Ron Canada

Ronald Ellis Canada (born May 3, 1949) is an American journalist and actor with a speciality in portraying judges and detectives.

Career
Following completion of the Michele Clark broadcast journalism program at Columbia University, under the guidance of producer Fred Friendly, Canada commenced his career as a television news reporter in 1971 at WBAL-TV. In 1974, he began his three-year tenure at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. For his work in the nation’s capital, Canada was nominated twice for Regional Emmy Awards, receiving the award in 1977. The following year he received an A.P. Award for Outstanding Reporting.

He began his acting career in 1978. While making the career transition he worked part-time as a broadcaster for The Voice of America (U.S. Information Agency). He studied acting at The Folger Theatre Group under the tutelage of Franchelle Stewart Dorn. He moved from D.C. to New York in 1985. Shortly thereafter he became the second actor to play the role of ‘Troy Maxson’ in August Wilson’s Fences at The GeVa Theatre in Rochester, New York (January 1986).

Canada has had a long career in both television and film, known primarily for his work in Cinderella Man, Wedding Crashers, and his recurring role as Under Secretary of State Ted Barrow on The West Wing. In 1996, Ron received the Dallas Film Critics Award and significant national attention for his performance as "Otis Payne" in John Sayles's film Lone Star.

He played the role of Iago in Shakespeare's Othello at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Other notable stage credits include his role as Emmet Tate in Zooman and The Sign at New York's Signature Theatre and originating the role of Duncan Troy in Headstrong at The Ensemble Studio Theatre, which earned him an Audelco Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor.

Filmography

 * The Man Who Wasn't There (1983) as Barker
 * D.C. Cab (1983) as Police Officer #4
 * Good to Go (1986) as Stooper
 * Adventures in Babysitting (1987) as Graydon
 * Heart (1987) as Talk Show Guest
 * Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) as Bartender
 * Dallas (1989, TV Series) as Dave Wallace
 * Downtown (1990) as Lowell Harris
 * The Last of the Finest (1990) as Cregan
 * Cheers (1990, TV Series) as Agent Munson
 * Stat (1991, TV Series) as Anderson "Mary" Roche
 * Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992, Episode: "The Masterpiece Society") as Martin Benbeck
 * A Different World (1992, TV Series) as Grover James
 * Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) as Marshall Brooks
 * Play Nice (1992) as Coroner
 * Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) as Times Square police officer
 * Getting Even with Dad (1994) as Zinn
 * Babylon 5 (1994, Episode: "A Voice in the Wilderness, part 2") as Capt. Ellis Pierce
 * Man of the House (1995) as Bob Younger
 * Above Suspicion (1995) as Captain Lindsay
 * Family Matters (1995, Episode: "Walking My Baby Back Home") as Dave McClure
 * The American President (1995) as Lloyd
 * Living Single (1995, TV Series) as Lanny Freedan
 * Lone Star (1996) as nightclub owner Otis "Big O" Payne
 * Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1996, Episode: "Rules of Engagement") as Ch'Pok
 * Pinocchio's Revenge (1996) as Barry
 * Tracey Takes On... (1996-1997, TV Series) as Lawrence
 * Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD (1998, TV Movie) as Gabe Jones
 * Park Day (1998) as Mr. Johnson
 * Star Trek: Voyager (1999, Episode: "Juggernaut") as Fesek
 * In Too Deep (1999) as Dr. Bratton
 * Death of a Dog (2000) as Hassan
 * The X-Files (2001, Episode: "Empedocles") as Det. Franklin Potter
 * Thank Heaven (2001) as Joseph Johnson
 * One on One (2001-2004, TV Series) as Richard Barnes (father of Flex)
 * Frasier (2002, Episode: "The Ring Cycle") as Judge Anderson
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003, Episode: "Fight Night") as Gerry Barone
 * The United States of Leland (2003) as Elden
 * The Hunted (2003) as FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Van Zandt
 * The Human Stain (2003) as Herb Keble
 * The Shield (2003-2004, TV Series) as LAPD Chief of Police Tom Bankston
 * The West Wing (2003-2006, TV Series) as Under Secretary of State Theodore Barrow
 * Ground Control II: Operation Exodus (2004, Video Game) as Drahk'Mar Vicath (voice)
 * National Treasure (2004) as Guard Woodruff
 * Jack & Bobby (2004-2005, TV Series) as Adult Marcus Ride
 * Cinderella Man (2005) as Joe Jeanette
 * Wedding Crashers (2005) as Randolph, the Clearys' Butler
 * Just Like Heaven (2005) as Dr. Walsh
 * Islander (2006) as T. Hardy
 * Paved with Good Intentions (2006) as Garrett Balden
 * Weeds (2006, TV Series) as Joseph
 * 7th Heaven (2006, TV Series) as Dr. Sergey Barker
 * Ugly Betty (2006-2007, TV Series) as Senator Slater
 * Boston Legal (2006-2008, TV Series) as Judge Willard Reese
 * Stargate SG-1 (2007, TV Series) as Quartus
 * Snowglobe (2007, TV Movie) as Antonio Moreno
 * Law & Order (2008, Episode: "Bottomless") as Mr. Fuller
 * Ocean of Pearls (2008) as Dr. Wiiliam Ballard
 * Noble Things (2008) as Moses
 * The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008) as Mr. Bennett
 * Bob Funk (2009) as Smiley
 * The Mentalist (2009, Episode: "Red Scare") as Philip Raimey
 * Let's Stay Together (2011) as Garrison Lawrence
 * Life Tracker (2013) as Uriel Patterson
 * Blue Bloods (2013, TV Series) as Deputy Director Tom Mason
 * Child of Grace (2014) as Doctor
 * Grimm (2014, TV Series) as Stan Kingston
 * Ted 2 (2015) as Judge Matheson
 * After Words (2015) as Nelson
 * The Strain (2015, TV Series) as Mayor George Lyle
 * The Discovery (2017) as Cooper
 * Crown Heights (2017) as Judge Marcy
 * Designated Survivor (2017, TV Series) as Reverend Dale
 * Bully (2018) as Mr. 'Action' Jackson
 * The Empty Man (2019) as Detective Villiers