Brent Carver facts for kids

Brent Carver (born November 17, 1951 – died August 4, 2020) was a talented Canadian actor. He was famous around the world for his amazing performances on stage, especially in London's West End and on Broadway. He won a big award called the Tony Award in 1993 for his role as Molina in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. He was also nominated for another Tony Award later for his role as Leo Frank in the musical Parade.

Brent Carver's Early Life

Brent Carver was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia. His family had roots in Wales and Ireland. His mother, Lois, was a clerk, and his father, Kenneth, worked in the lumber business.

Brent was the third of seven children. He was the only one in his family who went into acting. He almost became a teacher, but he loved theatre too much to stop. He studied at the University of British Columbia from 1969 to 1972. Brent enjoyed singing from a young age, often with his father who played the guitar. His favorite actors were Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis.

Brent Carver's Acting Career

Brent Carver was known for many different roles in plays and movies. Some of his notable films include The Wars and Lilies. On stage, he played Gandalf in the Toronto musical version of The Lord of the Rings. He also performed in many plays with the Soulpepper Theatre Company. For example, he was the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance in 1985.

Brent also acted in television series. He played the character Leo in the show Leo and Me from 1977 to 1978.

Broadway and Awards

Brent Carver made his first appearance in the United States in the play The Tempest. He played Ariel, while famous actor Anthony Hopkins played Prospero. Brent won a Dora Award for his role as Horst in the play Bent.

He worked a lot with Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the 1980s. He even played the main character in a rock version of Hamlet. Later, in 2000, he played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

In 1993, Brent won a Tony Award, which is one of the highest honors in American theatre. He dedicated this award to his friend, Canadian actress Susan Wright. In May 2014, Brent received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. This is Canada's top award for people in the performing arts. It honored his lifetime of contributions to Canadian theatre.

Other Notable Roles

Brent Carver played Ichabod Crane in the 1999 TV movie The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He also played the main character, Harry, in an episode of the TV series Twice in a Lifetime. In 2002, he played the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci in a film called Leonardo: A Dream of Flight.

In 2003, Brent performed in an Off-Broadway play called My Life With Albertine. He played an older version of the character Marcel and also the Narrator. This play was nominated for a Drama League Award.

In 2016, Brent performed in a musical show called Walk Me to the Corner in Toronto.

Brent Carver's Passing

Brent Carver passed away on August 4, 2020, at his home in Cranbrook. He was 68 years old.

Brent Carver's Credits

Filmography

Theatre

• Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1972)
• Bent (1981)
• Hamlet (1986)
• Cabaret (1987)
• Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love (1990)
• Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993–1995)
• Cyrano de Bergerac (1994)
• Richard II (1995)
• High Life (1996)
• Don Carlos (1998)
• Parade (1998–1999)
• Fiddler on the Roof (2000)
• Larry's Party (2001)
• King Lear (2004)
• Lord of the Rings (2006)
• The Elephant Man (2007)
• As You Like It (2010)
• Romeo and Juliet (2013)
• Evangeline (2015)
• Twelfth Night (2017)
• The School for Scandal (2017)