Harry Gulkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Gulkin
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Gulkin in May 2016
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| Born | November 14, 1927 |
| Died | July 23, 2018 (aged 90) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Children | 3, including Sarah Polley |
Harry Gulkin (born November 14, 1927 – died July 23, 2018) was a Canadian filmmaker and arts leader from Montreal, Quebec. He was known for producing the movie Lies My Father Told Me, which won a special award called the Golden Globe. He also worked in theatre and managed many cultural projects.
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Harry Gulkin's Early Life
Harry Gulkin was born in Montreal. His parents, Raya and Peter Gulkin, were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Before World War II ended, Harry left high school to join the merchant marines. After his service, he returned to Montreal and started working to help people in his community.
He then joined a newspaper called the Canadian Tribune. There, he worked as an art critic, writing about art, and also helped manage the business side of the newspaper. Later, he worked as a marketing executive for a large supermarket chain called Steinberg's.
Making Movies and Arts Leadership
In 1970, Harry Gulkin decided he wanted to make films. His first big success was the 1975 drama movie Lies My Father Told Me. This film was based on a story by Ted Allan. It was nominated for an Academy Award for its screenplay and won a Golden Globe for being the best foreign film.
From 1983 to 1987, Gulkin was the director of the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts. This is a place where people can learn about and enjoy different types of art. In 1987, he started working as a project manager for the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles. He worked there for 20 years, helping to develop cultural businesses.
Harry Gulkin's Films
Here are some of the movies Harry Gulkin helped create:
- 1975 – Lies My Father Told Me
- 1978 – Two Solitudes
- 1978 – Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
- 1985 – Bayo
- 2005 – Red Dawn on Main Street
Harry Gulkin's Family
Harry Gulkin married Ruth Penner in 1950. They had two children together: Catherine, born in 1954, and James Peter, born in 1957. Later, he married Marie Murphy in 1990.
His daughter, Sarah Polley, is also a well-known filmmaker. In her 2012 documentary film Stories We Tell, it was shared that Harry was her biological father.
Harry's granddaughter, Corey Gulkin, is a singer and songwriter. One of her songs, "Green Mountain State," can be heard in the credits of Sarah Polley's movie Take This Waltz. Corey also wrote a song called "All the Things I'll Forget" as a tribute to her grandfather. She even appears briefly in the documentary Harry Gulkin: Red Dawn on Main Street.
