Gordon Pinsent, the popular Canadian actor who starred in Away From Her and Blacula, is dead

Gordon Pinsent, a veteran of Canada‘s film and television industry, has died at age 92.

The actor, who was best known for his leading role in Sarah Polley’s drama Away From Her and numerous Canadian television shows, died in his sleep on Saturday, his family confirmed via Deadline.

‘Gordon Pinsent’s daughters Leah and Beverly, and his son Barry, would like to announce the passing of their father peacefully in sleep today with his family at his side,’ read a note penned by the actor Peter Keleghan, who was Pinsent’s son-in-law.

‘Gordon passionately loved this country and its people, purpose, and culture to his last breath,’ he added.

Although Pinsent spent the majority of his career working in Canadian productions, some of his best known films were American productions, including the 1968 Norman Jewison–directed version of The Thomas Crown Affair and the classic blaxploitation film Blacula (1972), in which he played a detective on the tale of the eponymous vampire.

Film and TV star: Gordon Pinsent, a veteran of Canada’s film and television industry, has died at age 92. He starred in Sarah Polley’s film Away From Her and several Canadian TV shows; seen in 2016 in Toronto

Other major projects included Babar: The Movie (1989), in which he voiced the title character, whom he would play in subsequent television adaptations for years to come. 

In 1970, he played the President of the United States in the cult science fiction thriller Colossus: The Forbin Project, and he played a gang leader opposite Warren Oates in the 1971 neo-noir Chandler.

Pinsent was a jack of all trades, and in 1974 he wrote a novel that served as the basis for his screenplay to 1986’s John And The Missus, which he also directed and starred in.

He appeared with an all-star cast in 2001’s The Shipping News, but his most acclaimed role was likely in 2006’s Away From Her.

The film, which was adapted from a short story by the Canadian Nobel Prize in Literature winner Alice Munro, starred Pinsent as the husband of an aging woman (played by Julie Christie) who begins to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Pinsent’s character, who cheated on his wife in the past, has her moved to a nursing home, but she forgets their marriage completely in the first 30 days away from him, before turning to another resident for companionship.

The film was acclaimed by critics and nominated at the 80th Academy Awards for Best Actress for Christie’s role and Best Adapted Screenplay for Polley’s writing. 

Pinsent was also awarded best actor trophies for his role by the Genie Awards and the ACTRA Awards, which are both Canadian ceremonies.

Pinsent, who was born on July 12, 1930, spent four years in the Canadian Army in the 1950s, before turning to the stage in the following decade.

Although Pinsent spent most of his time in Canada, he lived in Los Angeles for six years, according to Deadline. 

Leading man: Pinsent’s most acclaimed leading role was in 2006’s Away From Her (pictured), directed by Sarah Polley and based on an Alice Munro short story. He played a man whose wife — suffering from Alzheimer’s — forgets him after moving to a nursing home

South of the border: Other major American films included The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and the sci-fi thriller cult classic Colossus: The Forbin Project; seen in 2012

In addition to being an actor, novelist, director and screenwriter, he also was a playwright and a well-regarded painter. 

In 2017, he was the subject of the documentary The River Of My Dreams. 

Pinsent was married to Charmion King from 1962 until her death from emphysema in 2007, a year after his Away From Her triumph. 

He is survived by his daughter Leah and her husband Peter Keleghan, both of whom are actors, his daughter Beverly and his son Barry, who is also an actor.