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Kenneth Welsh

Kenneth Welsh

Acting

Born: March 30, 1942Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Kenneth Welsh, CM (March 30, 1942 – May 5, 2022) was a Canadian film and television actor (sometimes credited as Ken Welsh). He was known to Twin Peaks fans as the multi-faceted villain Windom Earle, and had more recently played the father of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. In 1984 he was nominated for a Genie Award as Best Actor for his portrayal of Reno Colt in the film "Reno and the Doc", written and directed by Charles Dennis. In 1997 Welsh directed Dennis in the latter's play "SoHo Duo" at the West Bank Theatre in New York City. Welsh was born in Edmonton, Alberta to a father who worked for the Canadian National Railway. He grew up in Alberta and studied drama at school. He later moved to Montreal and attended the National Theatre School. Following graduation, he auditioned for the Stratford Festival in Ontario and then spent the first seven years of his career on stage. Welsh has portrayed historical figures including Thomas E. Dewey, Colin Thatcher, Harry S. Truman (twice), Thomas Edison, James "Scotty" Reston, General Harry Crerar and James Baker. He has made guest appearances on the acclaimed TV series Due South and Slings and Arrows. In 2003, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. His role as the Vice-President of the United States in the 2004 environmental disaster film The Day After Tomorrow sparked some controversy due to his physical resemblance to Dick Cheney, who at the time was the real Vice President. Director Roland Emmerich later confirmed that he deliberately chose Welsh for that very reason. Emmerich stated that the character of the Vice-President in the film was intended to be a not-so-subtle criticism of the environmental policies of the Presidency of George W. Bush. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenneth Welsh, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For
Filmography

Afterwards

Garen

2025
Campton Manor

Campton Manor

Lawrence

2024
Midnight at the Paradise

Midnight at the Paradise

Max

2022
The Middle Man

The Middle Man

Mr. Miller

2021
PG: Psycho Goreman

PG: Psycho Goreman

Narrator & Judicator (voice)

2020
And the Birds Rained Down

And the Birds Rained Down

Boychuck

2019
Undercover Grandpa

Undercover Grandpa

Harry

2017
Awakening the Zodiac

Awakening the Zodiac

Ben

2017
Chicanery

Chicanery

Pringle Hewitt

2017
A Nutcracker Christmas

A Nutcracker Christmas

Dimitri

2016
The Void

The Void

Dr. Richard Powell

2016

The Ballad of Immortal Joe

2015
Wet Bum

Wet Bum

Ed

2014
The Art of the Steal

The Art of the Steal

'Uncle' Paddy MacCarthy

2013
Rewind

Rewind

President

2013
The Story of Luke

The Story of Luke

Jonas

2013
Cottage Country

Cottage Country

Earl

2013
The Riverbank

The Riverbank

Joe Mason

2012
Survival of the Dead

Survival of the Dead

Patrick O'Flynn

2010
Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens

Max Gordon

2009
Adoration

Adoration

Morris

2009
A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride

A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride

Jack

2008
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Uncle Hendrick

2008
Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks

Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks

2007
Silk

Silk

Mayor Joncour

2007
Hamlet {Solo}

Hamlet {Solo}

Self

2007
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Dr. Jeff Wagner

2007
One Way

One Way

William Henderson

2006
The Covenant

The Covenant

Provost Higgins

2006
The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen

King

2005
The Fog

The Fog

Tom Malone

2005
The Exorcism of Emily Rose

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Dr. Mueller

2005
The Murdoch Mysteries: Under the Dragon's Tail

The Murdoch Mysteries: Under the Dragon's Tail

Inspector Ramsgate

2005
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope

Karol: A Man Who Became Pope

professor Wójcik

2005
Four Brothers

Four Brothers

Robert Bradford

2005
Bailey's Billion$

Bailey's Billion$

Mouse Delaney

2005
Our Fathers

Our Fathers

Bishop Murphy

2005
The Aviator

The Aviator

Dr. Hepburn

2004
The Day After Tomorrow

The Day After Tomorrow

Vice President Becker

2004
The Wild Guys

The Wild Guys

Andy

2004
Miracle

Miracle

Doc Nagobads

2004
Eloise at Christmastime

Eloise at Christmastime

Sir Wilkes

2003
Eloise at the Plaza

Eloise at the Plaza

Sir Wilkes

2003
The Pentagon Papers

The Pentagon Papers

John McNaughon

2003
The Man Who Saved Christmas

The Man Who Saved Christmas

Newton Baker

2002
The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire

The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire

Dr. Watson

2002
Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher

Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher

Dr. James Franken

2002
The Day Reagan Was Shot

The Day Reagan Was Shot

James Baker

2001
Focus

Focus

Father Crighton

2001
The Royal Scandal

The Royal Scandal

Dr. Watson

2001
The Sign of Four

The Sign of Four

Dr. Watson

2001
Sanctuary

Sanctuary

Sam Hathaway

2001
Haven

Haven

Harry Truman

2001
The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Dr. Watson

2000
Cold Blooded

Cold Blooded

Chief Inspector Brodsky

2000
Witchblade

Witchblade

Joe Siri

2000
Deliberate Intent

Deliberate Intent

Peder Lund

2000
Love Come Down

Love Come Down

Ira Rosen

2000
Who Killed Atlanta's Children?

Who Killed Atlanta's Children?

William Kunstler

2000
Love and Murder

Love and Murder

Isaak Levin

2000
Vendetta

Vendetta

Mayor Joe Shakspeare

1999
G-Saviour

G-Saviour

General Garneaux

1999
Mind Prey

Mind Prey

Tower Manette

1999
Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story

Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story

1998
Dead Husbands

Dead Husbands

Chase Woodward

1998
Edison : The Wizard of Light

Edison : The Wizard of Light

Thomas Edison

1998
Thanks of a Grateful Nation

Thanks of a Grateful Nation

Sen. Shelby

1998
Thunder Point

Thunder Point

Armstrong

1998
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Caz Hollowitz

1998
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way

Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way

George Steinbrenner

1997
Dead Silence

Dead Silence

Sheriff Lenny Budd

1997
The Wrong Guy

The Wrong Guy

Mr. Nagel

1997
Habitat

Habitat

Coach Marlowe

1997
Absolute Power

Absolute Power

Sandy Lord

1997
Escape Clause

Escape Clause

Owen Jessop

1996
Portraits of a Killer

Portraits of a Killer

Jim Miller

1996

Turning April

Father

1996
The Conspiracy of Fear

The Conspiracy of Fear

Captain Rose

1996
Rowing Through

Rowing Through

Harry Parker

1996
Kissinger and Nixon

Kissinger and Nixon

James 'Scotty' Reston

1995
Margaret's Museum

Margaret's Museum

Angus MacNeil

1995
Hiroshima

Hiroshima

President Harry S Truman

1995
Dancing In The Dark

Dancing In The Dark

Dr. Bel

1995
Vanished

Vanished

Bill Palmer

1995
Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story

Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story

Mr. Higgins

1995
Hideaway

Hideaway

Detective Breech

1995
Legends of the Fall

Legends of the Fall

Sheriff Tynert

1994
Whale Music

Whale Music

Kenneth Sexstone

1994
Boozecan

Boozecan

Tim

1994
Another Woman

Another Woman

Dr. Kenneth Holcross

1994
Timecop

Timecop

Utley

1994
And Then There Was One

And Then There Was One

David Burns

1994
Getting Gotti

Getting Gotti

Bennett

1994
Death Wish V: The Face of Death

Death Wish V: The Face of Death

Lt. Mickey King

1994
Dieppe

Dieppe

Maj. Gen. Harry Crerar

1993
Bye Bye Love

Bye Bye Love

David

1993
Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story

Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story

Don Eisenberg

1993
Adrift

Adrift

Guy Nast

1993
Bonds of Love

Bonds of Love

Judge

1993
The Great Dinosaur Hunt

The Great Dinosaur Hunt

Narrator

1993
The Good Fight

The Good Fight

Dick Chandler

1992
A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story

A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story

Paul Michel

1992
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster

Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster

Sam Skinner

1992
Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story

Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story

Michael Schottland

1992
Christmas on Division Street

Christmas on Division Street

David Atwood

1991
Grand Larceny

Grand Larceny

Virgil Klovitz

1991
The Big Slice

The Big Slice

Lieutenant Bernard

1991

Perfectly Normal

Charlie Glesby

1991
The Widowmaker

The Widowmaker

Atkinson

1990
The Last Best Year

The Last Best Year

Jerry

1990
Murder Times Seven

Murder Times Seven

Nick Ruggieri

1990
The Freshman

The Freshman

Dwight Armstrong

1990
Murder in Black and White

Murder in Black and White

Ruggieri

1990
Christmas in America

Christmas in America

Harry Morgan

1989
Straight Line

Straight Line

Dr. Hammel

1989
Love & Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher

Love & Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher

Colin Thatcher

1989
Dick Francis: Blood Sport

Dick Francis: Blood Sport

1989
Champagne Charlie

Champagne Charlie

John Whistlow

1989
Physical Evidence

Physical Evidence

Harry Norton

1989
The January Man

The January Man

Roger Culver

1989
Another Woman

Another Woman

Donald

1988
Liberace: Behind the Music

Liberace: Behind the Music

1988
Crocodile Dundee II

Crocodile Dundee II

Brannigan

1988
The House on Carroll Street

The House on Carroll Street

Hackett

1988
Loyalties

Loyalties

David Sutton

1987
A Stranger Waits

A Stranger Waits

Richard Miller

1987
Radio Days

Radio Days

Radio Voice (voice)

1987
And Then You Die

And Then You Die

Eddie Griffin

1987
Heartburn

Heartburn

Dr. Appel

1986
Lost!

Lost!

1986
Loose Ends

Loose Ends

Elder Seth

1986
Murder Sees the Light

Murder Sees the Light

Patten

1986
The Climb

The Climb

Walter Frauenberger

1986
Perfect

Perfect

Joe McKenzie

1985
The War Boy

The War Boy

Stephan Berecky

1985
Falling in Love

Falling in Love

Doctor

1984
Piaf

Piaf

Police Inspector / Georges / Physiotherapist

1984
Covergirl

Covergirl

Harrison

1984
Reno and the Doc

Reno and the Doc

Reno

1984
Of Unknown Origin

Of Unknown Origin

James Hall

1983
Tell Me That You Love Me

Tell Me That You Love Me

David

1983
No More Hibakusha!

No More Hibakusha!

(voice)

1983
Hot Money

Hot Money

Parker

1983

Gary Carter Visits Japan

Narrator

1983
Phobia

Phobia

Sergeant Wheeler

1980
F.D.R.: The Last Year

F.D.R.: The Last Year

Thomas E. Dewey

1980
Double Negative

Double Negative

Dr. Klifter

1980
Riel

Riel

McWilliams

1979
The School for Scandal

The School for Scandal

Charles Surface

1975
Piaf

Piaf

1974