Murray Westgate facts for kids

Murray Westgate (born April 16, 1918 – died August 27, 2018) was a famous Canadian actor. He was best known for appearing in TV commercials for Esso gasoline. These ads were shown during Hockey Night in Canada in the 1950s and 1960s. He also acted in movies like Blue City Slammers and Two Solitudes. For Blue City Slammers, he was even nominated for a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Early Life and Military Service

Before he became an actor, Murray Westgate served his country. He was a radio operator in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. After the war, he moved to Vancouver. There, he joined a theater group called Everyman Theatre. Later, he started acting in radio plays for CBC Radio.

Acting Career Highlights

Murray Westgate started appearing in Esso commercials in 1952. Esso was the main sponsor for Hockey Night in Canada. He played the role of an Esso gas station attendant until 1968. Many people recognized him from these popular commercials.

Television and Film Roles

Besides commercials, Westgate acted in several TV shows. These included Jake and the Kid, R.C.M.P., and Seaway. He also had parts in movies. Sometimes, it was hard for him to get other roles because he was so well-known as the Esso attendant. This is called being typecast. In 1979, he won an ACTRA Award for his acting in the CBC Television film Tyler.

Awards and Final Role

In 2002, Murray Westgate was honored. He was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His last acting job was in 1991. He was 72 years old. He played his famous Esso attendant character again for two new commercials. These ads were shown during the Stanley Cup playoffs. They even included old black-and-white clips from his original Esso ads.

Later Life and Passing

Murray Westgate lived a long life. He turned 100 years old on April 16, 2018. He passed away on August 27, 2018. He died at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto. He had lived there for over ten years.

Personal Life

Murray Westgate was married to an actress named Alice Hill. She passed away in 1983.

Filmography

Here are some of the movies Murray Westgate appeared in: