Chas Lawther
Encyclopedia
Charles "Chas" Lawther is a British-born Canadian actor, comedian and writer.
Lawther came to local prominence in Toronto
when in the 1980s he created the character of Chuck The Security Guard for CFMT-TV
's The All-Night Show
, on the ostensible premise that as the station's night security he would be allowed to use the broadcast facilities to play classic television shows, short films and music videos between sign-off and 6 a.m.
The station CFMT bulk erased all episodes of The All Night Show to reuse the tapes.
(Jeff Silverman the shows producer did not want the station to reuse the program tapes of the live segments when contract negotiations failed -the shows budget was $450,000 for the year,he wanted $50,000 more for the next year and CFMT wanted the show done for $50,000 less, so the show was going to be canceled by the station and Silverman ordered the covert bulking of all the program tapes but 3/4" u-matic copies of some the show's best moments still survive).
Lawther and his comedy partner Suzette Couture formed the comedy duo Joined at the Hip, regularly playing comedy venues across Canada and at one point getting their own special on CBC
. Lawther has written and hosted several comedy "stand-up mockumentaries" on CBC Radio
.
He also wrote episodes for television shows such as Bob and Margaret
, King of Kensington
, The Raccoons
, Rupert
, Blazing Dragons
and The Neverending Story
.
Many also know him for his role hosting "The Showcase Revue" after the Showcase
channel launched in Canada in the early 1990s.
He also voices several characters in animated TV series such as Babar
, The Busy World of Richard Scarry
, Tales from the Cryptkeeper
, Birdz
, Hello Kitty and Friends, Redwall
, Corduroy
, Ned's Newt
, Sylvanian Families
, The Adventures of Tintin
, Anatole
and Rupert
.
Lawther is still a working actor, and was a recurring character as a seemingly gormless television executive on CBC's Made in Canada
.
Lawther came to local prominence in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
when in the 1980s he created the character of Chuck The Security Guard for CFMT-TV
CFMT-TV
CFMT-DT, channel 47, is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with rebroadcasters in Ottawa and London. The station broadcasts multicultural programming targeting European and Latin American communities throughout Southern Ontario. Part of the Omni Television group of stations...
's The All-Night Show
The All-Night Show
The All-Night Show was a television series starring Chas Lawther and produced by Jeff Silverman which ran from September 1980 to August 1981 on CFMT-TV in Toronto.The show ran live nightly from the end of other programming until 6 am...
, on the ostensible premise that as the station's night security he would be allowed to use the broadcast facilities to play classic television shows, short films and music videos between sign-off and 6 a.m.
The station CFMT bulk erased all episodes of The All Night Show to reuse the tapes.
(Jeff Silverman the shows producer did not want the station to reuse the program tapes of the live segments when contract negotiations failed -the shows budget was $450,000 for the year,he wanted $50,000 more for the next year and CFMT wanted the show done for $50,000 less, so the show was going to be canceled by the station and Silverman ordered the covert bulking of all the program tapes but 3/4" u-matic copies of some the show's best moments still survive).
Lawther and his comedy partner Suzette Couture formed the comedy duo Joined at the Hip, regularly playing comedy venues across Canada and at one point getting their own special on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. Lawther has written and hosted several comedy "stand-up mockumentaries" on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
.
He also wrote episodes for television shows such as Bob and Margaret
Bob and Margaret
Bob and Margaret was a Canadian/UK animated television series that was also shown in the United States and all over the world. The series was produced by Nelvana, a Toronto animation studio, and created by Canadian David Fine and Brit Alison Snowden...
, King of Kensington
King of Kensington
King of Kensington was a Canadian television sitcom which aired on CBC Television from 1975 to 1980.The show starred Al Waxman as Larry King, a convenience store owner in Toronto's Kensington Market who was known for helping friends and neighbours solve problems. His multicultural group of friends...
, The Raccoons
The Raccoons
The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
, Rupert
Rupert (TV series)
Rupert is an animated television series based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear, produced by Nelvana, Ellipse Programmé and TVS for the first season, with Scottish Television taken over control when TVS closed. Aired from 1991 to 1997 with 65 half-hour episodes produced. It was broadcast...
, Blazing Dragons
Blazing Dragons
Blazing Dragons is the title of a popular British cartoon series, the brainchild of Monty Python's Terry Jones. A coinciding graphic adventure video game was released for the original PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996 by Crystal Dynamics...
and The Neverending Story
The Neverending Story (TV series)
The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux is an animated television series, produced by CineVox , Ellipse , and Nelvana , aired for one season on HBO, ran for 26 episodes, and loosely based on Michael Ende's book, The Neverending Story .In the animated series, the...
.
Many also know him for his role hosting "The Showcase Revue" after the Showcase
Showcase
A showcase, or vitrine, is a glassed-in cabinet or display case for displaying delicate or valuable articles such as objets d'art or merchandise in a shop, museum, or house...
channel launched in Canada in the early 1990s.
He also voices several characters in animated TV series such as Babar
Babar (TV series)
Babar is an animated television series produced in Canada by Nelvana Limited and The Clifford Ross Company. It premiered in 1989 on CBC and HBO, subsequently was rerun on HBO Family and Qubo. The series is based on Jean de Brunhoff's original Babar books, and was Nelvana's first international...
, The Busy World of Richard Scarry
The Busy World of Richard Scarry
The Busy World of Richard Scarry is a Canadian/French animated children's television series, produced by CINAR Animation and France Animation in association with Paramount Television, which aired from 1994 to 1997, first on Showtime, later on Nickelodeon, and ran for 65 episodes...
, Tales from the Cryptkeeper
Tales from the Cryptkeeper
Tales from the Cryptkeeper is an animated series aimed at children made byNelvana Limited, PeaceArch Entertainment, kaBOOM! Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Animation. It was shown on TVO and ABC,and is still shown near Halloween on Teletoon. It was based on the live-action television...
, Birdz
Birdz
Birdz is an animated television series produced by Canada's Nelvana studio, and Scottish Television . The show was first broadcast in 1998 on CBS...
, Hello Kitty and Friends, Redwall
Redwall (TV series)
Redwall is a television series made by Canada-based Nelvana and France-based Alphanim and is based on the Redwall novels by Brian Jacques. The series currently spans three seasons, the first based on the first book Redwall, the second on Mattimeo and the third on Martin the Warrior...
, Corduroy
Corduroy (TV series)
Corduroy is a 1997 animated TV series based on Don Freeman's 1968 children's book Corduroy. The show was shown on PBS Kids' Bookworm Bunch until it was cancelled along with Elliot Moose. The show was set in New York City. It was directed by Louis Piche and Larry Jacobs...
, Ned's Newt
Ned's Newt
Ned's Newt is a Canadian/German cartoon series produced by Nelvana and TMO Film GmbH. The program aired from 1993 to 1996 in Germany, and on Teletoon from 1997 to 1998 in Canada. In the United States, the program aired on Fox Kids from 1998 to 1999, and was later rerun on Fox Family Channel...
, Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
is the name of a line of video games and anthropomorphic collectible toy flocked plastic figures, created by the Japanese company Epoch in 1985 and distributed worldwide by a number of companies...
, The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin (TV series)
The Adventures of Tintin is an animated television series based on The Adventures of Tintin, a series of books by Hergé. It debuted in 1991, and 39 half-hour episodes were produced over the course of three seasons...
, Anatole
Anatole (TV series)
Anatole is an animated children's television series based on the Anatole book series by Eve Titus. The series tells the story of Anatole, a mouse who lives in Paris. He works as a night watchman in a cheese factory. He has a wife, Doucette and a family of six little mice. It originally aired in...
and Rupert
Rupert (TV series)
Rupert is an animated television series based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear, produced by Nelvana, Ellipse Programmé and TVS for the first season, with Scottish Television taken over control when TVS closed. Aired from 1991 to 1997 with 65 half-hour episodes produced. It was broadcast...
.
Lawther is still a working actor, and was a recurring character as a seemingly gormless television executive on CBC's Made in Canada
Made in Canada
Made in Canada is a Canadian television situation comedy which aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2003. Rick Mercer co-created the program and starred as mercenary TV producer Richard Strong....
.
Filmography
- 1966: BlowupBlowupBlowup is a 1966 film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, his first English-language film.It tells of a British photographer's accidental involvement with a murder, inspired by Julio Cortázar's short story, "Las babas del diablo" or "The Devil's Drool" , translated also as Blow-Up, and by the life...
- 1979: Matt and Jenny on the Wilderness Trail
- 1980: The All-Night ShowThe All-Night ShowThe All-Night Show was a television series starring Chas Lawther and produced by Jeff Silverman which ran from September 1980 to August 1981 on CFMT-TV in Toronto.The show ran live nightly from the end of other programming until 6 am...
(CFMT-TVCFMT-TVCFMT-DT, channel 47, is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with rebroadcasters in Ottawa and London. The station broadcasts multicultural programming targeting European and Latin American communities throughout Southern Ontario. Part of the Omni Television group of stations...
, TV series host) - 1983: The Littlest HoboThe Littlest HoboThe Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series based upon a 1958 American film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived for a popular second run on CTV from October 11, 1979 to March 7, 1985.All three productions...
- 1985: Terminal ChoiceTerminal ChoiceTerminal Choice is a German electronic rock band. It was formed by singer Chris Pohl in 1993.- History :Their lyrics are sung in German and English...
- 1986: Mafia Princess
- 1986: Police Academy 3: Back in TrainingPolice Academy 3: Back in TrainingPolice Academy 3: Back in Training is the third film in the Police Academy film series, released on March 21, 1986.-Plot:The film begins in a large garage structure, where Lt. Proctor and Commandant Mauser meet up with former Police Academy cadets, Chad Copeland and Kyle Blankes...
- 1987: Ford: The Man and the Machine
- 1987: Sylvanian FamiliesSylvanian Familiesis the name of a line of video games and anthropomorphic collectible toy flocked plastic figures, created by the Japanese company Epoch in 1985 and distributed worldwide by a number of companies...
- 1988: Friday the 13th: The SeriesFriday the 13th: The SeriesFriday the 13th: The Series is an American-Canadian horror television series that ran for three seasons, from October 3, 1987 to May 26, 1990 in first-run syndication....
- 1989: George's Island
- 1989: Champagne CharlieChampagne Charlie (film)Champagne Charlie is a 1944 British musical film made by Ealing Studios. It is based on an 1860s play that depicted the real life rivalry between George Leybourne, who first performed the song of that name, and Alfred Vance....
(TV movie) - 1989: BabarBabar (TV series)Babar is an animated television series produced in Canada by Nelvana Limited and The Clifford Ross Company. It premiered in 1989 on CBC and HBO, subsequently was rerun on HBO Family and Qubo. The series is based on Jean de Brunhoff's original Babar books, and was Nelvana's first international...
- 1990: Dracula: The SeriesDracula: The SeriesDracula: The Series was a short-lived syndicated series about Count Dracula and his struggles with Gustav Van Helsing, as well as Gustav's young nephews — Maximilian and Christopher Townsend. They were also aided by a schoolgirl, Sophie Metternich...
- 1991: Street LegalStreet legalStreet legal or road legal refers to a vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or light truck that is equipped and licensed for use on public roads...
- 1992: The Shower
- 1992: The Adventures of TintinThe Adventures of Tintin (TV series)The Adventures of Tintin is an animated television series based on The Adventures of Tintin, a series of books by Hergé. It debuted in 1991, and 39 half-hour episodes were produced over the course of three seasons...
- 1993: Shining Time StationShining Time StationShining Time Station is an American children's television series co-created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. The series was produced by The Britt Allcroft Company and Quality Family Entertainment in New York for New York City PBS Station WNET, and was filmed first in New York and then in Toronto...
- 1993: E.N.G.E.N.G.E.N.G. is a Canadian television drama, following the staff of a fictional Toronto television news station . The show aired on CTV from 1988 to 1994...
- 1993: The Busy World of Richard ScarryThe Busy World of Richard ScarryThe Busy World of Richard Scarry is a Canadian/French animated children's television series, produced by CINAR Animation and France Animation in association with Paramount Television, which aired from 1994 to 1997, first on Showtime, later on Nickelodeon, and ran for 65 episodes...
- 1993: Tales from the CryptkeeperTales from the CryptkeeperTales from the Cryptkeeper is an animated series aimed at children made byNelvana Limited, PeaceArch Entertainment, kaBOOM! Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Animation. It was shown on TVO and ABC,and is still shown near Halloween on Teletoon. It was based on the live-action television...
- 1994: Paint Cans
- 1994: The RefThe RefThe Ref is a 1994 American black comedy film directed by Ted Demme and starring Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey.-Plot:...
- 1994: Hello Kitty and Friends
- 1994: RupertRupert (TV series)Rupert is an animated television series based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear, produced by Nelvana, Ellipse Programmé and TVS for the first season, with Scottish Television taken over control when TVS closed. Aired from 1991 to 1997 with 65 half-hour episodes produced. It was broadcast...
- 1994: The Mighty JungleThe Mighty JungleThe Mighty Jungle is a puppet series for preschoolers in which the narrative of the story is largely crafted by a group of preschoolers who appear in live-action segments interspersed between puppet-acted scenes. It is co-produced by Halifax Film and Decode Entertainment, both DHX Media Companies;...
- 1995: Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story (TV movie)
- 1995: Iron Eagle IVIron Eagle IVIron Eagle on the Attack, also known as Iron Eagle IV, is a 1995 direct-to-video action film directed by Sidney J. Furie and is the fourth installment in the Iron Eagle series. It stars Louis Gossett, Jr. reprising his role once again as retired Gen. Charles "Chappy" Sinclair...
- 1995: Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesKung Fu: The Legend ContinuesKung Fu: The Legend Continues is a spin-off of the 1972-1975 television series Kung Fu. David Carradine and Chris Potter starred as a father and son trained in kung fu - Carradine playing a Shaolin monk, Potter a police detective. This series aired in syndication for four seasons, from January 27,...
- 1996: F/X: The SeriesF/X: The SeriesF/X: The Series was a television series based on the film F/X, starring Cameron Daddo, Christina Cox, Kevin Dobson , Jacqueline Torres , Carrie-Anne Moss and Jason Blicker. It ran for 40 episodes from 1996 through 1998....
- 1997: Lexx: The Dark Zone Stories (TV series regular)
- 1997: Good Will HuntingGood Will HuntingGood Will Hunting is a 1997 drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, and Stellan Skarsgård...
- 1998: Elimination Dance
- 1998: Made in CanadaMade in CanadaMade in Canada is a Canadian television situation comedy which aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2003. Rick Mercer co-created the program and starred as mercenary TV producer Richard Strong....
- 1998: BirdzBirdzBirdz is an animated television series produced by Canada's Nelvana studio, and Scottish Television . The show was first broadcast in 1998 on CBS...
- 1998: Ned's NewtNed's NewtNed's Newt is a Canadian/German cartoon series produced by Nelvana and TMO Film GmbH. The program aired from 1993 to 1996 in Germany, and on Teletoon from 1997 to 1998 in Canada. In the United States, the program aired on Fox Kids from 1998 to 1999, and was later rerun on Fox Family Channel...
- 1998: AnatoleAnatole (TV series)Anatole is an animated children's television series based on the Anatole book series by Eve Titus. The series tells the story of Anatole, a mouse who lives in Paris. He works as a night watchman in a cheese factory. He has a wife, Doucette and a family of six little mice. It originally aired in...
- 1998: La Femme Nikita
- 1999: Power Play
- 1999: Love Letters (TV movie)
- 1999: RedwallRedwall (TV series)Redwall is a television series made by Canada-based Nelvana and France-based Alphanim and is based on the Redwall novels by Brian Jacques. The series currently spans three seasons, the first based on the first book Redwall, the second on Mattimeo and the third on Martin the Warrior...
- 2000: CorduroyCorduroy (TV series)Corduroy is a 1997 animated TV series based on Don Freeman's 1968 children's book Corduroy. The show was shown on PBS Kids' Bookworm Bunch until it was cancelled along with Elliot Moose. The show was set in New York City. It was directed by Louis Piche and Larry Jacobs...
- 2000: Urban Legends: Final CutUrban Legends: Final CutUrban Legends: Final Cut is a 2000 slasher film and sequel to the 1998 film Urban Legend. It stars Jennifer Morrison, Matthew Davis, Loretta Devine, Anthony Anderson, Hart Bochner, Rebecca Gayheart, Regina Hall, Yani Gellman, and Eva Mendes...
- 2000: The Secret Adventures of Jules VerneThe Secret Adventures of Jules VerneThe Secret Adventures of Jules Verne is a 22-episode science fiction television series in the steampunk genre that first aired in June 2000 on CBC Television in Canada and in syndication in the United States....
- 2002: Puppets Who KillPuppets Who KillPuppets Who Kill is a Canadian television comedy programme co-produced by The Comedy Network. It premiered in Canada on the Comedy Network in 2002, and in Australia on The Comedy Channel in 2004....
- 2003: Slings and ArrowsSlings and ArrowsSlings and Arrows is a Canadian TV series set at the fictional New Burbage Festival, a Shakespearean festival similar to the real-world Stratford Festival...
- 2004: WonderfallsWonderfallsWonderfalls is a comedy-drama television series that was broadcast on the Fox television network in 2004.The show centres on Jaye Tyler , a recent Brown University graduate with a philosophy degree, who holds a dead-end job as a sales clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop...
- 2004: This is WonderlandThis Is WonderlandThis Is Wonderland was a Canadian television series which aired on CBC Television. The series is a legal drama with comedic elements, or a comedy-drama. It was created by playwright George F...
- 2004: Zixx: Level One
- 2007: Is It Art? (CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
) - 2007: Full of ItFull of ItFull of It is a 2007 comedy directed by Christian Charles. It was released in the US on March 2, 2007, and aired on ABC Family under the title Big Liar on Campus on September 16, 2007. The movie is rated PG-13 for "sexual content, drug references, teen partying, and crude humor" by the MPAA...
- 2008: The BorderThe Border (TV series)The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by...
- 2009: Little Mosque on the PrairieLittle Mosque on the PrairieLittle Mosque on the Prairie is a Canadian sitcom on CBC, created by Zarqa Nawaz and produced by WestWind Pictures. It is filmed in Toronto, Ontario and Indian Head, Saskatchewan...
- In development: Things That Intimidate Me (TVOntarioTVOntarioTVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
)
External links
- Northern Stars: Chas Lawther
- Foolish Earthling Productions: 10,000 Shiftless Nights production information All-Night Show reunion programme.
- Chas Lawther at TV Guide