Chris Potter (actor)
Christopher Jay Potter (born August 23, 1960) is a Canadian actor, director, musician, and pitchman. He is primarily known for his roles on soap operas and prime-time television. Potter is known for his roles as Peter Caine, the son of Kwai Chang Caine (played by David Carradine) on the 1990s crime drama Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Dr. David Cameron on the first season of Queer as Folk, as the voice of Gambit in the animated X-Men series, and for his recurring role as con-artist Evan Owen on The Young and the Restless. He plays Tim Fleming on the drama Heartland.
Early life edit
The oldest of three children, Potter was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Ron Potter, an ex-pro-football player and insurance executive, and Judith Potter, a singer.[1] Potter was raised in London, Ontario and attended Oakridge Secondary School. He developed an interest in sports as well as in music and community theater.[1]
Potter wanted a career as a professional athlete; however, his father would not permit it. He later quit college to start a career as a rock musician. He discovered a love for the theater and became a professional stage actor. He also worked on an oil rig in Northern Canada, sold cars, and later became an insurance salesman. He left the insurance company to start his career on TV, as an actor and a pitchman.
Career edit
After being a spokesman on many commercials in the 1980s, and his role in Material World, he finally made his mark in TV playing David Carradine's son and crime-fighting partner, Det. Peter Caine on Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, after receiving a contract with Warner Bros. in 1992, and remained close friends with Carradine until his death in 2009.[2] His first role, in 1993, was a hit in both Canada and United States. He also appeared on Silk Stalkings and provided the voice of Gambit for at least the first four seasons of the X-Men animated series.[3]
Potter was featured in Rocket's Red Glare (2000). He appeared on the first season as Dr. David Cameron on Queer as Folk opposite Hal Sparks, and he starred in a mini-series A Wrinkle in Time (2003) for ABC. He also co-starred with Joely Fisher in Wild Card from 2003 to 2005. Potter also appeared in Spymate (2006). He also played Graydon Jennings in the movie Thrill of The Kill.
The following year, he landed another role opposite Amber Marshall in the CBC Television series Heartland playing the role of Tim Fleming.[2] Also in 2007, Potter joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in a recurring role as Evan Owen, playing opposite Judith Chapman, with whom he had previously appeared on an episode of Silk Stalkings; Potter remained on The Young and the Restless until being written out in early 2008.[4]
From 2008 to 2014 Potter was in a series of TV movies featuring The Good Witch, portraying Jake Russell. On three of the films, The Good Witch's Charm, The Good Witch's Destiny and The Good Witch's Wonder, he was co-executive producer. One of his co-stars Catherine Disher had previously worked with him, on the X-Men and two episodes of KF:TLC.[5] Potter was unable to continue the role on the Good Witch television series because of scheduling conflicts with his work on Heartland.[6]
Personal life edit
Potter is married to Karen, and they have four children.[5]
Selected filmography edit
Films edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Waiting Game | Adrian Seville | |
| 2000 | Spiders | Hero | |
| 2000 | Rocket's Red Glare | Tom Young | |
| 2001 | The Shrink Is In | Jonathon | |
| Arachnid | Lev Valentine | ||
| Final Jeopardy | Jed Seigel | ||
| 2003 | Rush of Fear | Sam Bryant | |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Dr Jack Murry | ||
| 2004 | Open House | David Morrow | |
| Right Hook: A Tall Tail | Fisherman | Short film | |
| Sex Traffic | Tom Harlsburgh | ||
| 2005 | The Pacifier | Captain Bill Fawcett | |
| Trump Unauthorized | Fred Trump Jr., adult | ||
| 2006 | Spymate | Mike Muggins | |
| 2007 | Superstorm | Dan Abrams | |
| 2008 | The Good Witch | Jake Russell | |
| 2009 | The Good Witch's Garden | Jake Russell | |
| 2010 | The Good Witch's Gift | Jake Russell | |
| 2011 | A Warrior's Heart | Seamus "Sully" Sullivan | |
| The Good Witch's Family | Jake Russell | ||
| 2012 | The Good Witch's Charm | Jake Russell | |
| 2013 | The Hunt | Bart | Short film |
| The Good Witch's Destiny | Jake Russell | ||
| 2014 | The Good Witch's Wonder | Jake Russell | |
| 2015 | Angels in the Snow | Charles Montgomery |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | War of the Worlds | Episode: "The Walls of Jericho" | |
| 1989 | Katts and Dog | Episode: "Fatal Obsession" | |
| Street Legal | Episode: "Confession" | ||
| Knightwatch | Episode: "Cops: Part 2" | ||
| 1990-1992 | Top Cops | Various | 6 episodes |
| Material World | Tim Lyons | Seasons 1-3 | |
| 1992 | Counterstrike | Episode: "The Three Tramps" | |
| 1992-1996 | X-Men | Remy LeBeau / Gambit | Voice |
| 1993-1997 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Peter Caine | Main cast 88 episodes |
| 1995 | Spider-Man | Remy LeBeau / Gambit (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | The Nightmare Stepbrother | Adrian Williams | Television movie |
| 1996-2000 | Legends of Achilles | Achilles (voice) | Lead role 96 episodes |
| 1996-1999 | Silk Stalkings | Detective Sergeant Tom Ryan | Main cast 66 episodes |
| 1999 | The Outer Limits | Episode: "Stranded" | |
| 2000 | Queer as Folk | Dr. David Cameron | Recurring role (Season 1) |
| Will & Grace | Michael | Episode: "Hey La, Hey La, My Ex-Boyfriend's Back" | |
| 2001 | Touched by an Angel | Episode: "Angels Anonymous" | |
| 2003 | Andromeda | Episode: "The Right Horse" | |
| 2003-2005 | Wild Card aka Zoe Busiek: Wild Card | Dan Lennox | Co-lead |
| 2004 | One Tree Hill | Ray Green | Episode: "I'm wide awake, it's morning" |
| 2004-2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2 episodes | |
| 2005 | One Tree Hill | Episode: "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" | |
| 2007 | The Young and the Restless | Evan Owen | |
| 2007-present | Heartland | Tim Fleming | Main Cast |
Director edit
- Heartland
- episode #45: "The Happy List" - January 31, 2010
- episode #64: "The River" - February 27, 2011
- episode #65: "Never Surrender" - March 6, 2011
- episode #98: "Waiting For Tomorrow" - February 10, 2013
- episode #110: "Best Man" - November 17, 2013
- episode #111: "Hotshot" - December 1, 2013
- episode #128: "Walk a Mile" - November 9, 2014
- episode #129: "The Family Tree" - November 23, 2014
- episode #144: "Back in the Saddle" - November 1, 2015
- episode #145: "Over and Out" - November 8, 2015
- episode #164: "Riding Shotgun" - November 13, 2016
- episode #165: "Here and Now" - November 20, 2016
- episode #182: "Our Sons and Daughters" - November 12, 2017
- episode #183: "Truth Be Told" - November 19, 2017
- episode #194: "Dare to Dream" - January 6, 2019
- episode #195: "Hearts Run Free" - January 13, 2019
- episode #200: "Running Scared" - March 3, 2019
- episode #211: "The Art of Trust" - November 3, 2019
- episode #212: "Legacy" - November 10, 2019
- episode #217: "Making Amends" - January 24, 2021
- Silk Stalkings
- episode #168: "It's The Great Pumpkin, Harry" - January 24, 1999
- episode #160: "Hidden Agenda" - August 30, 1998
- episode #154: "Genius" - April 19, 1998
References edit
- ^ a b "Ex-Londoner Chris Potter has forged a long, successful career in TV". The London Free Press. November 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Chris Potter : Canadian TV's Busiest Actor". jamesbawden.blogspot.ca. October 2, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ "Saturday Morning Rewind: Cartoon Podcast". saturdaymorningrewind.podbean.com. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ "Spotlight on Y&R's Chris Potter". soapoperadigest.com. May 16, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "Chris Potter Actor | Magazine Interview with Chris Potter". yourteenmag.com. October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ "Why did Good Witch; kill off Jake? Catherine Bell explains". zap2it.com. March 7, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
External links edit
- Chris Potter at IMDb