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Brian Downey (actor)

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Brian Downey
Downey sitting with fellow guests at the second annual Sci-Fi on the Rock convention on 20 April 2008
Born (1944-10-31) 31 October 1944 (age 79)
NationalityCanadian
Occupationactor
Years active1986–present

Brian Downey (born 31 October 1944 in St. John's, Newfoundland)[1] is a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Stanley Tweedle in the science-fiction television series Lexx.

Career

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Downey is a character actor who has appeared in various films and guest starring roles on TV, including Up at Ours and a recurring role on Millennium. His first film role was in a 1986 Andy Jones film called The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood, which features the entire cast of CODCO. Downey has enjoyed a long professional relationship with Lexx creator Paul Donovan, dating back at least to 1988, when Donovan cast Downey in the time travel adventure film Norman's Awesome Experience.[2]

Downey would star on Lexx through four made-for-TV films and the subsequent three-season TV series. He also appeared as Cardinal Juan de Mella in Donovan's medieval TV thriller The Conclave. Downey has worked with Jessica Lange, JoBeth Williams, Sam Rockwell, and directors such as Joe Sargent. He won the only acting award at the 2010 Atlantic Film Festival for his role in Whirligig, directed by Chaz Thorne, with whom he has worked on two previous features. He played the evil gang leader "The Drake",[3] who runs the town in the feature film Hobo with a Shotgun, starring Rutger Hauer and directed by Jason Eisener.[4]

Downey is also a musician and writer. Before being recruited as an actor, he spent many years as a bass player, guitarist, and blues harmonica player. As of 2020, a Canadian talent management firm advertises him as a big band bandleader and drummer, playing swing music.[5] He has been a writer for many stage plays and has led many scriptwriting workshops. His first full-length stage play, Peter's Other War, was produced during the summer of 2009.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood Fred Bonia-Coombs
1986 John and the Missus Burgess
1989 Norman's Awesome Experience Dr. Nobbelmeyer
1989 George's Island Mr. Beane
1992 Secret Nation Charles Maddox
2002 Little Dickie[6] Bartender Short Film
2006 The Conclave Cardinal Juan De Mella
2007 Snow Angels Frank Marchand
2007 Poor Boy's Game Boxing Official
2007 Just Buried Pickles
2010 Whirligig[7][8] Al
2011 Hobo with a Shotgun Drake
2012 The Disappeared[9][10] Gerald
2013 Copperhead Preacher Taggart
2014 Beethoven's Treasure Tail Norman the Magician
2016 The Healer Henry

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Up at Ours Derek TV mini series
1982 Joey Captain Joe TV movie
1986 The Beachcombers Milo
1998 Loyal Opposition: Terror in the White House Ben Harrison TV movie
1996-2002 Lexx Stanley H. Tweedle Main cast
1997-1998 Millennium Medical Examiner, Mr. Dean 3 episodes
2003 Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion Capt. Horatio Brannen 2 episodes
2006 Candles on Bay Street Cee Jay TV movie
2007 Sybil Willard TV movie
2009 G-Spot Priest 1 episode
2010 Haven Sal Fortuna 1 episode
2014 Lizzie Borden Took an Ax Jury Foreman TV movie
2015 The Lizzie Borden Chronicles Jury Foreman TV mini series
2017 Trailer Park Boys Sonny 2 episodes
2017-2019 Pure Bishop Bergen 7 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Brian Downey's bio at Northernstars
  2. ^ Norman's Awesome Experience synopsis & credits at radiotimes.com
  3. ^ "Hobo with a Shotgun: Tramp champ" by Peter Howell at www.thestar.com
  4. ^ "Faux-Grindhouse at its Finest: Celebrating 10 Years of ‘Hobo with a Shotgun’!" By Luiz H. C. at bloody-disgusting.com
  5. ^ "Metcalfe Music Entertainment - Promoting - Jazz (Smooth and Big Band)".
  6. ^ "From The Bread Maker to the short Little Dickie" by Distin Dinoff at playbackonline.ca
  7. ^ "Thorne comedy looks at boomerang kids" by Emily Claire Afan at playbackonline.ca
  8. ^ "Whirligig: Low-key indie flick just a little too pat" by James Adams at www.theglobeandmail.com
  9. ^ "Rouge Sang, The Disappeared win at Canadian Film Fest" by Danielle Ng See Quan at playbackonline.ca
  10. ^ "This Week in… Festivals" at thatshelf.com
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