the Moody Ghost Jon Steadman TV film
2008 Roxy Hunter and the Secret of the Shaman
Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid
Roxy Hunter and the Horrific Halloween
Urban Vermin No-neck 2 episodes
2008–present Murdoch Mysteries Det. William Murdoch Main role, 155 episodes
Produced 75 episodes
Directed six episodes
Nominated – ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance – Ensemble (2017)[26]
2009 Too Late to Say Goodbye Bobby Corbin TV film
2010 Flashpoint Philip Sobol Episode: "Jumping at Shadows"
2011 The Listener Keith Shelton Episode: "Vanished"
2012 My Mother's Secret Dennis Coulson TV film
Beauty and the Beast Alex Webster Episode: "Pilot"
Royal Canadian Air Farce Det. William Murdoch Episode: "Air Farce New Year's Eve 2012"
2013 This Hour Has 22 Minutes Himself Guest host
Season 20 episode 18
2013–14 The Adventures of Napkin Man! Napkin Man
Mister Anthony
Mister Newman
Main role, 52 episodes
Co-executive produced 14 episodes
Won – Canadian Screen Award for Best Host in a Pre-School, Children's or Youth Program or Series (2015)[27]
2014 Republic of Doyle Det. Bill Murdoch Episode: "If the Shoe Fits"
2016 Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Martin Bartell TV film
The Julius House: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
2017 Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
2018 Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

References

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  1. ^ @yannick_bisson (May 8, 2013). "What does the D stand for in your middle name" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Yannick Bisson Reflects on 16 Incredible Seasons of Murdoch". www.thefandomentals.com. April 13, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Zekas, Rita (December 29, 1991). "All-Canadian Guy Trades Skates for Horse". Toronto Star. p. C2.
  4. ^ Wesley, David (May 17, 1986). "Yannick Bisson: The Next Michael J. Fox?". Montreal Gazette. p. T8.
  5. ^ "Interview with Yannick Bisson by Kees Boer". www.positive-entertainment.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  6. ^ Romanko, Karen A (March 2016). Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters: 600 Characters and Shows, 1950s to the Present. Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub. p. 204. ISBN 978-0786496372. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  7. ^ "Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy – TV Show, Episode Guide & Schedule". TWC Central. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Grant, Stacey (June 22, 2016). "16 Questions I Had After Rewatching The Disney Channel Original Movie Genius". mtv.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  9. ^ "Flashpoint: Jumping At Shadows". The Great Dark Wonder. September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  10. ^ "Yannick Bisson on the staying power of 'Murdoch Mysteries'". Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "'Murdoch' mysteries revealed". tvguide.ca. July 28, 2010. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  12. ^ "New Show! Napkin Man is Coming Next Month – CBC Parents". Cbc.ca. November 19, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards 2016: Murdoch Mysteries' Yannick Bisson Is The Fan's Choice". HuffPost Canada. March 14, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Frey, Erin (May 29, 2020). "Murdoch Mysteries". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "2017 Award of Excellence | ACTRA Toronto". www.actratoronto.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Yannick Bisson receives ACTRA Award of Excellence". tribute.ca. February 26, 2017.
  17. ^ "Discovery Channel Goes Full Throttle with Star Racer – Search for Canada's Best Racer Takes to the Track Oct. 24". bce.ca. September 21, 2006. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  18. ^ "Star Racer". tv.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  19. ^ "Yannick Bisson and His Wife Tackle Raising 3 Teenage Daughters". Parents Canada. April 11, 2012.
  20. ^ Zekas, Rita (December 28, 2002). "F.B. Eye Spy Who Came Up from the Warm". Toronto Star. p. J8.
  21. ^ Zekas, Rita (August 30, 2014). "At Home With the Man of Mystery". Toronto Star. p. H1.
  22. ^ "Yannick Bisson biodata". Cbc.ca. March 21, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  23. ^ "At home with the man of mystery". thestar.com. Toronto Star. August 29, 2014.
  24. ^ "Murdoch Mysteries star Yannick Bisson sends it –". Canadian Cycling Magazine. April 6, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  25. ^ Leblanc, Dave (September 19, 2013). "Peek Inside the Home of TV's Detective Murdoch". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  26. ^ "2017 ACTRA Awards in Toronto Nominees | ACTRA Toronto". www.actratoronto.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  27. ^ Eng, David. "2015 Canadian Screen Awards – Winners in Drama, Children's or Youth, Comedy and Variety". chinokino.com. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
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