Northern Invasion: To What Extent Are Canadian Actors Influencing American Comedy?

John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Leslie Nielsen, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers. What do all of these actors have in common? Over the past three decades they’ve indelibly changed the comedic landscape within the American film industry.  Additionally, they’re all Canadian. This is nothing new of course. Since the days of SCTV and Kids in the Hall, Americans have been routinely infused with their northern neighbour’s unique brand of humor that can only be manufactured and perpetrated by true non-American outsiders.  However, slowly but surely over the last decade or so a new generation of Canadian thespians have been handed the comedic torch. A tight-knit cabal of actors and directors who’ve managed to co-opt an entire genre for themselves. And while readers may not agree with me entirely with my choices, what can’t be denied is the influence these handful of actors have in Hollywood when it comes to comedy today.

Ryan Reynolds

While at first I was reluctant to put Ryan Reynolds on this list at all I couldn’t help but think what comedy would be like without the breakthrough performance of Reynolds as the incomparable Van Wilder in the film National Lampoon’s Van Wilder back in 2002.  Reynolds was born in Vancouver in 1976 and quickly came to the attention of American audiences in the short-lived television series Two Guys, Two Girls, and a Pizza Place (1998-2001). Because Reynolds has appeared in many television shows and films early on in his career he is not considered strictly a comedic actor but rather commits himself to an eclectic variety of roles and genres.  In the last five years alone he’s appeared as a criminal thief in Foolproof (2003), a vampire hunter in Blade:Trinity (2004), a murderous father in The Amityville Horror (2005), and is slated to play Wade Wilson AKA Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine this May.

Will Arnett

Every once and a while an actor comes along whose comedic prowess can only be described as infectious.  Will Arnett was born in Toronto and attended Concordia University in Montreal for a semester before dropping out.  From there he moved to New York to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. However, it would be more than a decade before he’d receive his big break playing George Oscar Bluth II (better known as ‘G.O.B.’) on the hit TV series Arrested Development.

Since then he’s starred in a slew of films, which to date include supporting roles in Blades of Glory (2007) and Hot Rod (2007), and starring roles in Let’s Go to Prison (2006) and The Brothers Solomon (2007).  Arnett’s distinctive gravelly voice has also landed him voice-over work for commercials, film trailers, and even cartoons (lending his voice to the animated feature Horton Hears a Who! earlier this year). Recently, Arnett was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his recurring role as Devon Banks on the show 30 Rock and can be seen later this year in Spring Breakdown alongside his wife and co-star, Amy Poehler.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams was born in Toronto and attended York University, eventually earning a BFA with Honours in theatre.  While McAdams came to prominence with movies like The Notebook (2004) and Red Eye (2005) others consider her breakout performance in the film Mean Girls (2004) as Regina George, leader of the social group known as “The Plastics” opposite her rival Lindsey Lohan. Comedies are nothing new for McAdams. She has also starred in The Hot Chick (2002) with Rob Schneider, Wedding Crashers (2005) with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, and The Family Stone (2005) with Claire Danes and Diane Keaton.  McAdams can be seen later this year in the film version of The Time Traveler’s Wife (2008) set to be released this Christmas.

Jason Reitman

Jason Reitman was born in Montreal and is the son of legendary comedic director, Ivan Reitman. So it’s no secret that the son of such classics as Meatballs (1979), Ghostbusters (1984), Twins (1988), and Kindergarten Cop (1990) would follow in his father’s footsteps and come into his own someday. Reitman majored in English and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California, but it wouldn’t be until a decade later until Reitman would make his directorial debut with the film Thank You for Smoking (2005). He adapted the film from the 1994 novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley.  Similarly the movie contained an ensemble cast that included Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, William H. Macy, and Robert Duvall. His next picture Juno (2008) would prove to be a resounding success, earning over $200 million dollars from its modest budget of $6.5 million. The movie also garnered four Academy Awards nominations including a Best Director nomination for Reitman.

Michael Cera

Like fellow co-star Will Arnett, Michael Cera was born in Brampton, Ontario. While Cera became well-known to American audiences playing the awkwardly shy teen George-Michael Bluth in the show Arrested Development, it is this persona that has catapulted him to Hollywood stardom, most notably as Evan in the movie Superbad (2007) and Paulie Bleeker in the movie Juno (2008). However, it is worth noting that Cera has been working in television and film since age eleven, and a resume that includes films like Frequency (2000) and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002).  Cera can be seen this fall in the high-school comedy Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008).

Seth Rogen

Arguably, there is no comedian today with more influence in Hollywood today than Seth Rogen. Originally born in Vancouver, Rogen’s foray into acting began at age seventeen with a role in Judd Apatow’s short-lived series Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000).  This was quickly followed up by Apatow’s next series Undeclared (2001-2002).  While the show lasted only seventeen episodes, it not only showed Rogen to be a great actor, but proved that he was a formidable writer as well.

Shortly after joining the writing staff of the Da Ali G Show in its second season with longtime friend Evan Goldberg, he quickly earned an Emmy nomination in the ‘writing for a variety, music or comedy program’ category. Rogen’s breakthrough performance, however, came playing opposite Steve Carrel in The Forty Year Old Virgin (2005).  This was followed by a slew of successful comedies including Knocked Up (2007), Superbad (2007), and, most recently, Pineapple Express (2008), which has earned 50 million dollars in its first two weeks at the box office.

Humor has always remained a staple in Canada’s national identity. And while it is not uncommon to hear of Canadian actors and actresses heading to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune, what is clear is their involvement in the American comedy scene today. What we’re seeing occur is the next generation of Canadians taking up their rightful place in Hollywood, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.