Vancouver is a hotbed of talent, and that includes a long list of world-famous actors. Many stars who hail from Vancouver have brought iconic characters like Darth Vader, Deadpool, Marty McFly, Bjorn Ironside, and many others to life. Read on for more at vancouveriski.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds was born and spent his early years in Vancouver. He landed his first role at 12 in the teen drama series “Hillside,” which aired on Nickelodeon in the US and YTV in Canada from 1991 to 1993.
After high school, he enrolled at Kwantlen Polytechnic University but eventually dropped out to pursue his acting career. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he landed a role in the sitcom “Two Guys and a Girl and a Pizza Place,” which brought him his initial taste of fame. From there, Reynolds went on to star in globally recognized films like “Van Wilder,” “The Proposal,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Deadpool,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Free Guy,” and many more.
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson rose to prominence as a Canadian-American actress, model, and one of the ultimate sex symbols of the US. After graduating high school, she began teaching physical education in Vancouver. During a city football game, she was caught on camera in a close-up shot. A brewing company, spotting Pamela on TV, offered her a role in a commercial.
In 1989, she graced the cover of Playboy for the first time and continued her collaboration with the company. However, it was the TV series “Baywatch” that brought her immense fame. Reflecting on her success, she famously said:
“I have a successful career, and I’m just here along for the ride.”
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton, but his father later moved the family to Burnaby. Here, he attended high school, and the theatre there was eventually named in his honour. He became widely known for his role as the young Marty McFly in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, as well as the TV series “Family Ties,” which aired from 1982 to 1989. For his work on “Family Ties,” Fox earned three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen’s acting career began at 13 on Canadian television. He gained global recognition for his role as Anakin Skywalker, also known as Darth Vader, in the iconic “Star Wars” franchise. He later reprised the role in the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Ahsoka.”
Sarah Chalke
Sarah Chalke was born in Ottawa but later moved to Vancouver, where she spent her childhood and attended Handsworth Secondary School. Her acting career took off at the age of eight, participating in various musicals.
Her most notable roles include Dr. Elliot Reid in the comedy series “Scrubs,” Becky Conner Healy in “Roseanne,” and Stella in “How I Met Your Mother.”
Joshua Jackson
Joshua Carter Jackson was born and raised in Vancouver. He decided to become an actor at age 11. His mother, a casting director, wanted to show him that acting wasn’t as easy as it seemed, taking him to several auditions. However, Joshua received an offer to star in a chip commercial, which marked the beginning of his career.
Joshua is best known for his roles as Charlie Conway in “The Mighty Ducks” series, Pacey Witter in “Dawson’s Creek,” and Peter Bishop in “Fringe.” Jackson has also appeared in films such as “Cruel Intentions” and “One Week.”
Alexander Ludwig
Alexander Ludwig began his acting career at eight years old, starring in Harry Potter toy commercials. He then auditioned for films like “Air Bud: World Pup,” “MXP: Most Xtreme Primate,” and “Eve and the Fire Horse.” He also auditioned for the role of Peeta Mellark in “The Hunger Games” but ultimately landed the role of Cato, which caught the attention of the creators of “Vikings,” who then cast him as the Viking Bjorn Ironside.
Cobie Smulders
This Canadian actress gained widespread popularity for her role as Robin Scherbatsky in the series “How I Met Your Mother.”
Cobie Smulders was born in Vancouver. After graduating high school, she decided to pursue a career in modelling. Cobie first appeared on screen in the sci-fi series “Jeremiah.” Following that, Cobie began to take part in various television projects from time to time. Her first regular role was as Juliet Droil in the series “Veritas: The Quest.”
Jason Priestley
Jason Priestley’s parents noticed his acting talent at just four years old and took him to his first auditions at a private advertising agency. Over the next four years, the young boy appeared in many commercials. He landed his first role at eight in the film “Sister Kate.” Popularity found Jason at a young age when he played Brandon Walsh in “Beverly Hills, 90210.” International magazines have often included the actor in their lists of the most beautiful people on the planet.
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen, a Vancouver native, started acting at 13 before even finishing high school. The comedy genre appealed to him from childhood, leading him to frequently perform stand-up as a teenager. He landed his first role in the TV series “Freaks and Geeks.” Among other successful projects, he starred in films like “Knocked Up,” “Superbad,” “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” and also lent his voice to characters in animated films such as “Shrek the Third,” “Horton Hears a Who!,” and “Kung Fu Panda.”
Jessica Lowndes
Jessica Lowndes unexpectedly decided to become an actress while shopping with her mother. Although she didn’t get a role at her first audition, she caught the eye of a casting manager who later helped launch her acting career.
The actress debuted on screen in 2005 in the TV movie “Saving Milly,” playing Andrea Kondracke. To prepare for the role, Jessica spoke extensively with people struggling with addiction and watched numerous documentaries to study the habits of individuals experiencing euphoria or withdrawal. She landed her first leading role in the horror film “The Haunting of Molly Hartley.” In 2009, she appeared on “America’s Next Top Model.”
She gained significant popularity through the teen drama series “90210,” where her portrayal of Adrianna Tate-Duncan was so well-received by audiences that she became one of the project’s main characters.
Carrie-Anne Moss
Interestingly, her mother Barbara named the future actress after The Hollies’ song “Carrie Anne,” released the year she was born. At 11, she performed with the Vancouver Children’s Musical Theatre. Her most famous roles include Trinity in “The Matrix” franchise, lawyer Jeri Hogarth in Marvel films, and Dr. Rebecca Pruitt in the TV series “Tell Me a Story.”
Noel Fisher
Born in Vancouver, Noel Fisher began acting at 14, starring in the film “The Sheldon Kennedy Story.” He’s often recognized for his role as Mickey Milkovich in the series “Shameless.” He also lent his voice to Michelangelo in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie and Toad in “X-Men: Evolution.”
Justin Chatwin
Another actor who joined the cast of “Shameless,” playing Jimmy Lishman, Justin Chatwin was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He later moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia before heading to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. Chatwin has also appeared in CBS’s “American Gothic,” “Doctor Who,” and Netflix’s “Another Life.”