Gil Bellows (born June 28, 1967) is a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for the roles of Tommy Williams in the 1994 movie '' The Shawshank Redemption'', Billy Thomas in the Fox television series '' Ally McBeal'' (1997–2002), and

CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...

agent Matt Callan in the CBS television series '' The Agency'' (2001–2003). In 2016–2017, he was a regular cast member in the

USA Network USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madi ...

series '' Eyewitness''.

Early life

Bellows was born in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...

, and attended Magee Secondary School with fellow future actress

Carrie-Anne Moss Carrie-Anne Moss (born August 21, 1967) is a Canadian actress. After early roles on television, she rose to international prominence for her role of Trinity in ''The Matrix'' series (1999–present). She has starred in '' Memento'' (2000) for w ...

. After graduation, he pursued a career in acting, studying at the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

Career

Bellows is known for his first motion-picture role as Tommy in '' The Shawshank Redemption'' (1994). Also in 1994, he played the lead role Watty Watt in ''

Love and a .45 ''Love and a .45'' is a 1994 indie crime drama road movie written and directed by C.M. Talkington, starring Gil Bellows and Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger (; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of variou ...

'' with

Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger (; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, she was one of the world's highest-paid ...

, Billy Thomas in the television series '' Ally McBeal'', and

agent Matt Callan in the television series '' The Agency''. Bellows also appeared in the

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a genre combining the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting. In terms of context and c ...

'' Chasing Sleep'' as Detective Derm, opposite star

Jeff Daniels Jeffrey Warren Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor, comedian, musician, and playwright, known for his work on stage and screen playing diverse characters switching between comedy and drama. He is the recipient of several accol ...

. He appeared in ''

The Weather Man ''The Weather Man'' is a 2005 American dark comedy-drama film directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Steve Conrad, and starring Nicolas Cage in the lead role, Michael Caine and Hope Davis. It tells the story of a weatherman in the midst of a m ...

'' as a perverted rehabilitation counsellor. He was in the films ''

Black Day Blue Night ''Black Day Blue Night'' is a 1995 American crime thriller film directed by J. S. Cardone and starring Gil Bellows, Michelle Forbes, Mia Sara, J. T. Walsh, Tim Guinee, and John Beck. Premise A wife's husband is cheating on her. She decides t ...

'', '' Snow White: A Tale of Terror'', as Will, and ''Un amour de sorcière'', a French film, as Michael Firth (1997). He has appeared on the

Hallmark Channel The Hallmark Channel is an American television channel owned by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which in turn is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. The channel's programming is primarily targeted at families, and features a mix of television movies a ...

original film ''

Final Days of Planet Earth ''Final Days of Planet Earth'' is a 2006 science fiction miniseries directed by Robert Lieberman and written by Roger Soffer. Starring Campbell Scott, Gil Bellows, and Daryl Hannah, the movie was produced by RHI Entertainment for the Hallmark Cha ...

'' and the Canadian television series '' Terminal City''. In 2007, he completed filming for '' Kill Kill Faster Faster'', which is a contemporary film noir inspired by the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by

Joel Rose Joel Rose is an American novelist. Career His novels include ''The Blackest Bird'' (2007), '' Kill the Poor'' (1988), and '' Kill Kill Faster Faster'' (1988). He also authored the urban historical, ''New York Sawed in Half: An Urban Historical'' ...

. Bellows also played a State Department Officer in '' 24: Redemption'', a television film prequel to the seventh season of ''24''. He starred in the Super Channel science-fiction adventure thriller film '' Infected''. Bellows has also appeared as Maxwell Lord on ''

Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar/G ...

'' in the Season 9 episodes "Charade" and "Hostage". In 2010, Bellows had a recurring role in ''

FlashForward A flashforward (also spelled flash-forward, and more formally known as prolepsis) is a scene that temporarily takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television and other media. Flashforwards a ...

'' as Timothy, a window-washer who becomes a

born-again Christian Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sep ...

and

evangelist Evangelist may refer to: Religion * Four Evangelists, the authors of the canonical Christian Gospels * Evangelism, publicly preaching the Gospel with the intention of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ * Evangelist (Anglican Church), a co ...

after a near-death experience. Bellows also co-starred in the movie ''

Unthinkable ''Unthinkable'' is a 2010 American thriller film directed by Gregor Jordan and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Sheen and Carrie-Anne Moss. It was released direct-to-video on June 14, 2010. The film is noteworthy for the controversy it generat ...

'' that same year. He co-starred with Steve Austin and

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in '' King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes ...

in the 2010 action film ''

Hunt to Kill ''Hunt to Kill'' is a 2010 Canadian-American direct-to-video action film starring Steve Austin, Gil Bellows, and Eric Roberts. Plot The film begins with border patrol agent Jim Rhodes and his partner Lee exploring a seemingly abandoned trailer ...

'', and in 2011 co-starred with

Macha Grenon Macha Grenon (born June 7, 1968) is a Canadian film and television actress.Julia Stone in '' The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom''. He starred in the 2012 feature film '' Fury''. In some second-season episodes (2012) of ''

Boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, a ...

'' he appeared as a casino investor. In 2014 Bellows starred with Tricia Helfer in the

Syfy Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. La ...

miniseries ''Ascension'', a retro

space opera Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, it features technological and soc ...

/ murder mystery about the 600-person crew of the USS ''Ascension'', an ''Orion''-class nuclear pulse propulsion spaceship, on its secret 100-year journey to

Proxima Centauri Proxima Centauri is a small, low-mass star located away from the Sun in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Its Latin name means the 'nearest tarof Centaurus'. It was discovered in 1915 by Robert Innes and is the nearest-k ...

, having been launched in 1963 by

President Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until assassination of Joh ...

. Bellows played Harris Enzmann, the son of the founder of the ''Ascension'' project, who oversees its progress from a secret facility on Earth. On October 16, 2016, Bellows debuted as a cast regular in

's new, 10-episode, straight-to-series police drama, '' Eyewitness''. He plays Gabe Caldwell, a veterinarian and the husband of Sheriff Helen Torrance (series lead

Julianne Nicholson Julianne Nicholson (born July 1, 1971) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films '' August: Osage County'' (2013) and '' Blonde'' (2022), as well as the television series '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (2006–2009) ...

). The sheriff is trying to solve what appears to be a random triple-murder in a turkey farmer's home. But as the series begins to unfold, she is unaware that the farmer's teenage son and his male friend—the latter of whom also happens to be Gabe and Helen's foster son; at first, unbeknownst to either parent—had been secretly exploring new feelings for each other just prior to the carnage, witnessed the murders. The killer is still at large, is someone she wouldn't normally suspect, and is determined to permanently silence the witness he saw hiding. Meanwhile, off the clock and at home, Caldwell and Torrance seem to enjoy a genuinely happy marriage. The series, although set in mainly in the

Hudson River Valley The Hudson Valley (also known as the Hudson River Valley) comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in the U.S. state of New York. The region stretches from the Capital District including Albany and Troy south to Yo ...

, was actually filmed in

Parry Sound Parry Sound is a sound or bay of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, in Ontario, Canada. It is highly irregularly shaped with many deep bays and islands. Killbear Provincial Park is located on the large peninsula that separates the sound from Georgian ...

, Ontario, Canada. In 2019, Bellows guest-starred as the unnamed

maternity ] A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of ges ...

Physician, doctor in season 3, episode 9, of

Hulu Hulu () is an American subscription streaming service majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, with Comcast's NBCUniversal holding a minority stake. It was launched on October 29, 2007 and it offers a library of films and television series ...

's ''The Handmaid's Tale''.

Personal life

Gil Bellows is married to American actress Rya Kihlstedt and has two children with her.

Filmography

* '' The First Season'' (1988) as Ronne * ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering ...

'' (1991, TV series) as Howard Metzler * '' Flying Blind'' (1992, TV series) as Gerard * ''

Going to Extremes ''Going to Extremes'' and ''Surviving Extremes'' were television programmes made for Channel 4 by Nick Middleton. In each episode of the two series, Middleton visited an extreme area of the world to find out how people have adapted to life there ...

'' (1993, TV series) as Ben * '' The Shawshank Redemption'' (1994) as Tommy Williams * ''

'' (1994) as Watty Watts * '' Miami Rhapsody'' (1995) as Matt * ''

'' (1995) as Hitchhiker Dodge * '' Silver Strand'' (1995, TV movie) as Brian Del Piso * '' Radiant City'' (1996, TV movie) as Bert Kramer * '' The Substance of Fire'' (1996) as Val Chenard * '' Witch Way Love'' (1997) as Michael * '' Snow White: A Tale of Terror'' (1997) as Will * ''White Lies'' (1997) as Punk Guy * '' The Assistant'' (1997) as Frank Alpine * ''Dinner at Fred's'' (1997) as Richard * '' Ally McBeal'' (1997–2002, TV series) as Billy Thomas * ''

The Practice ''The Practice'' is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley centering on partners and associates at a Boston law firm. The show ran for eight seasons on ABC, from March 4, 1997, to May 16, 2004. It won an Emmy ...

'' (1998, TV series) as Billy Thomas * '' Judas Kiss'' (1998) as Lizard Browning * ''Say You'll Be Mine'' (1999) as Mason * '' Ally'' (1999, TV series) as Billy Thomas * ''

The Courage to Love ''The Courage to Love'' is a 2000 television history film starring Vanessa L. Williams, who was also the producer. The premiere was held 24 January 2000 on Lifetime. The film also stars Vanessa's children: Jillian Hervey, Melanie Hervey, Devin H ...

'' (2000, TV movie) as Dr. Gerard Gaultier * '' Beautiful Joe'' (2000) as Elton * '' Chasing Sleep'' (2000) as Detective Derm * '' Night Visions'' (2001, TV series) as Keith Miller (segment "Renovation") *''Mermaid Chronicles Part 1:

She Creature ''She Creature'' (originally billed as ''Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature'') is a 2001 horror made-for-television film, directed by Sebastian Gutierrez and starring Rufus Sewell, Carla Gugino and Rya Kihlstedt in leading roles. It is th ...

'' (2001, TV movie) as Miles * '' The Agency'' (2001–2002, TV series) as Matt Callan * ''Whitewash: The Clarence Bradley Story'' (2002, TV movie) as Mike De Guerin * ''

Second String ''Second String'' is a direct-to-TV film from 2002 about the Buffalo Bills football team who find its first string (led by real-life Bills quarterback Doug Flutie, who had left the team by the time the film was released) out for a month after a fo ...

'' (2002, TV movie) as Dan Heller * '' 1st to Die'' (2003, TV movie) as Chris Raleigh * ''Fast Food High'' (2003) as Dale White * ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'' (2003, episode: "Homecoming") as Maj. Rob Malone * '' Blind Horizon'' (2003) as Dr. Theodore Conway * ''EMR'' (2004) as Paramedic * ''

Karen Sisco ''Karen Sisco'' is an American crime drama television series starring Carla Gugino in the title role. The series was created by novelist Elmore Leonard, based on a character who had appeared in several of his written works, as well as one film a ...

'' (2004, TV series) as Special Agent Donny Pepper * '' Zeyda and the Hitman'' (2004) as Jeff Klein * ''Cooking Lessons'' (2004, TV movie) as Professor Mocha * ''How's My Driving'' (2004, short) as Jimmy * ''

Childstar ''Childstar'' is a 2004 Canadian comedy film directed and co-written by Don McKellar, and starring McKellar, Peter Paige, Gil Bellows, Mark Rendall, Michael Murphy, with Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Alan Thicke. It premiered at the Toronto Interna ...

'' (2004) as Isaac * ''Pursued'' (2004) as Ben Keats * ''

A Bear Named Winnie ''A Bear Named Winnie'' is a 2004 made-for-television drama film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Michael Fassbender and David Suchet. It concerns one of the real-life inspirations behind A. A. Milne's ''Winnie-the-Pooh''. Plot At the outb ...

'' (2004, TV movie) as Colonel Barret * ''Keep Your Distance'' (2005) as David Dailey * ''

'' (2005) as Don * '' Terminal City'' (2005, TV series) as Ari Sampson * ''

'' (2006, TV movie) as Lloyd Walker * ''

The Promotion ''The Promotion'' is a 2008 American comedy film written and directed by Steven Conrad. A look at the quest for the American Dream, it focuses on two grocery store managers vying for a promotion. The film premiered at South by Southwest in Mar ...

'' (2008) as Mitch * '' Kill Kill Faster Faster'' (2008) as Joe * ''bgFATLdy'' (2008) as Sam * '' The Cleaner'' (2008, TV series) as Mickey Efros * '' Passchendaele'' (2008) as Royster * ''

Toronto Stories ''Toronto Stories'' is a 2008 Canadian anthology film. It has four segments that are bound together by a young boy, lost in an unknown city. After the prologue, the four segments are directed by different people: "Shoelaces" by Aaron Woodley, "The ...

'' (2008) as Henry * '' Infected'' (2008, TV movie) as Ben Mosher * '' 24: Redemption'' (2008, TV movie) as Frank Tramell * ''Happenchance'' (2010, short) as Stan * ''

'' (2010, TV series) as Maxwell Lord * ''

'' (2010, TV series) as Timothy * ''

'' (2010) as Agent Vincent * ''

Goblin A goblin is a small, grotesque, monstrous creature that appears in the folklore of multiple European cultures. First attested in stories from the Middle Ages, they are ascribed conflicting abilities, temperaments, and appearances depending on ...

'' (2010, TV movie) as Neil Perkins * ''A Night for Dying Tigers'' (2010) as Jake * ''

Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created and produced by Jeff Davis (writer), Jeff Davis. The series premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005, and originally concluded on February 19, 2020; it was r ...

'' (2010, TV series) as Jeff Joyce * ''

'' (2010) as Banks * '' The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom'' (2011) as Phil * ''

Girl Walks into a Bar ''Girl Walks into a Bar'' is a 2011 multiple story line ensemble comedy film produced exclusively for Internet distribution. It is directed by Sebastián Gutiérrez from his own script, much like the anthology style of Gutiérrez's ''Women in Tr ...

'' (2011) as Emmit * '' The Maiden Danced to Death'' (2011) as Fred * '' Trading Christmas'' (2011, TV movie) as Ray Johnson * ''Neighbors'' (2011) as Vern * '' Fury'' (2012) as Bartender Bill * '' True Justice'' (2010–2012, TV series) as Nikoli Putin * '' House at the End of the Street'' (2012) as Weaver * ''

'' (2012, TV series) as Vacarro * '' Vegas'' (2012, TV series) as George Grady * ''

Mad Ship ''Mad Ship'' is a 2012 Canadian film directed by David Mortin. Plot A poor young Scandinavian immigrant couple winds up in Canada in search of prosperity, but the hardship of the Great Depression takes a toll in a way they never feared when they ...

'' (2013) as Archie Cameron * '' Louis Cyr'' (2013) as Richard Kyle Fox * '' Parkland'' (2013) as David Powers * '' 3 Days in Havana'' (2013) as Jack Petty * '' Extraterrestrial'' (2014) as Sheriff Murphy * ''

Leading Lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

'' (2014) as Daniel Taylor * ''

Falling Skies ''Falling Skies'' is an American science fiction television series set in a post-apocalyptic era, created by Robert Rodat and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. The series stars Noah Wyle as Tom Mason, a former history professor who bec ...

'' (2014, TV series) as Nick Phillips * '' The Calling'' (2014) as Detective Ray Green * '' Kill the Messenger'' (2014) as DEA Agent Miller * '' Bones'' (2014, TV series) as Mason Barnes * '' Ascension'' (2014, TV Mini-Series) as Harris Enzmann * '' Girl on the Edge'' (2015) as Jake Green * ''

Patriot A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism. Patriot may also refer to: Political and military groups United States * Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution * Patriot m ...

'' (2015–2018, TV series) as Lawrence Lacroix * '' Weepah Way for Now'' (2015) as John * '' Life on the Line'' (2015) as Pok' Chop * '' 11.22.63'' (2016, TV miniseries) as FBI Agent James B. Hosty * ''Dead Draw'' (2016) as Harrison * ''

She Has a Name ''She Has a Name'' is a play about human trafficking written by Andrew Kooman in 2009 as a single act and expanded to full length in 2010. It is about the trafficking of children into sexual slavery and was inspired by the deaths of 54 people in ...

'' (2016) as Alex * '' Eyewitness'' (2016, TV series) as Gabe Caldwell * '' Blood Honey'' (2017) as Marvin Heath * '' The Detectives - 'Nine Shots' / The Case That Haunts Me / The Orion Project'' (2018) as Det. Peter Baker * '' Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark'' (2019) as Chief Turner * ''

The Handmaid's Tale ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is a futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state known as the Republic of Gilead, which ...

'' (2019) as Doctor * ''

Awake Wakefulness is a daily recurring brain state and state of consciousness in which an individual is conscious and engages in coherent cognitive and behavioral responses to the external world. Being awake is the opposite of being asleep, in which m ...

'' (2021) as Dr. Katz * ''Love in the Time of Corona'' (2020) * ''

Women of the Movement ''Women of the Movement'' is an American historical drama miniseries that premiered on ABC on January 6, 2022. Created by Marissa Jo Cerar, the series centers on Mamie Till-Mobley, played by Adrienne Warren, who devoted her life to seeking jus ...

'' (miniseries) (2022) as Gerald Chatham

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bellows, Gil 1967 births Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Living people Male actors from Vancouver American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male actors Primetime Emmy Award winners