Peter Spence (actor) explained

Peter Spence is a Canadian film and television actor. He is most noted for his roles as the title character in the 1986 television film The Truth About Alex, one of the first television films ever to address the subject of gay youth,[1] and as Jessie in the 1984 film Unfinished Business, for which he received a Genie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 6th Genie Awards in 1985.[2]

Career

Spence's first role was in the CBC Television drama series Home Fires, as Sidney Lowe;[3] during this time, he also appeared in episodes of Hangin' In and The Littlest Hobo. After Home Fires wrapped production in 1983, Spence enrolled at York University, but quickly dropped out after being cast in the films Unfinished Business and The Bay Boy. After completing those films, he moved to New York City to complete his acting education at Circle in the Square Theatre School, sharing an apartment at that time with his Bay Boy castmates Kiefer Sutherland and Leah Pinsent; in 1985, Spence appeared in the film Crazy Moon, playing Sutherland's brother for the second time.[4]

Following The Truth About Alex, Spence moved back to Toronto. He has continued to act, primarily in television films and series guest roles. He appeared most recently in the 2016 film The History of Love. Spence was also a story consultant for the 2019 film Tito.

Filmography

Film

Notes
1984Unfinished BusinessJessie 'Fixit'
1984data-sort-value="Bay Boy, The" The Bay BoyJoe Campbell
1985Blue LineMyles
1987Crazy MoonCleveland
1998ClutchLarry
2008One WeekDoctor
2015Crimson PeakManager
2016data-sort-value="History of Love, The" The History of LoveBernard Moritz
2017CardinalsJonah PastekhAlso story editor

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981, 1982Hangin' InJeff / Brian2 episodes
1983data-sort-value="Littlest Hobo, The" The Littlest HoboDavid LeonardEpisode: "Second Sight"
1984data-sort-value="Matter of Sex, A" A Matter of SexYoung ManTelevision film
1985data-sort-value="Undergrads, The" The UndergradsSteve Holmes
1986Loose EndsAdam
1986data-sort-value="Magical World of Disney, The" The Magical World of DisneyJeffEpisode: "Young Again"
1986data-sort-value="Edison Twins, The" The Edison TwinsPeter BridgesEpisode: "The Initiation"
1986data-sort-value="Truth About Alex, The" The Truth About AlexAlex PragerTelevision film
1987, 1988Alfred Hitchcock PresentsJerry / Andrew / Duke2 episodes
1988data-sort-value="Campbells, The" The CampbellsAlf WhitakerEpisode: "Of Fathers and Sons"
1989T. and T.DavidEpisode: "Family Honour"
1990data-sort-value="Last Best Year, The" The Last Best YearJackTelevision film
1990Street LegalJeffrey ChernoffEpisode: "Softsell"
1990Scales of JusticeCharles JordanEpisode #1.12
1992Secret ServiceAgent PhillipsEpisode: "The Banker and the Belle/Car Wars"
1993Beyond RealityRobert WalliceEpisode: "Let's Play House"
1995Choices of the HeartDriver at PortTelevision film
1995TekWarPeterEpisode: "Zero Tolerance"
2000Harlan County WarMike McKennaTelevision film
2001Blue MurderDrew MilroyEpisode: "Homeless"
2003Control FactorTrevor ConstantineTelevision film
2003Odyssey 5David HovicEpisode: "Rage"
2004Urban Myth ChillersMarkEpisode: "À malin, malin et demi"
2008data-sort-value="Summit, The" The SummitPhil2 episodes
2014data-sort-value="Strain, The" The StrainRichardEpisode: "The Box"
2015HannibalMr. LombardEpisode: "The Great Red Dragon"
2015data-sort-value="Expanse, The" The ExpanseMormon ElderEpisode: "CQB"

Notes and References

  1. Stephen Tropiano, The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2002. . p. 169.
  2. "Bay Boy reels in 11 Genie nominations". The Globe and Mail, February 15, 1985.
  3. Peter Kenter and Martin Levin, TV North: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Canadian Television. Whitecap Books, 2001. . p. 77.
  4. "'Moon' Goes for the Heart--and Misses". Los Angeles Times, December 11, 1987.