William Patterson Dunlop

William Patterson Dunlop, Jr., known professionally as William Dunlop, (1951–2009) was a Canadian actor of stage, television, and film. He is best remembered for portraying Chief of Detectives Frank Strenlich in the PTEN television series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues from 1993 through 1997. On stage he had a productive relationship with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival .

Life and career

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Born in Montréal, Québec, Dunlop was the son of William Patterson Dunlop, Sr. (1912-1989) and Frances Ina MacGregor Will (1918-1989). His father was born in Montréal of Irish parents, and his mother was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from Sedbergh School in Montebello, QC. While a student there he studied theatre with Patrick Pettigrew who had a profound impact on his intellectual development.

The majority of Dunlop's career was spent on the stage, particularly at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.[1] His performance credits at the Stratford Festival included leading roles in King Lear (1985),[2] Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1986, alternating performances in both title roles[3]), Twelfth Night (1985 and 1991),[4][5][6] Our Town (1991)[5] and The Taming of the Shrew (1977).[7]

Dunlop made his film debut in the 1979 horror film The House with Steps.[8] He did not work in film again until 1995 when he portrayed R.T. in Tommy Boy.[9] He starred as Frank in Jack Blum's 1998 film Babyface.[10] On television, Dunlop is best known for his portrayal of Chief of Detectives Frank Strenlich in the main cast of Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1993–97).[11] His other television performance included guest roles on Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1989), Top Cops (1992–93), Secret Service (1993), Street Legal (1993, recurring role of Sgt. Lehrer), and Due South (1994-1995).

References

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  1. ^ Greenglhill. P (1994). Ethnicity in the Mainstream:Three Studies of English Canadian Culture in Ontario. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 149. ISBN 9780773511736.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Dan (12 November 1985). "STRATFORD 'LEAR' HAS A HURRICANE-FORCE LEAR". Los Angeles Times. p. sd_d1.
  3. ^ Mel Gussow (8 June 1986). "Stage View: Shakespearean Potpourri in Canada". The New York Times. p. H5.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Dan (11 November 1985). "'12TH NIGHT COMEDY SANS PAIN: '12TH NIGHT': COMEDY SANS THE PAIN". Los Angeles Times. p. f1.
  5. ^ a b "PRODUCTION NEWS: The Stratford". The Stage and Television Today (5746): 10. May 30, 1991.
  6. ^ Myers. W (2010). The Book of Twelfth Night, Or What You Will: Musings on Shakespeare's Most Wonderful Play. Wheatmark. p. 109. ISBN 9781604944129.
  7. ^ J. O'Connor, K. Goodland (2007). A Directory of Shakespeare in Performance 1970-1990: Volume 2, USA and Canada. Springer. pp. 274–275. ISBN 9780230546776.
  8. ^ The House With Steps. October 12, 1979. p. 79. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ^ John Willis (2000). "Tommy Boy". In Barry Monush, John Willis (ed.). Screen World 1996. Hal Leonard. p. 26. ISBN 9781557832528.
  10. ^ Kelly, Brendan (June 8, 1998). "Film Reviews: BABYFACE". Variety. 371 (5): 73.
  11. ^ Paul Green (2016). "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues". Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Films, Television and Games, 2d Ed. McFarland & Company. p. 149. ISBN 9781476662572.
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