Thomas Dale Jackson, CC (born 27 October 1948) is a Canadian actor and singer. He created and starred in an annual series of Christmas concerts called the Huron Carole for 18 years. He was the Chancellor of Trent University from 2009 until 2013. He played Billy Twofeathers on Shining Time Station and Peter Kenidi on North of 60.
Tom Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Jackson in 2012 | |
| Born | Thomas Dale Jackson 27 October 1948 One Arrow First Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Life and career
editTom Jackson was born on the One Arrow Reserve, Saskatchewan, near Batoche, the son of Rose, a Cree, and Marshall, an Englishman. He moved with his family to Namao, Alberta at age seven, and then to Winnipeg, Manitoba when he was fourteen. A year later, he dropped out of high school and lived on the streets for several years.[1]
As an actor, he has appeared in television shows such as North of 60 and Shining Time Station where his character Billy Twofeathers debuted in its Halloween episode "Scare Dares". Jackson also made a guest appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation in the season seven episode "Journey's End". His films include Loyalties and The Diviners.
He also starred in Grizzly Falls in 1999 and appeared in the 2007 horror thriller Skinwalkers. In 2014, he appeared in The Dependables, as Sergeant Robinson.[2] In 2019, he played White Bull, a Ute drug lord, alongside Liam Neeson in the film Cold Pursuit. He appeared the 2023 series Sullivan's Crossing.[citation needed]
He has also released several albums of country and folk music.[3]
Personal life
editJackson now resides in Calgary with his wife Alison (née Jones) and four children.
Philanthropy
editA well-known philanthropist, Jackson created an annual series of Christmas concerts called the Huron Carole. Featuring Jackson and numerous other Canadian singers and performers, the Huron Carole troupe travels across the country each year, raising money for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. An album of Christmas songs recorded to tie-in with the tour is an annual best seller in Canada. After 17 years, Jackson retired the Huron Carole and in its place launched Singing for Supper, a cross-Canada tour that plays smaller community venues raising money and gifts of food, during the 2005 Christmas season.
After North of 60 cast member Mervin Good Eagle died by suicide in October 1996, Tom started the Dreamcatcher Tour.
In the spring of 1997 Jackson's home town was bracing for "the flood of the century" that had already put towns south of the US/Canada border under water. Jackson was instrumental in organizing flood relief concerts across the nation (Calgary, Winnipeg).[citation needed]
Honours and decorations
editJackson has been honoured several times for his life's work. Most notably, in 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and is a former member of the Order of Canada Advisory Council. He has been nominated for Juno Awards and Gemini Awards. He has also received honours from several Canadian universities, including honorary degrees from the University of Calgary, Trent University, the University of Lethbridge and Carleton University. He also received the Humanitarian Award at the 2007 Juno Awards due to his charitable efforts.[4] In May 2014, Jackson received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award (GGPAA) for his lifetime contributions to Canadian broadcasting. At the Gala honouring GGPAA recipients on 10 May, Jackson took to the National Arts Centre stage to perform one of his songs.[5]
On 14 April 2009, Jackson was announced as the tenth chancellor for Trent University.[6] Jackson held this position until 2013.
| Canadian medals, orders, and decorations | Ribbon Bar | Year bestowed |
|---|---|---|
| Order of Canada (CC) |  |
|
| 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal |  |
1992 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |  |
2002 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |  |
2012 |
| Saskatchewan Centennial Medal |  |
2005 |
| Alberta Centennial Medal |  |
2005 |
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Spirit Bay | Will | TV series (1 Episode) |
| 1986 | Loyalties | Eddy | Nominated–Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role |
| 1988 | Martha, Ruth and Edie | ||
| Street Legal | Geordie Roberts | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| 1989–1990 | The Campbells | Five Claws | TV series (2 Episodes) |
| 1991–1995 | Shining Time Station | Billy Twofeathers, William Twofeathers | Main role; TV Series |
| 1991 | Clearcut | Tom Starblanket | |
| 1992–1997 | North of 60 | Peter Kenidi | Main role; TV Series Nominated–Gemini Award for Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (1995, 1996, 1998) |
| 1993 | Spirit Rider | Albert St. Clair | TV movie |
| Medicine River | Harlen Bigbear | TV movie | |
| The Diviners | Jules | TV movie Nominated–Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | |
| 1994 | Street Legal | David Cormier | TV series (2 Episodes) |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Lakanta | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| 1995 | Great Canadian Ghost Stories | Host | |
| 500 Nations | voice | TV Miniseries | |
| 1996 | The Adventures of Shirley Holmes | Mac | TV series (1 Episode) |
| 1999 | Grizzly Falls | Joshua McTavish | |
| 2000 | Trial by Fire | Peter Kenidi | TV movie |
| The Longhouse Tales | Hector Longhouse | Main Role; TV Series | |
| 2001 | Dream Storm | Peter Kenidi | TV movie |
| 2002 | Tom Stone | Ray Swiftwater | TV series (1 Episode) |
| Relic Hunter | Bobby Green | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| 2005 | Mee-Shee: The Water Giant | Custer | |
| Distant Drumming: A North of 60 Mystery | Peter Kenidi | TV movie | |
| 2006 | Skinwalkers | Will | |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Chief Johnson | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| 2007 | Little Mosque on the Prairie | Professor Crakle | TV series (1 Episode) |
| 2011 | Befriend and Betray | Guy Poirier | TV movie |
| 2012 | Deadfall | Old Native American Hunter | |
| 2014 | The Dependables | Sgt. Robinson | |
| The Best Laid Plans | George | TV series (2 Episodes) | |
| 2018 | Cardinal | Lloyd Kreeger | TV series (4 Episodes) |
| 2019 | Cold Pursuit | White Bull | |
| 2019; 2022 | Outlander | Tehwahsehkwe | Main role; (3 Episodes) |
| 2021 | Supergirl | Warden Wyatt Kote | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2023 | Sullivan's Crossing | Frank Cranebear | Series regular |
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Sally Ann |
| Love, Lust and Longing | |
| 1994 | No Regrets |
| 1997 | Home This Christmas |
| That Side of the Window | |
| 2001 | I Will Bring You Near |
| 2006 | Singing for Supper on Tour |
| 2011 | 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime |
| 2015 | Ballads Not Bullets |
| 2018 | The Essential |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | CAN Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "No Regrets" | 43 | No Regrets |
| 1995 | "Few and Far Between" | 47 | |
| "Humble Me" | |||
| 1997 | "Dance with the Devil" | That Side of the Window | |
| 1998 | "Before the Owl Calls My Name" | ||
| "That Side of the Window" | |||
| 2002 | "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" | I Will Bring You Near | |
| 2011 | "The Gift" | 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime | |
| 2015 | "Blue Water" | Ballads Not Bullets |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mini Bio". IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Pride of Lions". at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Brown, Jane. "Aboriginal Faces of Saskatchewan - Tom Jackson". Saskatchewan Sage - April 1998 - p. 6. Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre. Archived from the original on 24 February 2001. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "Tom Jackson to receive 2007 Humanitarian Award for his Unwavering Support to Canada's Hungry and Underprivileged" (PDF). Toronto. 5 December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2023. (46.2 KiB)
- ^ "Tom Jackson". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Admissions Content".
- ^ "Governor General Announces 114 New Appointments to the Order of Canada". 26 November 2020.