- The Specifics -
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Who are the characters and the actors that portray them?
In-depth descriptions of most of these characters can be found on the Red Green Cast page.
Introduced in the First Season:
Red Green (a.k.a "Uncle Red"): Steve Smith
Harold (Red's nephew/SFX wizard): Pat McKenna
Bill Smith (as in "Adventures with.."): Rick Green
Glen Brackston (Local Marina Operator): Mark Wilson
Bob Stuyvesant (Government 'worker'/Golf nut): Bruce Hunter
Dougie Franklin (Monster Truck Driver): Ian Thomas
Hap Shaughnessy (Ferryboat Captain/Liar): Gordon Pinsent
Jimmy Mcveigh (Postal Carrier/Boat Owner): Will Millar
Jack (Cave Man/Survivalist): Tim Sims
Ranger Gord (forgotten Fire Ranger): Peter Keleghan
Max (Kid Red spends 'quality' time with): Max Smith
Only seen in Season two:
Helmut Wintergarten (Lodge Maintenance): B. J. Woodbury
Doc Render (Lodge Doctor/liar): Neil Crone
Eddie Johnson (Lodge Cook): Bill Carr
Douglas Hendrychuck (Lodge Treasurer): David Huband
Murray Woolworth (Variety Store Owner): Ed Sahely
Dwayne Dortmund (Murray's Assistant): Nick Johne
Noel Christmas (Lodge Security): Kevin Frank
Introduced in Season Three or later:
Reg Hunter (Vegetarian hunter): Lawrence Dane
Joshua (Lost Native): Billy Merasty
Winston Rothschild III (Septic Man): Jeff Lumby
Buzz Sherwood (Seaplane pilot): Peter Wildman
Dalton Humphries ('Antique' shop owner): Bob Bainborough
Edgar K.B. Montrose (Explosives 'Expert'): Graham Greene
Ben Franklin (Dougie Franklin's Brother): Dave Thomas
Mike Hamar (Ex-con/inept handyman): Wayne Robson
Garth Harble (Animal Control officer): Derek McGrath
Network Harold (Harold's replacement): Dan Duran
Network Bernice (Red's TV wife): Laura Catalano
Arnie Dogan (Roofer/C&W singer): Albert Schultz
Kevin Black (Yuppie building cottage): Paul Gross
Walter (New 'Adventures' guy): Joel Harris
Ed Frid (Garth's replacement): Jerry Schaefer
Dwight Cardiff (Pt. Asbestos Marina Owner): George Buza
Characters never actually seen, but often mentioned:
Moose Thompson
Stinky Peterson
Old Man Sedgewick
Junior Singleton
Buster Hadfield
Flinty McClintlock
Bernice Green (Red's Wife)
Where else can these actors be seen?
Steve Smith ('Red Green')
Of course, Steve has appeared in 'Smith & Smith', 'Max and Me' and 'Comedy Mill' in addition to
the RGS. He also shows up frequently during PBS telethons in the U.S. and occasionally on shows
like Royal Canadian Air Farce.
Keen observers will have noticed that Steve appeared in the 95/96 season premere of 'Due South'
as an airport manager. He wore the Red Green plaid shirt, fur trapper's hat and used Steve's rather
than Red's voice.
Steve can also be seen on the Space Channel show 'Steve Smith Playhouse', where he makes
fun of old cheesy B-movies by replacing the lead role's lines with his own!
Rick Green ('Bill Smith')
Rick played the role of "Commander Rick" on the science fiction literature show 'Prisoners of
Gravity', which was a great SF fan show featuring interviews with all the leading SF authors.
Rick also had been part of a comedy troupe called 'The Frantics' during the 1980s. This group made
several episodes of a TV show called 'Four on the Floor' which aired on CBC TV and featured skits
such as "Mr. Canoehead - The Aluminum Crime Fighter".
During his time with 'The Frantics', Rick was asked to write for the Smith & Smith show by Steve Smith.
As S&S couldn't afford to pay union scale wages (S&S was so low budget that tapes of the first two
seasons don't exist - the video tape was reused to tape later seasons episodes!), Rick was put
down on the show credits as "Enrico Gruen" to keep him out of trouble with the actor's union. "Enrico
Gruen" later showed up as one of Rick's characters on Prisoners of Gravity.
Rick can also be seen on the History Channel program 'History Bites'.
Patrick McKenna ('Harold Green')
Pat had a regular role on the CTV show 'Traders', a drama involving stockbrokers where he played
the role of Marty Stephens. He has also been spotted in at least one episode of 'Due South', where
he played a shifty used car salesman. He has also had small parts in "Top Cops", "Forever Knight",
and even "Kung Fu". Pat also was a much-less-nerdy regular on the old S&S show.
After the S&S shows ended, Steve spent some time thinking about the show that was to become
the RGS. One night he was at a Yuk-Yuk's comedy club and found Pat doing a stand-up routine
as a nerdy, hyperactive young boy named 'Harold', and it was then that Steve knew he had found
the perfect foil for Red's 'straight-man' character.
Peter Wildman ('Buzz Sherwood')
Peter was also a member of 'The Frantics' with Rick Green. He shows up occasionally as
'The Shopper' on 'Lynette Jenning's Home Works' (to some people a less irritating version
of Martha Stewart, seen in Canada).
Peter had his own wildlife show on the Discovery Channel in Canada and the Animal Planet
channel in the U.S. called 'Buck Staghorn's Animal Bites'. Peter hosts the show from beside an
RV somewhere, narrates film footage of wildlife (sometimes superimposing his picture along
with the animals) and does some slapstick along the way.
Peter Keleghan ('Ranger Gord')
Peter Keleghan met Steve Smith while co-starring and co-writing the 64 episodes of the 'Comedy Mill'.
Peter played the role of anchorman Jim Walcott in the CBC show 'The Newsroom',
and also guest starred
on shows such as 'Street Legal', 'ENG', 'Forever Knight', etc.
He lived in Los Angeles for a few years where he guest-starred on Cheers, 'Murphy Brown' (The
Inaugural Ball), 'Seinfeld' (Non-Fat Yogurt), 'Burke's Law' as well as spending a few months on 'General
Hospital' playing Emma Samm's nefarious British cousin!
Jeff Lumby ('Winston Rothschild')
Jeff used to be the morning man on the Canadian Classic Rock FM station (Y95/FM95.3) and Red
has been a guest on his show numerous times. In addition, he starred in "Size Small", another PBS
offering. It was produced in Saskatoon during the early 1980's, and starred the entire Lumby Family.
Wayne Robson ('Mike Hamar')
Generally considered one of Canada's greatest character actors, Wayne chose to be an actor
after he turned down a job as an outhouse cleaner in the early 1960's. Since then, he has
had an enormous amount of success in theatre, film and television, as well as voice acting.
He was also seen in the Ray Romano film "Welcome to Mooseport".
Bob Bainborough ('Dalton Humphrey')
As a Second City veteran, Bob has found success as a writer, voice-over artist and performer.
A year after joining the RGS, he became a contributing writer and was nominated for a Gemini
in 1999, 2000 and again in 2001. He can currently be seen on the show "History Bites" with
Rick Green, and made an appearance in the Canadian curling movie "Men With Brooms".
Ian Thomas ('Dougie Franklin')
Ian Thomas is the singer/songwriter brother of comedian Dave Thomas (of SCTV/Great White
North fame, and the TV show 'Grace Under Fire'). His best known song is "Painted Ladies".
Dave and Ian both grew up in Hamilton.
Gordon Pinsent ('Hap Shaughnessy')
Gordon Pinsent is a famous Canadian dramatic actor. He has appeared in the series 'Due South',
playing the part of the ghost of the Mountie's father. He appeared in the movie pilot for the series,
and shows up in many of the episodes.
Gordon's character, 'Hap', is suspected to be derived from his brother Hap Pinsent, who for a
long time was an infamous member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Hap is remembered as a colourful
character, and would have fit into the cast of the Possum Lodge real well- and would never have had
to make an adjustment.
Graham Greene ('Edgar K.B. Montrose')
Graham played the role of the medicine man in the movie Dances with Wolves. In fact, in one episode
of "Ask the Experts" on the RGS, Edgar explained how that Indian guy carried the whole film, and
that he should have got the Oscar!
Graham Greene was also a recurring character on 'Northern Exposure' - a shaman and the uncle of the
character "Ed." He was also seen playing the part of a hilarious and somewhat unconventional Indian
chief in the movie 'Maverick'.
Will Millar ('Jimmy McVeigh')
Will Millar is best known as the leader / penny-whistle-player / singer for the folk group 'The
Irish Rovers'. He was the singer on their biggest seller, "The Unicorn". For a time in the early
1980s this group was called 'The Rovers' and had a hit with the song "Wasn't That a Party?".
Kevin Frank ('Noel Christmas')
Kevin Frank was seen starring in the Life Network program "Pet Project"
along with Daisy,
his Boston Terrier. Pet Project showcases those people who would do anything for their pet -
including people who've sent their dog to summer camp, or provided piano lessons for their cat!
David Huband ('Douglas Henderchuck')
David is a member of the comedy troupe "The Illustrated Men" with Adrian Truss and fellow RG
alumni Bruce Hunter. He has been seen in such shows as The Newsroom, Made In Canada and Traders,
has lent his voice to cartoons such as Sailor Moon and Pelswick, and has made appearances in many
Canadian commercials for such products as Colgate and Cheez Whiz.
Tim Sims ('Jack')
Tim was perhaps one of the best-loved performers at the Second City for his talent, humour,
personality and originality. He could also be seen as an actor on many televion shows, and
was most recognized to the general public as 'Circle Researcher' Rory Tate, for the Reese's
commercials. When Tim passed away in 1995, the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund was
established in his honour, awarded to new up-and-coming comedians.
Who Directs/Produces/etc. the show?
The production team behind the RGS has been going through a lot of changes over the years.
To illustrate this, here is an example of the credits during the first season...
First Credit: Sandi Richardson
Supervising Producer: Paul Osborn
Directed by: Larry Schnurr
Associate Producer: Rick Green
Written by: Rick Green, Steve Smith
Lighting Director: Brad Cauthard
Cinematography: Bob Finlay
Film Camera Assists: Steve Payne, Kevin Schnurr
Floor Director: Zeke Yovanovich
Technical Director: Wayne Rabishaw
Cameras: Ken Smith, Harry Carson, Chris DeNardis, Skip Haybarger
Edited by: Ava Stokl
Musical Director: Bob Doidge
Audio: Roberto Capretta, Jim McCauley
Audio Post-Production: Bill Baker
Makeup: Elaine Amos-Hotton
Produced in association with: CHCH-TV
Produced by: Steve Smith
Distributed by: Hearst Entertainment
...and here are the credits for the 15th & final season.
Created by: Steve Smith, Rick Green
Written by: Steve Smith, Rick Green, David T. Smith
Executive Producer: David C. Smith
Producer: Steve Smith
Contributing Writer: Rob Sheridan
Directed by: William G. Elliott
Production Manager: Sandi Richardson
Editor: Ava Stokl
Online Editor & Visual Effects: Todd Hallam
Audio Post: Roberto Capretta
SFX Technicians: Chris Hartnett, Chris Campagnola, The Pyro Guys
Associate Director: Carol Wilkinson
Camera: Chris DeNardis, Ken Smith, Dave Cremasco
Location Lighting Director: Tony Connor
Location Key Grip: Tim Wakil
Project Manager: Simon Crawshaw
Property Managers: Rob Skates, Trevor Ziebarth
Studio Technical Director: Gord McLennan
Studio Lighting Director: Brad Cauthard
Studio Lighting Board Operator: Martin Devenyl
Audio: Brian Radford, Roberto Capretta, Bill Baker, Tim O'Connell
Studio Audio PA: Bruce Graham
RF Technician: Michael Hayes
Studio Switcher: Dwayne Rowe
Talent Director: Bruce Pirrie
Stunt Drivers: Simon Girard, Paul Rutledge
Mobile Engineer: Yves Ritchot
Generator Operator: Jack Sicluna
Assistant Editors: Tom Berger, Emanuel Amorim
Editing Assistant: Scott Newman
Post Coordinator: David Riddles
Craft Services: Joan Kormany
Floor Manager: Kevin Shaw
Studio Video: Bill Pearson
VTR Operator: Sean Mackie
Office Coordinator: Monica Remark
Audience Coordinator: Danielle Grahn
Senior Audience Wrangler: Tiffany Richardson
Makeup & Hair: Elanor Hamill
Music by: Bob Doidge
Production Accountant: Hope Lee
Business Administration: Yashie Kowlessar
Special Thanks to: Green Gables Antiques, Mr Used Inc.
Post Production Facilities: S&S Productions Inc.
Produced by: Red Green Productions XV, Inc.
In Association With: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
What is the Lodge Pledge?
The Latin pledge is "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati", which loosely translates as "When all Else Fails,
Play Dead" (like a possum). The pledge is recited at the beginning of each Lodge meeting, and can be
seen on the Lodge Crest.
What's that thing Harold wears around his neck?
For lack of a better name, that is his Video Effects Machine, sometimes called his "Axe", which
Harold uses as show producer and director to break up Red's stories and keep the show moving.
Most of Harold's device seems to be the control panel from an old Ampex VR-1200 video recorder
from the 50s.
What's this about Red's weekly newspaper column?
Red used to have a weekly newspaper humour column called "North of 40", about mid-life men and the
women who love them. In July 2002, after 181 entries, Red ended its run after his contract expired.
Some of his columns can be found at HomeEnvy.com.
Is there an official RG website?
There sure is- first brought online in 1994, the official Red Green website (redgreen.com) contains
tons of useful items like an episode guide, clips, merchandise, and much more.
Is there a Red Green Fan Club?
Yes- for $10 (American or Canadian) you can join the ever-expanding Red Green fan club. With
the membership you get an official membership card and the Lodge crest. There used to be a
newsletter that was sent to members every few months or so, but it has ceased production.
How can I get Red's/Harold's/Bill's autograph?
You can order them from the official merchandise page (Under 'Other Stuff / Photos').
 
Next section: 'Miscellaneous'
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