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Chaykin, Maury

Maury Chaykin
Maury Chaykin. Photo by Tyler Anderson National Post

Character actor with an extensive career in television and film, who began his acting career on Toronto stages. Maury Chaykin was born July 27, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York; died July 27, 2010 in Toronto of heart failure. His mother was Canadian, his father American, and he held a dual citizenship. He studied theatre at the University of Buffalo and the State University of New York; and moved to Toronto in 1974.

Among the notable Canadian theatre productions in which Maury Chaykin performed were the premieres of Ken Gass' Hurray For Johnny Canuck (1974); Tony's Woman (Theatre Passe Muraille 1974, dir. Hrant Alianak); George F. Walker's Gossip (Toronto Free Theatre 1977, dir. John Palmer); and The Boy Bishop (Factory Theatre Lab 1977, dir. Gass).

He is best known for his over 150 supporting roles in American film and television, and for his portrayal of Nero Wolfe in the TV detective series in 2001-02, for which he won a Genie for best actor. In 1994, he played a failed rock star in the Canadian film Whale Music based on the novel by Paul Quarrington (with Paul Gross, Kenneth Welsh, and Cyndy Preston). For his role in the TV series, Less Than Kind, he won a Canadian Comedy Award in 2009 and 2010, and an ACTRA in 2011.

Maury Chaykin's performances were marked by an attention to detail that was completely integrated into the overall performance, and a deep humanity.

Profile by Gaetan Charlebois and Anne Nothof

Last updated 2020-10-30