Philip J. Craig
Encyclopedia
Philip James Craig is a Canadian actor and politician. His film credits include Cinderella Man
(2005) and The Time Traveler's Wife
(2009).
, England
before going on to appear in theatres across Canada. Notable theatre credits include Henry IV Part I and II at the Stratford Festival, Journey’s End at the National Arts Centre, and Henry IV at the New York Shakespeare Festival under the direction of Des McAnuff
. He also appeared in Jean Anouilh
's Antigone
as Chorus, and in Peter Nichols
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
as Brian, both of which earned him awards.
After a ten year hiatus from 1985 to 1995 during which time he opened two restaurants in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, Craig returned home to resume his acting career.
Numerous film appearances include Cinderella Man, directed by Ron Howard
and starring Russell Crowe
, John Q
with Denzel Washington
, Owning Mahowny
with Philip Seymour Hoffman
, and Spider
starring Ralph Fiennes
and directed by David Cronenberg
. Craig starred as Tommy Gorman in The Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story
, Charles Binamé
's bio-pic of great Canadian ice hockey legend Maurice Richard, and featured in the film The Time Traveler's Wife
in which he played Philip Abshire, the father of Claire Abshire (portrayed by Rachel McAdams
).
Craig was most recently seen on stage at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival as part of the 2011 Season, in the productions of Richard III and the Merry Wives of Windsor.
He has lent his voice to many radio and television commercial spots, and has appeared in many television commercials including most notably the Lotto 6/49 spot in which he gave away cottages to his family.
for Ward 2 in the Town of Georgina
in the municipal elections of October 25, 2010.
Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man is a 2005 American drama film by Ron Howard, titled after the nickname of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and inspired by his life story. The film was produced by Howard, Penny Marshall, and Brian Grazer.-Plot:James J...
(2005) and The Time Traveler's Wife
The Time Traveler's Wife (film)
The Time Traveler's Wife is a 2009 romantic film based on Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel of the same name. Directed by Robert Schwentke, the film stars Eric Bana as Henry DeTamble, a Chicago librarian with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel randomly as he tries to build a romantic...
(2009).
Career
Craig trained at The Drama Studio, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before going on to appear in theatres across Canada. Notable theatre credits include Henry IV Part I and II at the Stratford Festival, Journey’s End at the National Arts Centre, and Henry IV at the New York Shakespeare Festival under the direction of Des McAnuff
Des McAnuff
Desmond McAnuff is the Canadian-American artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and director of musical theatre of such Broadway productions as Big River, The Who's Tommy and Jersey Boys.-Biography:...
. He also appeared in Jean Anouilh
Jean Anouilh
Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh was a French dramatist whose career spanned five decades. Though his work ranged from high drama to absurdist farce, Anouilh is best known for his 1943 play Antigone, an adaptation of Sophocles' Classical drama, that was seen as an attack on Marshal Pétain's...
's Antigone
Antigone (Anouilh play)
Jean Anouilh's play Antigone is a tragedy inspired by Greek mythology and the play of the same name from the fifth century B.C...
as Chorus, and in Peter Nichols
Peter Nichols
Peter Nichols FRSL is an English writer of stage plays, film and television.Born in Bristol, England, he was educated at Bristol Grammar School, and served his compulsory National Service as a clerk in Calcutta and later in the Combined Services Entertainments Unit in Singapore where he...
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg is a 1967 play by English playwright Peter Nichols, first staged at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland before transferring to London's West End theatres in 1968.-Plot summary:Characters* Bri* Grace* Joe* Freddie...
as Brian, both of which earned him awards.
After a ten year hiatus from 1985 to 1995 during which time he opened two restaurants in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Craig returned home to resume his acting career.
Numerous film appearances include Cinderella Man, directed by Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
and starring Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
, John Q
John Q
John Q is a 2002 film directed by Nick Cassavetes starring Denzel Washington as John Quincy Archibald, a father and husband whose son is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and then finds out he cannot receive a transplant because HMO insurance will not cover it...
with Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
, Owning Mahowny
Owning Mahowny
Owning Mahowny is a 2003 movie about gambling addiction with a cast that includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Maury Chaykin and John Hurt.-Plot:...
with Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
, and Spider
Spider (film)
Spider is a 2002 Canadian/British drama film produced and directed by David Cronenberg and based on the novel of the same name by Patrick McGrath, who also wrote the screenplay....
starring Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
and directed by David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
. Craig starred as Tommy Gorman in The Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story
Maurice Richard (film)
Maurice Richard is a French language Canadian biopic about the ice hockey player Maurice "The Rocket" Richard. It was released in English Canada as The Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story. It was released in the United States as The Rocket: The Legend of Rocket Richard and was distributed by...
, Charles Binamé
Charles Binamé
Charles Binamé is a Quebec director. He was born in Belgium and came to Montreal with his family at a young age. In 1971, he began work as an assistant director with the National Film Board of Canada. During the 1980s, he directed commercials in England...
's bio-pic of great Canadian ice hockey legend Maurice Richard, and featured in the film The Time Traveler's Wife
The Time Traveler's Wife (film)
The Time Traveler's Wife is a 2009 romantic film based on Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel of the same name. Directed by Robert Schwentke, the film stars Eric Bana as Henry DeTamble, a Chicago librarian with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel randomly as he tries to build a romantic...
in which he played Philip Abshire, the father of Claire Abshire (portrayed by Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams
Rachel Anne McAdams is a Canadian actress. After graduating from a theatre program at York University, Toronto in 2001, she worked steadily as an actress until finding fame in 2004 with starring roles in teen comedy Mean Girls and romantic drama The Notebook...
).
Craig was most recently seen on stage at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival as part of the 2011 Season, in the productions of Richard III and the Merry Wives of Windsor.
He has lent his voice to many radio and television commercial spots, and has appeared in many television commercials including most notably the Lotto 6/49 spot in which he gave away cottages to his family.
Politics
Craig was elected to the office of CouncillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
for Ward 2 in the Town of Georgina
Georgina, Ontario
Georgina is a town in south-central Ontario, and the northernmost municipality in the Regional Municipality of York. It forms part of the northern boundary of the Greater Toronto Area and is situated on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe...
in the municipal elections of October 25, 2010.