Kenneth Welsh
Acting • Born 1942-03-30 – Died 2022-05-05
Biography
Kenneth Welsh, CM (March 30, 1942 – May 5, 2022) was a Canadian film and television actor (sometimes credited as Ken Welsh). He was known to Twin Peaks fans as the multi-faceted villain Windom Earle, and had more recently played the father of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. In 1984 he was nominated for a Genie Award as Best Actor for his portrayal of Reno Colt in the film "Reno and the Doc", written and directed by Charles Dennis. In 1997 Welsh directed Dennis in the latter's play "SoHo Duo" at the West Bank Theatre in New York City. Welsh was born in Edmonton, Alberta to a father who worked for the Canadian National Railway. He grew up in Alberta and studied drama at school. He later moved to Montreal and attended the National Theatre School. Following graduation, he auditioned for the Stratford Festival in Ontario and then spent the first seven years of his career on stage. Welsh has portrayed historical figures including Thomas E. Dewey, Colin Thatcher, Harry S. Truman (twice), Thomas Edison, James "Scotty" Reston, General Harry Crerar and James Baker. He has made guest appearances on the acclaimed TV series Due South and Slings and Arrows. In 2003, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. His role as the Vice-President of the United States in the 2004 environmental disaster film The Day After Tomorrow sparked some controversy due to his physical resemblance to Dick Cheney, who at the time was the real Vice President. Director Roland Emmerich later confirmed that he deliberately chose Welsh for that very reason. Emmerich stated that the character of the Vice-President in the film was intended to be a not-so-subtle criticism of the environmental policies of the Presidency of George W. Bush. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenneth Welsh, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
201 credits
The Day After Tomorrow
Movie • 2004
Vice President Becker
The Fog
Movie • 2005
Tom Malone
Witchblade
Movie • 2000
Joe Siri
Legends of the Fall
Movie • 1994
Sheriff Tynert
One Way
Movie • 2006
William Henderson
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Movie • 2005
Dr. Mueller
Four Brothers
Movie • 2005
Robert Bradford
Timecop
Movie • 1994
Utley
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Movie • 2000
Dr. Watson
Adoration
Movie • 2009
Morris
The Covenant
Movie • 2006
Provost Higgins
Chicanery
Movie • 2017
Pringle Hewitt
Liberace: Behind the Music
Movie • 1988
Hideaway
Movie • 1995
Detective Breech
Death Wish V: The Face of Death
Movie • 1994
Lt. Mickey King
Survival of the Dead
Movie • 2010
Patrick O'Flynn
Miracle
Movie • 2004
Doc Nagobads
The Last Best Year
Movie • 1990
Jerry
Silk
Movie • 2007
Mayor Joncour
Our Fathers
Movie • 2005
Bishop Murphy
Of Unknown Origin
Movie • 1983
James Hall
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster
Movie • 1992
Sam Skinner
Dancing In The Dark
Movie • 1995
Dr. Bel
Eloise at the Plaza
Movie • 2003
Sir Wilkes
The Day Reagan Was Shot
Movie • 2001
James Baker
Straight Line
Movie • 1989
Dr. Hammel
Midnight at the Paradise
Movie • 2022
Max
The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire
Movie • 2002
Dr. Watson
Grey Gardens
Movie • 2009
Max Gordon
Margaret's Museum
Movie • 1995
Angus MacNeil
The Sign of Four
Movie • 2001
Dr. Watson
A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride
Movie • 2008
Jack
Habitat
Movie • 1997
Coach Marlowe
The Royal Scandal
Movie • 2001
Dr. Watson
Eloise at Christmastime
Movie • 2003
Sir Wilkes
The Snow Queen
Movie • 2005
King
Loyalties
Movie • 1987
David Sutton
Rowing Through
Movie • 1996
Harry Parker
And Then There Was One
Movie • 1994
David Burns
Loose Ends
Movie • 1986
Elder Seth
Hiroshima
Movie • 1995
President Harry S Truman
Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher
Movie • 2002
Dr. James Franken
Who Killed Atlanta's Children?
Movie • 2000
William Kunstler
The Story of Luke
Movie • 2013
Jonas
Reno and the Doc
Movie • 1984
Reno
And Then You Die
Movie • 1987
Eddie Griffin
Tell Me That You Love Me
Movie • 1983
David
Kissinger and Nixon
Movie • 1995
James 'Scotty' Reston
The Great Dinosaur Hunt
Movie • 1993
Narrator
Vanished
Movie • 1995
Bill Palmer
Afterwards
Movie • 2025
Garen
Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks
Movie • 2007
Thanks of a Grateful Nation
Movie • 1998
Sen. Shelby
Adrift
Movie • 1993
Guy Nast
Dead Silence
Movie • 1997
Sheriff Lenny Budd
Wet Bum
Movie • 2014
Ed
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Movie • 2008
Uncle Hendrick
Escape Clause
Movie • 1996
Owen Jessop
Champagne Charlie
Movie • 1989
John Whistlow
Piaf
Movie • 1984
Police Inspector / Georges / Physiotherapist
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Movie • 1998
Caz Hollowitz
Whale Music
Movie • 1994
Kenneth Sexstone
Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story
Movie • 1992
Michael Schottland
The Big Slice
Movie • 1991
Lieutenant Bernard
Christmas in America
Movie • 1989
Harry Morgan
The Art of the Steal
Movie • 2013
'Uncle' Paddy MacCarthy
F.D.R.: The Last Year
Movie • 1980
Thomas E. Dewey
Bonds of Love
Movie • 1993
Judge
The Ballad of Immortal Joe
Movie • 2015
Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story
Movie • 1993
Don Eisenberg
Double Negative
Movie • 1980
Dr. Klifter
Piaf
Movie • 1974
Campton Manor
Movie • 2024
Lawrence
The Freshman
Movie • 1990
Dwight Armstrong
The Widowmaker
Movie • 1990
Atkinson
The Conspiracy of Fear
Movie • 1996
Captain Rose
The Void
Movie • 2016
Dr. Richard Powell
The Climb
Movie • 1986
Walter Frauenberger
Deliberate Intent
Movie • 2000
Peder Lund
Cottage Country
Movie • 2013
Earl
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Movie • 2007
Dr. Jeff Wagner
Portraits of a Killer
Movie • 1996
Jim Miller
The Aviator
Movie • 2004
Dr. Hepburn
A Nutcracker Christmas
Movie • 2016
Dimitri
Sanctuary
Movie • 2001
Sam Hathaway
Another Woman
Movie • 1988
Donald
The January Man
Movie • 1989
Roger Culver
Awakening the Zodiac
Movie • 2017
Ben
The Pentagon Papers
Movie • 2003
John McNaughon
Undercover Grandpa
Movie • 2017
Harry
The War Boy
Movie • 1985
Stephan Berecky
Covergirl
Movie • 1984
Harrison
Love and Murder
Movie • 2000
Isaak Levin
Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story
Movie • 1998
Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story
Movie • 1995
Mr. Higgins
Boozecan
Movie • 1994
Tim
Bye Bye Love
Movie • 1993
David
The Good Fight
Movie • 1992
Dick Chandler
Vendetta
Movie • 1999
Mayor Joe Shakspeare
The House on Carroll Street
Movie • 1988
Hackett
Christmas on Division Street
Movie • 1991
David Atwood
Lost!
Movie • 1986
Another Woman
Movie • 1994
Dr. Kenneth Holcross
Category 7: The End of the World
Movie • 2005
Alan Horst
Bailey's Billion$
Movie • 2005
Mouse Delaney
And the Birds Rained Down
Movie • 2019
Boychuck
Love Come Down
Movie • 2000
Ira Rosen
Absolute Power
Movie • 1997
Sandy Lord
Perfectly Normal
Movie • 1991
Charlie Glesby
Physical Evidence
Movie • 1989
Harry Norton
The School for Scandal
Movie • 1975
Charles Surface
The Murdoch Mysteries: Under the Dragon's Tail
Movie • 2005
Inspector Ramsgate
Cold Blooded
Movie • 2000
Chief Inspector Brodsky
Dead Husbands
Movie • 1998
Chase Woodward
Falling in Love
Movie • 1984
Doctor
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way
Movie • 1997
George Steinbrenner
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
Movie • 2005
professor Wójcik
Perfect
Movie • 1985
Joe McKenzie
Crocodile Dundee II
Movie • 1988
Brannigan
Phobia
Movie • 1980
Sergeant Wheeler
Dieppe
Movie • 1993
Maj. Gen. Harry Crerar
Heartburn
Movie • 1986
Dr. Appel
Love & Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher
Movie • 1989
Colin Thatcher
The Middle Man
Movie • 2021
Mr. Miller
Radio Days
Movie • 1987
Radio Voice (voice)
Haven
Movie • 2001
Harry Truman
The Wild Guys
Movie • 2004
Andy
The Riverbank
Movie • 2012
Joe Mason
A Stranger Waits
Movie • 1987
Richard Miller
Mind Prey
Movie • 1999
Tower Manette
G-Saviour
Movie • 1999
General Garneaux
Getting Gotti
Movie • 1994
Bennett
The Wrong Guy
Movie • 1997
Mr. Nagel
Murder Sees the Light
Movie • 1986
Patten
The Man Who Saved Christmas
Movie • 2002
Newton Baker
Rewind
Movie • 2013
President
PG: Psycho Goreman
Movie • 2020
Narrator & Judicator (voice)
No More Hibakusha!
Movie • 1983
(voice)
Gary Carter Visits Japan
Movie • 1983
Narrator
A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story
Movie • 1992
Paul Michel
Murder Times Seven
Movie • 1990
Nick Ruggieri
Focus
Movie • 2001
Father Crighton
Murder in Black and White
Movie • 1990
Ruggieri
Hot Money
Movie • 1983
Parker
Thunder Point
Movie • 1998
Armstrong
Hamlet {Solo}
Movie • 2007
Self
Riel
Movie • 1979
McWilliams
Grand Larceny
Movie • 1991
Virgil Klovitz
Turning April
Movie • 1996
Father
Edison : The Wizard of Light
Movie • 1998
Thomas Edison
Dick Francis: Blood Sport
Movie • 1989
Bionic Woman
TV • 2007
Prof. Howard Samuels
Due South
TV • 1994
Randal K. Bolt
Stargate Atlantis
TV • 2004
Jamus
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
Twin Peaks
TV • 1990
Windom Earle
Soul Food
TV • 2000
Dr. Jackson Pruit
The Practice
TV • 1997
Judge M. Harrod
Smallville
TV • 2001
Drunk Santa
The Ray Bradbury Theater
TV • 1985
Crane
Witchblade
TV • 2001
Human Target
TV • 2010
Tony Belvilacqua
Sherlock Holmes
TV • 2000
Dr. Watson
The Trojan Horse
TV • 2008
Randall Spear
Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension
TV • 1998
The Outer Limits
TV • 1995
Dr. Vasquez
The Last Templar
TV • 2009
Bill Vance
Haven
TV • 2010
Cole Glendower
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Simon Gates
The Hunger
TV • 1997
Hugo Lawery
Tilt
TV • 2005
Seymour Annisman
H2O
TV • 2004
Randall Spear
The Third Twin
TV • 1997
Preston Barck
Cruel Doubt
TV • 1992
Attorney Wade Smith
The Blacklist
TV • 2013
Werner von Hauser
For the Record
TV • 1976
Premier Lougheed
For the Record
TV • 1976
Dipsi Doolan
For the Record
TV • 1976
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Ben O'Dell
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
TV • 2005
Professor Wójcik
The Murder of Mary Phagan
TV • 1988
Luther Rosser
The Ray Bradbury Theater
TV • 1985
Captain Wilder
Star Trek: Discovery
TV • 2017
Senna Tal (voice)
Twitch City
TV • 1998
Mr. Surdjic
Above and Beyond
TV • 2006
Lord Beaverbrook
Due South
TV • 1994
Cyrus Bolt
The Expanse
TV • 2015
Franklin Degraaf
Dead Man's Gun
TV • 1997
Dean Marley
ReGenesis
TV • 2004
Shelby Sloane
The Listener
TV • 2009
Albert Jacoby
The Best Laid Plans
TV • 2014
Angus McLintock
Lodge 49
TV • 2018
This Is Wonderland
TV • 2004
XIII: The Series
TV • 2011
Dr. Westlund
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Charles Surface
Star Trek: Discovery
TV • 2017
Senna Tal
Hiroshima
TV • 1995
President Harry S. Truman
Empire, Inc.
TV • 1983
The Guardian
TV • 2001
Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story
TV • 1993
Don Eisenberg
Love, Lies and Murder
TV • 1991
Stanfield