Denis Simpson (born Dennis Anthony Leopold Simpson; 4 November 1950 – 22 October 2010)"Denis Simpson lived to entertain"
''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and pa ...

'', 22 October 2010. was a Canadian actor and singer best known as a host of the TV series ''

Polka Dot Door Polka is a dance and genre of dance music originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though associated with Czech culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas. History Etymology The t ...

''. He was also an original member of the singing group

The Nylons The Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, best known for their covers of pop songs such as The Turtles' " Happy Together", Steam's " Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' " The Lion Sleeps Toni ...

Early life and family

Born in

St. Ann's Bay Saint Ann's Bay is a settlement in Jamaica, the capital of Saint Ann Parish. It had a population of 10,961 at the 1991 census. Musicians Floyd Lloyd and Burning Spear, and Marcus Garvey were born in the town. History When Christopher Columbus f ...

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispan ...

, Simpson arrived in Canada at the age of eight and moved with his family to Scarborough,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

, at age 10. He attended Guildwood Public School and was remembered as an exceptional student and a friendly and gentle young man. His half-sister, born 1964, is actress

Gloria Reuben Gloria Elizabeth Reuben is a Canadian-American actress, producer, and singer. She is well-known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the medical drama '' ER'' (1995–1999, 2008), for which she was twice nominated for an Emmy Award, and for portrayi ...

. At

York University York University (french: Université York), also known as YorkU or simply YU, is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's fourth-largest university, and it has approximately 55,700 students, 7,000 faculty and staf ...

, where he studied for one year, Simpson focused on music, theatre, and dance.

Career

The original bass vocalist for

in 1978–79, he left the band to appear in the Broadway musical ''Indigo'' before they became commercially successful. Simpson was also a longtime host of the children's television series ''

'' from 1978 until the mid 1980s. He appeared in such television series as '' Seeing Things'', '' Mr. Dressup'', '' Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show'', '' Night Visions'', '' These Arms of Mine'', '' Robson Arms'', and '' MacGyver'' and on the Canadian game shows '' Acting Crazy'' and '' Talk About''. He also hosted a cooking show on

Channel M Channel M was a regional television station, serving Greater Manchester. The station, originally known as ''Manchester Student Television'', was owned and operated by the GMG Regional Media division of Guardian Media Group. Coverage Original ...

called ''Café m'' and was the "Live Eye Guy" for Citytv Vancouver's ''

Breakfast Television Breakfast television (Europe, Canada, and Australia) or morning show (United States) is a type of news or infotainment television programme that broadcasts live in the morning (typically scheduled between 5:00 and 10:00a.m., or if it is a l ...

''. He was nominated for several

Jessie Award The Jessie Richardson Theatre Award (commonly known as the Jessie Awards) is given to recognize achievement in professional theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Jessies are presented by the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award Society, at an annu ...

s for his theatre work, winning one for his one-man show ''Denis Anyone?'' He was also involved in charitable work with AIDS organizations and hosting local events. He died on 22 October 2010 of a sudden

brain hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, intraparenchymal bleed, and hemorrhagic stroke, or haemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is one kind of bleed ...

approximately two weeks before his 60th birthday.

Filmography

*''

'' (1978–mid-80s) TV series as the Host *''Utilities'' (1981) as Twinkle Toes *''Spasms'' (1983) as Abo Shaman *'' Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show'' as Denis Simpson (2 episodes, 1984–1986) ** - Amusement Park (1984) TV episode as Denis Simpson ** - Marathon (1986) TV episode as Denis Simpson *''Comedy Factory'' as Angelo (2 episodes, 1985) ** - Honey, It's the Mayor (1985) TV episode ** - The Columnist (1985) TV episode as Angelo *''

Flying Flying may refer to: * Flight, the process of flying * Aviation, the creation and operation of aircraft Music Albums * ''Flying'' (Grammatrain album), 1997 * ''Flying'' (Jonathan Fagerlund album), 2008 * ''Flying'' (UFO album), 1971 * ''Fl ...

'' (1986) as Fred Stoner *'' Seeing Things'' as Eric (1 episode, 1986) ** - I'm Dancing with Stars in My Eyes (1986) TV episode as Eric *'' The Vindicator'' (1986) as Joe Simpson *'' The Park Is Mine'' (1986) (TV) as Richie *'' MacGyver'' as Ginko (1 episode, 1990) ** - The Lost Amadeus (1990) TV episode as Ginko *'' And the Sea Will Tell'' (1991) (TV) as Findlay *''Born Too Soon'' (1993) (TV) as Jeff *'' These Arms of Mine'' (1999) TV series as Denis Simpson (unknown episodes) *''

Get Your Stuff Get or GET may refer to: * Get (animal), the offspring of an animal * Get (divorce document), in Jewish religious law * GET (HTTP), a type of HTTP request * "Get" (song), by the Groggers * Georgia Time, used in the Republic of Georgia * Get A ...

'' (2000) as Neal *''

Soul Food Soul food is an ethnic cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans, originating in the Southern United States.Soul Food originated with the foods that were given to enslaved Black people by their white owners on Souther ...

'' as the Priest (1 episode, 2002) ** - Let's Do It Again (2002) TV episode as the Priest *'' Night Visions'' as Bokor (1 episode, 2001) ** - The Bokor (2001) TV episode as Bokor *'' Final Days of Planet Earth'' (2006) (TV) as the Chief Administrator *''

Flash Gordon Flash Gordon is the protagonist of a space adventure comic strip created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established '' Buck Rogers'' ad ...

'' (1 episode, 2007) ** - Infestation (2007) TV episode *'' Robson Arms'' as the Minister (1 episode, 2008) ** - My Brother's Keeper (2008) TV episode as the Minister *''The True Heroines'' (2011) as Earl the Milkman *''Cold Side of the Pillow'' (2017) as Father David

Theatre (selected)

* ''The Full Monty'', Horse (Patrick Street Productions) * ''"Nggrfg'', director (Edmonton Fringe Festival) * ''Buddy, M.C.'' (Adam Henderson/ Persephone Theatre) * ''Urinetown'', Senator Fipp/Lead (Donna Spencer/Firehall Theatre) * ''Angels in America'', Belize/Lead (Michael Fera/Hoars) * ''Driving Miss Daisy'', Hoke Coleburn/Lead (Lawrie Selligman/MTC) * ''Ruthless'', Sylvia St. Croix/Lead (David C. Jones/Ophidian Theatre Prod.) * ''From Berlin To Broadway'', Lead (Johnna Wright/Waterfront Theatre) * ''I love you, You're Perfect, Now Change'', Lead (Robert Metcalf/PPE) * ''Wang Dang Doodle'', Lead (Rick Kish/The Grand Theatre, London, Ont.) * ''Daughter of the Regiment'', Horentius (Michael Callaghan/Van. Opera Co.) * ''Dames at Sea'', Lucky/Lead (Bill Millerd/

Arts Club Theatre The Arts Club Theatre Company is a Canadian professional theatre company in Vancouver, British Columbia, founded in 1958. It is the largest urban not-for-profit theatre company in the country and the largest in Western Canada, with productions tak ...

) * ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'', Pseudolus (Bob Ainsley/Theatre London/Grand Theatre) * ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', Reverend Sykes (Bob Baker/Citadel Theatre) * ''Master Harold & The Boys'', Willie (Pacific Theatre) * ''Godspell'', Jesus (Allen MacInnis/PTE) * ''Blowin' Growin'...Bowen'', As Cast (Roy Surette/Arts Club Theatre) * ''Five Guys Named Moe, 4 Eyed Moe'' (Bill Millerd/Arts Club Theatre) * ''Angels in America, Belize'' (Gordon McCaul/Centaur Theatre) * ''The Relapse, Worthy'' (Susan Cox/ Vancouver Playhouse) * ''Denis, Anyone?'', One Man Show (Arts Club Theatre/Fringe Festival) * ''When The Rains Come'', Chorus (Bill Millerd/Arts Club Theatre) * ''Blowin' on Bowen'', Johnny Angel (Kim Selody/Arts Club Theatre) * ''Star Trick - The Musical'', Spork (Vancouver Theatresports League) * ''Prelude To a Kiss'', Taylor (Sherie Bie/Arts Club Theatre) * ''Lend Me a Tenor'', Bellhop (Tom Kerr/Arts Club Theatre) * ''Robin Hood'', Denis/Morris (David Tagouri/Citadel Theatre) * ''Head A Tete, Clown with Doll'' (Stephen Heatley/Citadel Theatre) * ''The Coloured Museum'', Lead/Director (Donna Spencer/Firehall Theatre) * ''Ain't Misbehavin''', Andre (Marlene Smith/Toronto Musical Production) * ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', Simon (Broadway) * ''The Last Days of Judas Iscariot'', Pontius Pilate (Pacific Theatre) * ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' (Gateway Theatre)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Denis 1950 births 2010 deaths Male actors from Toronto Black Canadian male actors 20th-century Black Canadian male singers Canadian children's television personalities Canadian male musical theatre actors Canadian male television actors Canadian gay actors Emigrants from British Jamaica to Canada Canadian LGBT singers Musicians from Toronto Canadian gay musicians People from Saint Ann Parish The Nylons members Black Canadian LGBT people 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century LGBT people