Chris Leavins is a Canadian actor[1] and writer based in Los Angeles. Known for playing Atticus Murphy, Jr. the malevolent school guidance counselor on cult TV series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.[2] He has appeared in a number of successful Canadian television shows, been nominated for two Gemini Awards and shared in a Gemini Award for Ensemble Performance win. He also created and hosted satirical internet show, Cute With Chris.[3]
Chris Leavins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1968 Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Years active | 1994 - present |
| Known for | Satire |
| Notable work |
|
| Website | www |
Early life
editBorn in 1968, Leavins resided in Saskatchewan, Canada as a youngster.[4][3]
After 12 years living and working in Toronto, Leavins moved to Los Angeles in 2003.
Career
editLeavins has been a cast member or guest star on some of Canada's most popular and critically acclaimed television series including Traders (Gemini Winner 1997[5] and 1998, Best Dramatic Series), The Eleventh Hour (Gemini Winner 2002–03, Best Dramatic Series) and Slings and Arrows (Gemini Winner 2006, Best Dramatic Series) which airs in America on the Sundance Channel. Leavins appears in the 1997 film The Hanging Garden as William.[6][7]
In 2010 Leavins was cast in the comedy horror TV series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil as Atticus Murphy Jr.,[8] the seemingly affable school guidance counselor who is secretly in league with the Satanic cult at the heart of Crowley High.[9] He would return to the role the following year when the series was renewed for a second season.[10] After the series ended on a cliffhanger, Leavins along with the rest of the cast returned to voice their characters in an animated feature film Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End, which acted as a conclusion.[11]
Leavins writes and performs for the stage as well. His shows Posterchild,[12] The Captain, and The Best Play in the Fringe Festival Ever have been performed across North America.
In 2006 he started the internet show Cute with Chris, a satirical video podcast which he wrote, anchored, and produced himself from his apartment.[13][14] The show features photos and letters sent in by viewers, which Leavins comments on, mocks, and subjects to polls on which is cutest. His show also features co-hosts: Colty, the female plastic horse, Pervy, the larger male perverted plastic horse with racist issues, and Peanuts, a bag of polystyrene peanuts that can only be understood by Leavins. The show's popularity increased over time, and the weekly episodes attracted up to 100,000 views each.[15][12] Chris abruptly ceased production of the show in June 2009, ostensibly prompted by one of his viewers, informing him of how the show had aged him. Chris later confirmed on his website that this episode would be the last in the series.
On January 30, 2008, he performed a live version of the show for free at the 99-seat Hudson Theater in Hollywood, California. The show sold out in 85 minutes.[16] Another two shows, this time charging money for tickets, were put on at the Theatre Centre, Toronto on April 19 and 20, 2008. Both sold out; the first in 20 minutes. Leavins has said that he sees this use of an Internet fan base to attract theatre audiences as a new model for success, and a solution to the difficulties that he experienced attracting audiences as a conventional writer and performer.[13]
Works
editFeatures/TV movies
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Nothing to Lose | Ed | |
| 1996 | Deeply, Deeply Trunk[17] | Short film | |
| 1997 | The Hanging Garden | Sweet William[18] | |
| 1998 | American Whiskey Bar | He | TV movie |
| 1999 | Family of Cops III: Under Suspicion | Vincent Coelle | TV movie |
| 2009 | The Good Germany | Gordon Verlaine | TV movie |
| 2017 | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End | Atticus Murphy Jr. (voice)[19] | Animated feature film |
Television series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Robocop | Wilson Eberhart | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Due South | Jim | 1 episode |
| 1996–2000 | Traders | Chris Todson | Main cast[20] |
| 1998 | La Femme Nikita | Gregory Formitz | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Blue Murder | Carl Statler | 1 episode |
| 2003–2005 | Bury the Lead (AKA The Eleventh Hour) | Danny Pahlka, Ross Hudson | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | Zoe Busiek: Wild Card | Howard Leland, Jim Turner | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Slings & Arrows | Andrew McTeague | 4 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil | Atticus Murphy Jr. | Main cast |
Stage
edit- Posterchild
- The Captain
- The Best Play in the Fringe Festival Ever
Books
edit- The Captain and other stories (2009)
Awards and nominations
editLeavins was nominated for a Gemini Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his work as Christopher Todson in the series Traders in 1997, and for Best Actor in a Guest Role for his work on Slings and Arrows in 2007.[21] In 2011, alongside his fellow Todd and the Book of Pure Evil main cast-mates, won the Gemini Award for Best Ensemble Performance[22] for musical episode "The Phantom of Crowley High".[23]
References
edit- ^ Chris Leavins' bio at www.northernstars.ca, Archived via web.archive.org
- ^ "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit" by Bill Brioux at www.thestar.com
- ^ a b Ouzounian, Richard (October 26, 2008). "Don't get cute!". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
- ^ Leavins, Chris. The Captain and other stories, 2009, p.99.
- ^ "Gemini Awards 1997". Archived from the original on March 6, 2005. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ The Hanging Garden review by Bruce Fretts at ew.com
- ^ The Hanging Garden review by Brendan Kelly at variety.com
- ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil in production for Space" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
- ^ "DVD Review: 'Todd and the Book of Pure Evil - The Complete First Season'" by Charles Webb at www.mtv.com
- ^ "FEARnet Confirms a Second Season of Todd & the Book of Pure Evil" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon Form at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ a b "When Cute Isn't Pretty: "Cute With Chris," the Web Show for Misfit Teenage Girls and Women in Their 30s Who Like to Knit" by Steven Leigh Morris at www.laweekly.com
- ^ a b Tossel, Ivor (April 19, 2008). "Web hit, live show thrives on the power of cute" (Fee required). The Globe and Mail.[dead link]
- ^ "Canadian takes cuteness into cyberspace; Chris Leavins' website gets a million hits a month" by Darren Bernhardt, Edmonton Journal (11 July, 2008) Retrieved from ProQuest 253560769
- ^ Leavins, Chris. "About Me". Cute With Chris. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
- ^ Leavins, Chris (January 14, 2008). "Show Sold Out". Cute With Chris. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
- ^ Deeply Deeply Trunk - brief synopsis & credits at cfccreates.com
- ^ "SCENT OF MYSTERY LINGERS OVER QUESTIONS OF `HANGING GARDEN'" by Mark Caro and Tribune Staff Writer at www.chicagotribune.com
- ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil raises Indiegogo funds for animated movie" by Debra Yeo at www.thestar.com
- ^ "Making millions on a shoestring" by Hart Hanson at www.theglobeandmail.com
- ^ "Pay TV checks in with Gemini noms" by AP, Etan Vlessing at www.hollywoodreporter.com
- ^ "Interview: Alex House and Chris Leavins of Todd & The Book of Pure Evil" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
- ^ "Call Me Fitz comes up big at Geminis" by Etan Vlessing at playbackonline.ca