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David Hemblen

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David Hemblen
Born(1941-09-16)16 September 1941
Died16 November 2020(2020-11-16) (aged 79)
OccupationActor
Years active1974–2007

David Hemblen (16 September 1941 – 16 November 2020)[1] was an English–Canadian actor who frequently worked in Canadian film, television and theatre. He was born in London, England, and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. He is known for his role as George in La Femme Nikita, Customs inspector in Atom Egoyan's Exotica, Lord Dread/Lyman Taggert in Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Detective Dick Hargrove in T. and T. and as Inspector Winterguild in TekWar. He is also known for his role as Johnathan Doors in Earth: Final Conflict and for voicing the character of Magneto in the X-Men animated series from 1992 to 1997.

Early life and education

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Born in London, England, Hemblen grew up in Toronto, Ontario, where he pursued a classical education before turning to theatre. He received an M.A. in English and was working towards a Ph.D. in medieval studies when he was spotted during a rehearsal of a university production by Clifford Williams of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Hemblen was offered a season at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre. In the 1960s, Hemblen was a political activist and member of the Young Socialists.[2]

Career

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Hemblen began his career in theatre in the 1960s. His stage career includes more than 70 productions as actor/director at major Canadian theatres, including the Stratford Festival and four seasons at the renowned Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For his portrayal of Dr. Astrov in Toronto's Tarragon Theater production of Uncle Vanya, Hemblen received a Dora nomination for Best Leading Actor.

Film and television

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Hemblen was a mainstay on the television series Earth: Final Conflict, playing Jonathan Doors, a role he is best known for. He appeared in the first two seasons as a main character and remained in the third season as a recurring character until being killed off in season four. He played recurring roles in A Nero Wolfe Mystery (Lewis Hewitt) and La Femme Nikita (George). He voiced Magneto on the popular show X-Men: The Animated Series, the Night Master on Yin Yang Yo!, the Vaultkeeper in Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Lord Dread/Lyman Taggart on Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, and Asmodeus Poisonteeth in Redwall.

Hemblen played a ruthless henchman Jones in Short Circuit 2 (1988), Reverend Buckley in Where the Spirit Lives (1989), and appeared as Christopher Newport in Pocahontas: The Legend (1999). He has also been featured in several Atom Egoyan films, such as Speaking Parts, The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Where the Truth Lies (2005), and Family Viewing (1987), for which he was nominated for a Genie Award.

In 1975, he starred in the children's television serial The Adventures of Timothy Pilgrim.

Personal life and death

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Hemblen lived most of the year in Toronto and made an annual winter visit to his second home in the south of France. He had one daughter, Kate, who is also an actress.[citation needed]

Hemblen died at the age of 79 on November 16, 2020.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Family Viewing Stan
1988 Short Circuit 2 Jones
1988 Norman's Awesome Experience Septimus Fabius
1989 Speaking Parts Producer
1989 Where the Spirit Lives Reverend Buckley
1989 Straight Line Detective Hargrove
1991 The Adjuster Bert
1993 A Man in Uniform Father
1993 M. Butterfly Intelligence Officer #1
1994 Brainscan Dr. Fromberg
1994 Exotica Customs Inspector
1994 Mesmer Dr. Ingehousz
1994 Replikator Police Chief
1995 Tommy Boy Archer
1995 Pocahontas: The Legend Christopher Newport
1995 Iron Eagle on the Attack Soviet Interrogator
1995 The Champagne Safari Charles Bedaux Voice
1996 Hollow Point Oleg Krezinsky
1996 Fly Away Home Dr. Killian
1996 Maximum Risk Dmitri Kirov
1997 Booty Call Dr. Blade
1997 The Sweet Hereafter Abbott
1998 Valentine's Day Jennings
2000 Rats Richard
2001 Man and Cat Hunter Voice
2001 Rollerball Serokin
2005 Where the Truth Lies NY Hotel Concierge

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 The Adventures of Timothy Pilgrim Zachariah 10 episodes
1985 Vista: The New Magicians Narrator Television film
1986 Hot Shots Sebastian Episode: "To Bee or Not to Bee"
1986 Night Heat Braden Dean Episode: "Another Country"
1986 Adderly Mikhail Astrov Episode: "The Dancing Lesson"
1986 The Campbells Major George Henry Stevens Episode: "A Real Lady"
1987 Basements Mr. Hudd Television film
1987–1988 Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Lord Dread / Lyman Taggert 22 episodes
1987, 1992 Street Legal Curt MacDonald / Benton 2 episodes
1988 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Andrew Walker Episode: "Murder Party"
1988 The Twilight Zone Cutler Episode: "20/20 Vision"
1988–1990 T. and T. Detective Dick Hargrove 26 episodes
1990 In Defense of a Married Man Colin Barrie Television film
1990–1992 Counterstrike Milos Janzan 3 episodes
1991 Captain Power: The Beginning Lord Dread Television film
1991 Heritage Minutes James Macleod Episode: "Sitting Bull"
1991 Tropical Heat Krieger Episode: "Death's a Beach"
1991 Le peloton d'exécution Sgt. Mortlake Television film
1992 Scales of Justice Samuel Grange Episode "Regina v Nelles"
1992–1997 X-Men: The Animated Series Magneto, Various voices 29 episodes
1993 Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian Spencer Munro Television film
1993 Matrix Shamus Cobb Episode: "To Err is Human"
1994–1994 Tales from the Cryptkeeper Various voices 9 episodes
1993 Lifeline to Victory Oldbest Television film
1994 TekWar Insp. Winterguild
1994 TekLords
1994 Model by Day Captain
1994 RoboCop Dr. Apollinaire Monet Episode: "Face of Eve"
1994 Highlander: The Animated Series Olak / Gorth Episode: "The Suspended Village"
1994–1995 Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams Additional voices 13 episodes
1995 When the Dark Man Calls Officer Erikson Television film
1995 Hiroshima Stephen Early
1995 The Song Spinner Captain Nizzle
1995 Forever Knight Dr. Max Venderwal Episode: "Sons of Belial"
1995 The Neverending Story Additional voices / Ysipy 2 episodes
1996 Road to Avonlea Lemuel Snibb Episode: "Davey and the Mermaid"
1996 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Baron DeKlaus 2 episodes
1996 Devil's Food Deep Voice Television film
1996 Goosebumps Major McCall Episode: "Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes"
1996 We the Jury Judge Elton Roe Television film
1997 Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops II Mr. Yannis Ivanov
1997 The Outer Limits Commandant Episode: "The Camp"
1997 Inspired by Bach Bert Episode: "Sarabande"
1997–2000 Earth: Final Conflict Jonathan Doors 68 episodes
1998 Blazing Dragons Duke Rudolf Episode: "A Killer Makeover/The Age of Retention"
1998 The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police Mack Salmon Episode: "The Final Episode"
1998 The Last Don II Bishop Enzo 2 episodes
1998 Silver Surfer The Supreme Intelligence / Husserl
1998 Thunder Point Sir Francis Television film
1999 Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story Judge Polley
1999 Redwall Asmodeus 11 episodes
1999 Little Men Mr. Able Jennings Episode: "The Lantern Man"
1999–2000 Mythic Warriors Various roles 3 episodes
1999–2000 La Femme Nikita George 9 episodes
2000 Common Ground Chester Burroughs Television film
2000 Deliberate Intent J. Michael Luttig
2000 Canada: A People's History James Cook Episode: "When the World Began"
2000 Redwall: The Movie Asmodeus Television film
2000 Building for Disasters Narrator
2001 All Souls Dr. Ryman Kreeger Episode: "Pilot"
2001 Witchblade Father John Bellamy Episode: "Legion"
2001 Jane Doe Phelps Television film
2001–2002 Nero Wolfe Lewis Hewitt 4 episodes
2002 Salem Witch Trials John Proctor Television film
2003 The Piano Man's Daughter Dr. Warren
2006 Yin Yang Yo! Night Master 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Dick, Jeremy (23 November 2020). "David Hemblen Dies, Magneto on X-Men: The Animated Series Was 79". Movie Web.
  2. ^ "Socialist History Project". www.socialisthistory.ca. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. ^ Cronin, Brian (23 November 2020). "X-Men: The Animated Series' Magneto, David Hemblen, Dies at 79". Cinema Blend.
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