Paul Gross

Paul Michael Gross OC (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian actor, producer, director, singer, and writer born in Calgary, Alberta. He is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the television series "Due South" as well as his 2008 war film "Passchendaele", which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. During "Due South"'s final season, Gross acted as executive producer in addition to starring, wrote the season three opener and finale, the two part series finale and wrote and sang songs for the show, some of which can be found on the two "Due South" soundtracks. He later found success with another Canadian TV series, "Slings & Arrows". He also produced one film with Akshay Kumar called "Speedy Singhs" starring Camilla Belle and Vinay Virmani.
Early life.
Gross was born in Calgary, Alberta, the son of Renie Gross (née Dunne), a writer and art historian, and Robert "Bob" Gross, a career soldier, colonel, and tank commander. His family moved to Arlington, Virginia in his adolescence, where Gross attended Yorktown High School. He credits drama teacher Timothy Jecko as his inspiration for becoming an actor: "I'm not sure where I would have ended up otherwise."
Career.
Gross studied acting at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, but he left during the third year of his study. He went back later to complete the half-credit needed to receive his fine arts degree. He appeared in several stage productions, such as "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet". Other productions in which he appeared include "Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme" and "As You Like It". His student work "The Deer and the Antelope Play" was co-produced by the university’s department of drama and Theatre Network, and won both the Clifford E. Lee National Playwriting Award and the Alberta Culture Playwriting Award.
After the play "Successful Strangers", Gross starred in his first movie, "Turning to Stone".
He wrote and directed the curling movie "Men with Brooms". He wrote, co-produced, directed and starred in the Genie Award-winning film "Passchendaele", inspired by stories he heard from his grandfather, a First World War soldier.
From September 16, 2011, he appeared in a production of Noël Coward's "Private Lives" in Toronto co-starring Kim Cattrall (the production ended October 30, 2011); the production moved to Broadway where it opened November 6, and closed on December 31, 2011.
More recently, Gross completed work on the contemporary war drama "Hyena Road", released on October 9, 2015.
Between 2011 and 2014 he appeared in 9 episodes as Kevin Crocker on "Republic of Doyle".
"Due South".
His role as upright Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Benton Fraser in the "Due South" television series brought him increased recognition. Like fellow actor David Marciano, he didn't want to do the show at first, and creator Paul Haggis didn't even know if he wanted Gross for the role, but following a meeting, he was cast as Constable Benton Fraser.
When "Due South" was revived for the third season, Gross returned in the role of Benton Fraser. He also took on duties as executive producer and writer. He earned an estimated salary of $2–3 million per season, and at the time was the highest-paid performer in Canadian television history. He wrote several episodes of the last season of the series. His favourite episodes include "Gift of the Wheelman" and "All the Queen's Horses" and his episodes "Mountie on the Bounty" and "Call of the Wild" are of a similar style.
Personal life.
In September 1988, Gross married Canadian actress Martha Burns. The couple have two children, Hannah and Jack.
Honours.
<br>