Kenneth Welsh
Born
March 30, 1942
Died
May 5, 2022 (80 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Edmonton, 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.
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Known For
Midnight at the Paradise
Max
2023
The Middle Man
Mr. Miller
2021
Chicanery
Pringle Hewitt
2017
The Story of Luke
Jonas
2013
Survival of the Dead
Patrick O'Flynn
2010
Grey Gardens
Max Gordon
2009
Adoration
Morris
2009
A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride
Jack
2008
Silk
Mayor Joncour
2007
One Way
William Henderson
2006
The Covenant
Provost Higgins
2006
The Snow Queen
King
2005
The Fog
Tom Malone
2005
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Dr. Mueller
2005
Four Brothers
Robert Bradford
2005
Our Fathers
Bishop Murphy
2005
The Day After Tomorrow
Vice President Becker
2004
Miracle
Doc Nagobads
2004
Eloise at Christmastime
Sir Wilkes
2003
Eloise at the Plaza
Sir Wilkes
2003
The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire
Dr. Watson
2002
Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher
Dr. James Franken
2002
The Day Reagan Was Shot
James Baker
2001
The Royal Scandal
Dr. Watson
2001
The Sign of Four
Dr. Watson
2001
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Dr. Watson
2000
Witchblade
Joe Siri
2000
Who Killed Atlanta's Children?
William Kunstler
2000
Habitat
Coach Marlowe
1997
Rowing Through
Harry Parker
1996
Kissinger and Nixon
James 'Scotty' Reston
1995
Margaret's Museum
Angus MacNeil
1995
Hiroshima
President Harry S Truman
1995
Dancing In The Dark
Dr. Bel
1995
Hideaway
Detective Breech
1995
Legends of the Fall
Sheriff Tynert
1994
Timecop
Utley
1994
And Then There Was One
David Burns
1994
Death Wish V: The Face of Death
Lt. Mickey King
1994
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster
Sam Skinner - Presidential Delegation
1992
The Last Best Year
Jerry
1990
Straight Line
Dr. Hammel
1989
Liberace: Behind the Music
1988
Loyalties
David Sutton
1987
And Then You Die
Eddie Griffin
1987
Loose Ends
Elder Seth
1986
Reno and the Doc
Reno
1984
Of Unknown Origin
James Hall
1983
Tell Me That You Love Me
David
1983
The Great Dinosaur Hunt
Narrator
Afterwards
Garen
2024
Campton Manor
Lawrence
2024
PG: Psycho Goreman
Narrator & Judicator (voice)
2020
And the Birds Rained Down
Boychuck
2019
Lodge 49
(3 episodes)
2018
Star Trek: Discovery
Senna Tal (voice) · (1 episode)
2017
Star Trek: Discovery
Senna Tal · (1 episode)
2017
Undercover Grandpa
Harry
2017
Awakening the Zodiac
Ben
2017
A Nutcracker Christmas
Dimitri
2016
The Void
Dr. Richard Powell
2016
The Expanse
Franklin Degraaf · (1 episode)
2015
The Ballad of Immortal Joe
2015
Wet Bum
Ed
2014
The Best Laid Plans
Angus McLintock · (6 episodes)
2014
The Blacklist
Werner von Hauser · (1 episode)
2013
The Art of the Steal
'Uncle' Paddy MacCarthy
2013
Rewind
President
2013
Cottage Country
Earl
2013
The Riverbank
Joe Mason
2012
XIII: The Series
Dr. Westlund · (1 episode)
2011
Haven
Cole Glendower · (1 episode)
2010
Human Target
Tony Belvilacqua · (1 episode)
2010
The Listener
Albert Jacoby · (1 episode)
2009
The Last Templar
Bill Vance · (2 episodes)
2009
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Uncle Hendrick
2008
The Trojan Horse
Randall Spear · (2 episodes)
2008
Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks
2007
Bionic Woman
(1 episode)
2007
Hamlet {Solo}
Self
2007
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Dr. Jeff Wagner
2007
Above and Beyond
2006
Above and Beyond
Lord Beaverbrook · (2 episodes)
2006
Category 7: The End of the World
Alan Horst
2005
The Murdoch Mysteries: Under the Dragon's Tail
Inspector Ramsgate
2005
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
professor Wójcik
2005
Bailey's Billion$
Mouse Delaney
2005
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
Professor Wójcik · (2 episodes)
2005
Tilt
Seymour Annisman · (5 episodes)
2005
The Aviator
Dr. Hepburn
2004
H2O
Randall Spear · (2 episodes)
2004
ReGenesis
Shelby Sloane · (3 episodes)
2004
Stargate Atlantis
Jamus · (1 episode)
2004
The Wild Guys
Andy
2004
This Is Wonderland
(1 episode)
2004
The Pentagon Papers
John McNaughon
2003
The Man Who Saved Christmas
Newton Baker
2002
Focus
Father Crighton
2001
Smallville
Drunk Santa · (1 episode)
2001
The Guardian
(1 episode)
2001
Witchblade
(2 episodes)
2001
Sanctuary
Sam Hathaway
2001
Haven
Harry Truman
2001
Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Watson · (4 episodes)
2000
Cold Blooded
Chief Inspector Brodsky
2000
Deliberate Intent
Peder Lund
2000
Love Come Down
Ira Rosen
2000
Soul Food
Dr. Jackson Pruit · (2 episodes)
2000
Love and Murder
Isaak Levin
2000
Vendetta
Mayor Joe Shakspeare
1999
G-Saviour
General Garneaux
1999
Mind Prey
Tower Manette
1999
Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story
1998
Dead Husbands
Chase Woodward
1998
Thanks of a Grateful Nation
Sen. Shelby
1998
Thunder Point
Armstrong
1998
Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension
(1 episode)
1998
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Caz Hollowitz
1998
Twitch City
Mr. Surdjic · (2 episodes)
1998
The Third Twin
Preston Barck · (2 episodes)
1997
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way
George Steinbrenner
1997
Dead Silence
Sheriff Lenny Budd
1997
The Wrong Guy
Mr. Nagel
1997
The Hunger
Hugo Lawery · (1 episode)
1997
The Practice
Judge M. Harrod · (3 episodes)
1997
Dead Man's Gun
Dean Marley · (1 episode)
1997
Absolute Power
Sandy Lord
1997
Escape Clause
Owen Jessop
1996
Portraits of a Killer
Jim Miller
1996
The Conspiracy of Fear
Captain Rose
1996
Hiroshima
President Harry S. Truman · (2 episodes)
1995
Vanished
Bill Palmer
1995
The Outer Limits
Dr. Vasquez · (1 episode)
1995
Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story
Mr. Higgins
1995
Whale Music
Kenneth Sexstone
1994
Boozecan
1994
Harlequin: Another Woman
Dr. Kenneth Holcross
1994
Due South
Randal K. Bolt · (2 episodes)
1994
Due South
Cyrus Bolt · (1 episode)
1994
Getting Gotti
Bennett
1994
Dieppe
Maj. Gen. Harry Crerar
1993
The X-Files
Simon Gates · (1 episode)
1993
Bye Bye Love
David
1993
Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story
Don Eisenberg
1993
Adrift
Guy Nast
1993
Bonds of Love
Judge
1993
The Good Fight
Dick Chandler
1992
A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story
Paul Michel
1992
Cruel Doubt
Attorney Wade Smith · (2 episodes)
1992
Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story
Michael Schottland
1992
Christmas on Division Street
David Atwood
1991
The Big Slice
Lieutenant Bernard
1991
Perfectly Normal
Charlie Glesby
1991
The Widowmaker
Atkinson
1990
Murder Times Seven
Nick Ruggieri
1990
Law & Order
Ben O'Dell · (1 episode)
1990
The Freshman
Dwight Armstrong
1990
Twin Peaks
Windom Earle · (9 episodes)
1990
Murder in Black and White
Ruggieri
1990
Christmas in America
Harry Morgan
1989
Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher
Colin Thatcher
1989
Champagne Charlie
John Whistlow
1989
Physical Evidence
Harry Norton
1989
The January Man
Roger Culver
1989
Another Woman
Donald
1988
Crocodile Dundee II
Brannigan
1988
The House on Carroll Street
Hackett
1988
The Murder of Mary Phagan
Luther Rosser · (2 episodes)
1988
A Stranger Waits
Richard Miller
1987
Radio Days
Radio Voice (voice)
1987
Heartburn
Dr. Appel
1986
Lost!
1986
The Climb
Walter Frauenberger
1986
Murder Sees the Light
Patten
1986
The Twilight Zone
(1 episode)
1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Crane · (1 episode)
1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Captain Wilder · (1 episode)
1985
Perfect
Joe McKenzie
1985
The War Boy
Stephan Berecky
1985
Falling in Love
Doctor
1984
Piaf
Police Inspector / Georges / Physiotherapist
1984
Covergirl
Harrison
1984
No More Hibakusha!
(voice)
1983
Empire, Inc.
(6 episodes)
1983
Gary Carter Visits Japan
Narrator
1983
Hot Money
Parker
1983
Phobia
Sergeant Wheeler
1980
F.D.R.: The Last Year
Thomas E. Dewey
1980
Double Negative
Dr. Klifter
1980
For The Record
Premier Lougheed · (1 episode)
1977
For The Record
Dipsi Doolan · (1 episode)
1977
For The Record
(1 episode)
1977
The School for Scandal
Charles Surface
1975
Piaf
1974
Great Performances
Charles Surface · (1 episode)
1971