Ari Millen Explained

Ari Millen
Birth Date:19 January 1982
Birth Place:Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2007–present

Ari Millen (born January 19, 1982) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his performance as numerous clones in the Space and BBC America science fiction television series Orphan Black (2014–2017), for which he won a Canadian Screen Award in 2016.[1]

Early life

Millen was born in Kingston, Ontario. As a child he aspired to play in the National Hockey League until, at the age of 17, a friend offered him a part in a small play and he decided to pursue performing arts instead. In secondary school at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, he spent his Ontario Academic Credit year studying theatre. He subsequently attended Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University)'s Theatre School and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.[2]

Career

Millen signed with a talent agency in his fourth year of university, and one of his first roles was in a 2008 episode of the television series ReGenesis. In September 2008 he appeared in a Halifax production of Vern Thiessen's play Vimy, and in December 2008 he was cast in The Veil, a play written by Shahin Sayadi. The Veil opened in Halifax before relocating to Iran in January 2009, where the play was featured in Tehran's Fajr International Theater Festival.[2] From 2010 to 2013, Millen appeared in a variety of small roles in the television series Nikita, Rookie Blue and State of Syn, as well as the horror films Monster Brawl and Exit Humanity.

In August 2013 he successfully auditioned for a role on the second season of the science fiction series Orphan Black, after two unsuccessful auditions during the show's first season.[3] It was announced in October 2013 that he had got the role of Mark.[4] He spent six months filming Orphan Black second season, which aired in 2014, and returned for the third season in 2015.[3] He was upgraded to the main cast in roles depicting the various Castor clones. At PaleyFest on October 18, 2015, it was confirmed that Millen would be returning for season four.[5] He made a guest appearance in Reign in 2014.

In 2016, Millen won a Canadian Screen Award for his work on Orphan Black.[1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008Makeout!UnknownShort
2011Monster BrawlDr. Igora
2011Exit HumanityWayne
2012EmbryonicChad Konerko
2014EjectaAgent Rudder
2014HellmouthHarry
2015Farhope TowerHenry
2015The HexecutionersCharles Ivey
2016RuptureDr. Raxlen
2017DarkenMartin
2017Hunter's MoonRemy
2018The Death and Life of John F. DonovanBig Billy
2018I'll Take Your DeadReggie
2020The Oak RoomMichael
2020Vicious FunBob
2023The Boy in the WoodsAleksey

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007The Smart Woman Survival GuideAirport SecurityEpisode #3.39
2008ReGenesisGreg FitzsimmonsEpisode #4.6
2010NikitaRonnieEpisode #1.2
2012Rookie BlueTaylor 'TK' HickmanEpisode #3.6
2013State of SynHawk4 episodes
2013DarknetJack the ThugEpisode #1.6
2013PlayedLiamEpisode #1.8
2014Katie ChatsHimself2 episodes
2014ReignFake King Francis/RogerEpisode #2.6
2014-17Orphan BlackMark Rollins / Ira / Various Recurring (season 2), main (seasons 3-5)
2015Buzz: AT&T Original DocumentariesHimself1 episode
201512 MonkeysAdam Wexler2 episodes
201611.22.63DickieEpisode #1.2
2016Canadian Screen AwardsHimselfTelevision Special
2017Murdoch MysteriesAgent TannerEpisode #10.14
2018The ExpanseStanni3 episodes
2020Hudson and RexKai Dunn1 episode

Notes and References

  1. News: Movie also wins Best Actress and Best Actor for media darling Jacob Tremblay.. Barnard. Linda. 2016-03-13. The Toronto Star. 0319-0781. 2016-04-07.
  2. Web site: Theatre role an exciting stage in actor's life. Kingston Whig-Standard. Melissa. Desousa. 11 February 2009. 29 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040014/http://www.thewhig.com/2009/02/11/theatre-role-an-exciting-stage-in-actors-life. 4 March 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: Kingston actor living the dream. 20 April 2014. Kingston Whig-Standard. Julia. McKay. 29 June 2014.
  4. Web site: Orphan Black Exclusive: Nashville, Nikita Actors Among Season 2's New Additions. TVLine. Michael. Ausiello. 11 October 2013. 29 June 2014.
  5. Web site: 'Orphan Black' Cast & Co-Creator On Season 4, Feminism And Representation – New York PaleyFest. Deadline Hollywood. Ross A.. Lincoln. 18 October 2015. 18 October 2015.