Fred Ewanuick (/əˈwαnɪk/; born June 23, 1971)[1] is a Canadian actor best known for his roles in the television series Corner Gas as Hank Yarbo and as the title character in the CTV sitcom Dan for Mayor.[2] He was also a regular in a CTV anthology series, Robson Arms. He starred in Nickelodeon's summer 2013 TV movie Swindle.

Fred Ewanuick
Born (1971-06-23) June 23, 1971 (age 53)
OccupationActor
Years active1990s-present
AwardsBest Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series
2007 Corner Gas (shared) Peñsícola Comedy Film Festival Award Best Actor
2004 The Delicate Art of Parking
Websitehttp://www.fred-ewanuick.com/

He is also well known for his several award wins for the 2003 lead role in the comedy The Delicate Art of Parking, and reprised his role as Richard Henry "Hank" Yarbo in Corner Gas: The Movie, winning him a Gemini Award, and much praise. He also had roles in popular films including The Santa Clause 2, Just Friends, Young Triffie, and a romantic comedy with several other Corner Gas stars in Love and Other Dilemmas, and the disaster film Absolute Zero.

Early life

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Ewanuick was born and raised in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada. He is of Ukrainian and Italian descent.[2][3] His first job was a paper route, but he was fired for disposing of the newspapers in dumpsters as a "time saver".[4] He later worked in a bingo hall until his high school graduation from Port Moody Secondary School, in 1989.

Career

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At college he enrolled in English, Women’s Studies and Theatre courses, the only courses available, subsequently failing all three. After auditioning and being accepted into the two-year theater intensive program, he was asked to leave one year into the program.[5] He subsequently trained for four years with acting coach Shea Hampton, with whom he continues to study in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also resides.[6]

He made his television debut on The New Addams Family in 1998 as a "spinning gnome".[7] Following guest appearances on both Canadian and American television series such as Cold Squad, Monk, Dark Angel, The Twilight Zone, Da Vinci's Inquest and Tru Calling, Ewanuick became a regular on the CTV series Corner Gas, as Hank Yarbo. The series was a hit, making Ewanuick a familiar face in Canadian households.[8] In 2005, he began starring simultaneously in the CTV comedy-drama series Robson Arms with Corner Gas co-star Gabrielle Miller.[9]

Ewanuick has appeared in numerous films, including The Delicate Art of Parking (2003), which premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival. The film won the Best Canadian Feature prize. Later, Ewanuick won a Best Actor award at Spain's Peñiscola Comedy Film Festival for the same film. In the comedy Young Triffie (2007), Ewanuick stars as a young Newfoundland Ranger investigating a crime.[10] Originally, Ewanuick was not cast for the part. However, the casting staff could not agree on whom to choose for the part. Ewanuick was called to audition for the part after being suggested because of his work on Corner Gas.[11]

In late 2008, CTV commissioned a half-hour sitcom pilot for a new comedy titled Dan for Mayor, starring Ewanuick as Dan.[12] Dan For Mayor was written by Mark Farrell, Paul Mather, and Kevin White. Ewanuick portrayed Dan, a 30-something bartender who lives and works in the fictional city of Wessex, Ontario.[13][14] The series ended in 2011.

In 2013, he played Paul Swindell in Swindle.

In 2014, Ewanuick reprised his role as Hank Yarbo in Corner Gas: The Movie.

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
2002 Santa Clause 2 Seismic Interpreter
2002 The Bed Young Man
2002 Stark Raving Mad Beck (Raverboy #2)
2002 Beauty Shot Dean
2003 A Guy Thing Jeff
2003 Fluffy Todd short
2003 The Core Endeavor Flight Engineer Credited as Fred Ewanvick
2003 The Delicate Art of Parking Grant Parker
2005 Crossing Alfie
2005 Chestnut, Hero of Central Park Kosh
2005 Selling Innocence James
2005 Just Friends Clark
2006 Young Triffie Ranger Alan Hepditch
2006 Black Eyed Dog Doug
2006 Love and Other Dilemmas Emmett Matzdorff
2011 French Immersion Colin
2013 Swindle Paul Swindell
2014 Corner Gas: The Movie Hank Yarbo Reprise of role from 2004–2009 TV series
2015 Patterson's Wager Charles
2016 A.R.C.H.I.E. Hugh
2019 37-Teen Greg

Television works

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 The New Addams Family Gnome 1 episode: "Cleopatra, Green of the Nile"
2001 The Chris Isaak Show Food Service Worker 1 episode: "Smackdown"
Special Unit 2 Bus Passenger 1 episode
Cold Squad Todd Fernley 1 episode: "Picasso's Mistake"
20012002 Dark Angel Luke 5 episodes: "Freak Nation", "Love Among the Runes", "She Ain't Heavy", "Some Assembly Required", "Two"
20012003 Da Vinci's Inquest Raymond Ford, Paul Risi 4 episodes: "Banging on the Wall", "Cheap Aftershave", "Ugly Quick", "You Got Monkey Chatter"
2002 Twilight Zone Garrett 1 episode: "Sensuous Cindy"
Monk Jake 1 episode: "Mr. Monk and the Candidate: Part 1"
2003 Out of Order Boom Operator
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company' Set assistant
20032004 Tru Calling Brian 2 episodes: "The Longest Day", "Morning After"
2004 Dead Like Me Xavier Boscacci Season 2, Episode 2: "The Ledger"
The Ranch Tommy
20042009 Corner Gas Hank Yarbo 107 episodes
20052008 Robson Arms Nick Papathanasiou 19 episodes
2005 Absolute Zero Philip
Selling Innocence James
2006 Blood Ties Wendell 1 episode: Wrapped
Intelligence Narcotics Officer and Nichols 2 episodes: We Were Here Now We Disappear, Not a Nice Boy!
Air Farce Hank Yarbo 300th Episode Special; fictional crossover with Little Mosque on the Prairie and Trailer Park Boys
20102011 Dan for Mayor Dan Phillips
2014 Supernatural Sheriff Len Cuse Season 10, episode 8: "Hibbing 911"
2015 Dinotrux Click Clack Voice
2018-2021 Corner Gas Animated Hank Yarbo Voice
2021 Scaredy Cats Sticky-Paws Fink Voice
2023 The Irrational Season 1, episode 2" "Dead Woman Walking"

Nominations

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Year Award Category Film/Series Notes
2011 Canadian Comedy Awards Best Performance By an Ensemble – Television Dan for Mayor For the episode "Revenge is Swifty"
2010 Gemini Award Best Comedy Program or Series Dan for Mayor
2008 Leo Award Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama Crossing
2007 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series Robson Arms For the episode "Saultology"
2006 Gemini Award Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series Corner Gas Shared with the cast of Corner Gas for the episode "Merry Gasmas".
2006 Leo Award Best Performance or Host in a Music, Comedy or Variety Program or Series Corner Gas Shared with the cast of Corner Gas for the episode "Wedding Card"
2005 Canadian Comedy Award Television – Pretty Funny Male Performance Corner Gas
2004 Leo Award Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series: Best Performance or Host Corner Gas For the episode "Cell Phone"

References

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  1. ^ Williams, Paul (January 3, 2011). "Fred Ewanuick". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "From Corner Gas to mayor, Dan is no Hank". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  3. ^ Ryan, Andrew (February 25, 2010). "Ryan". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Fred Ewanuick Biography at movietome". Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  5. ^ "Northern Stars – Fred Ewanuick". 2007. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  6. ^ "About Fred Ewanuick – Official Site". Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  7. ^ "Fred Ewanuick Biography at TV.com". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  8. ^ Gormley, John (July 11, 2008). "Radio show over too soon, like Corner Gas". The Star Phoenix. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  9. ^ Stone, Jay (February 16, 2008). "From the Prairies to zombies". The Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  10. ^ Salem, Rob (April 4, 2007). "A new direction – Mary Walsh steps behind the camera to helm her first film, the comedy Young Triffie". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  11. ^ "Fred Ewanuick Interview". Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  12. ^ "CTV Casts its Ballot and Orders New Comedy Pilot Dan for Mayor". CTV. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  13. ^ "CTV orders pilot for new comedy 'Dan for Mayor'". CTV. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  14. ^ "Hot Box: TV worth talking about". The Star. Toronto. October 9, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
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