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Tom Jackson (actor)

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Tom Jackson
Jackson in 2012
Born
Thomas Dale Jackson

(1948-10-27) 27 October 1948 (age 76)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1985–present

Thomas Dale Jackson, CC (born 27 October 1948) is a Canadian actor and singer. He created and starred in an annual series of Christmas concerts called the Huron Carole for 18 years. He was the Chancellor of Trent University from 2009 until 2013. He played Billy Twofeathers on Shining Time Station and Peter Kenidi on North of 60.

Life and career

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Tom Jackson was born on the One Arrow Reserve, Saskatchewan, near Batoche, the son of Rose, a Cree, and Marshall, an Englishman. He moved with his family to Namao, Alberta at age seven, and then to Winnipeg, Manitoba when he was fourteen. A year later, he dropped out of high school and lived on the streets for several years.[1]

As an actor, he has appeared in television shows such as North of 60 and Shining Time Station where his character Billy Twofeathers debuted in its Halloween episode "Scare Dares". Jackson also made a guest appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation in the season seven episode "Journey's End". His films include Loyalties and The Diviners.

He also starred in Grizzly Falls in 1999 and appeared in the 2007 horror thriller Skinwalkers. In 2014, he appeared in The Dependables, as Sergeant Robinson.[2] In 2019, he played White Bull, a Ute drug lord, alongside Liam Neeson in the film Cold Pursuit. He appeared the 2023 series Sullivan's Crossing.[citation needed]

He has also released several albums of country and folk music.[3]

Personal life

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Jackson now resides in Calgary with his wife Alison (née Jones) and four children.

Philanthropy

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A well-known philanthropist, Jackson created an annual series of Christmas concerts called the Huron Carole. Featuring Jackson and numerous other Canadian singers and performers, the Huron Carole troupe travels across the country each year, raising money for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. An album of Christmas songs recorded to tie-in with the tour is an annual best seller in Canada. After 17 years, Jackson retired the Huron Carole and in its place launched Singing for Supper, a cross-Canada tour that plays smaller community venues raising money and gifts of food, during the 2005 Christmas season.

After North of 60 cast member Mervin Good Eagle died by suicide in October 1996, Tom started the Dreamcatcher Tour.

In the spring of 1997 Jackson's home town was bracing for "the flood of the century" that had already put towns south of the US/Canada border under water. Jackson was instrumental in organizing flood relief concerts across the nation (Calgary, Winnipeg).[citation needed]

Honours and decorations

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Jackson has been honoured several times for his life's work. Most notably, in 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and is a former member of the Order of Canada Advisory Council. He has been nominated for Juno Awards and Gemini Awards. He has also received honours from several Canadian universities, including honorary degrees from the University of Calgary, Trent University, the University of Lethbridge and Carleton University. He also received the Humanitarian Award at the 2007 Juno Awards due to his charitable efforts.[4] In May 2014, Jackson received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award (GGPAA) for his lifetime contributions to Canadian broadcasting. At the Gala honouring GGPAA recipients on 10 May, Jackson took to the National Arts Centre stage to perform one of his songs.[5]

On 14 April 2009, Jackson was announced as the tenth chancellor for Trent University.[6] Jackson held this position until 2013.

Canadian medals, orders, and decorations Ribbon Bar Year bestowed
Order of Canada (CC)
  • Officer 2000
  • Companion 2020[7]
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal 1992
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012
Saskatchewan Centennial Medal 2005
Alberta Centennial Medal 2005

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Spirit Bay Will TV series (1 Episode)
1986 Loyalties Eddy Nominated–Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
1988 Martha, Ruth and Edie
Street Legal Geordie Roberts TV series (1 Episode)
1989–1990 The Campbells Five Claws TV series (2 Episodes)
1991–1995 Shining Time Station Billy Twofeathers, William Twofeathers Main role; TV Series
1991 Clearcut Tom Starblanket
1992–1997 North of 60 Peter Kenidi Main role; TV Series
Nominated–Gemini Award for Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1995, 1996, 1998)
1993 Spirit Rider Albert St. Clair TV movie
Medicine River Harlen Bigbear TV movie
The Diviners Jules TV movie
Nominated–Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
1994 Street Legal David Cormier TV series (2 Episodes)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Lakanta TV series (1 Episode)
1995 Great Canadian Ghost Stories Host
500 Nations voice TV Miniseries
1996 The Adventures of Shirley Holmes Mac TV series (1 Episode)
1999 Grizzly Falls Joshua McTavish
2000 Trial by Fire Peter Kenidi TV movie
The Longhouse Tales Hector Longhouse Main Role; TV Series
2001 Dream Storm Peter Kenidi TV movie
2002 Tom Stone Ray Swiftwater TV series (1 Episode)
Relic Hunter Bobby Green TV series (1 Episode)
2005 Mee-Shee: The Water Giant Custer
Distant Drumming: A North of 60 Mystery Peter Kenidi TV movie
2006 Skinwalkers Will
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Chief Johnson TV series (1 Episode)
2007 Little Mosque on the Prairie Professor Crakle TV series (1 Episode)
2011 Befriend and Betray Guy Poirier TV movie
2012 Deadfall Old Native American Hunter
2014 The Dependables Sgt. Robinson
The Best Laid Plans George TV series (2 Episodes)
2018 Cardinal Lloyd Kreeger TV series (4 Episodes)
2019 Cold Pursuit White Bull
2019; 2022 Outlander Tehwahsehkwe Main role; (3 Episodes)
2021 Supergirl Warden Wyatt Kote TV series (1 episode)
2023 Sullivan's Crossing Frank Cranebear Series regular

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album
1990 Sally Ann
Love, Lust and Longing
1994 No Regrets
1997 Home This Christmas
That Side of the Window
2001 I Will Bring You Near
2006 Singing for Supper on Tour
2011 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
2015 Ballads Not Bullets
2018 The Essential

Singles

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Year Single CAN Country Album
1993 "No Regrets" 43 No Regrets
1995 "Few and Far Between" 47
"Humble Me"
1997 "Dance with the Devil" That Side of the Window
1998 "Before the Owl Calls My Name"
"That Side of the Window"
2002 "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" I Will Bring You Near
2011 "The Gift" 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
2015 "Blue Water" Ballads Not Bullets

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mini Bio". IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Pride of Lions". at the Internet Movie Database.
  3. ^ Brown, Jane. "Aboriginal Faces of Saskatchewan - Tom Jackson". Saskatchewan Sage - April 1998 - p. 6. Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre. Archived from the original on 24 February 2001. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Tom Jackson to receive 2007 Humanitarian Award for his Unwavering Support to Canada's Hungry and Underprivileged" (PDF). Toronto. 5 December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2023. (46.2 KiB)
  5. ^ "Tom Jackson". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Admissions Content".
  7. ^ "Governor General Announces 114 New Appointments to the Order of Canada". 26 November 2020.
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Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of Trent University
2009-2013
Succeeded by