Damon D'Oliveira is a Canadian actor and film and television producer, best known as a partner with Clement Virgo in the production firm Conquering Lion Pictures.[1]
Damon D'Oliveira | |
---|---|
![]() Damon D'Oliveira, March 2017 | |
Born | |
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation(s) | Actor, film producer |
Years active | 1980s–present |
Known for | Rude, Love Come Down, The Book of Negroes |
Spouse | Maxime Desmons |
In September 2023, he was named chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association.[2]
Background
editOriginally from Guyana, D'Oliveira moved to Canada in 1976. He had acting roles in stage, film and television in the 1980s, and was credited as an associate producer on Darrell Wasyk's 1990 film H, before being admitted into the Canadian Film Centre's program for filmmakers of colour in 1991 alongside classmates including Virgo, Robert Adetuyi, Mina Shum and Stephen Williams.[3]
Producing career
editHis first film production credit was on Virgo's 1993 short film Save My Lost Nigga Soul. He has since been a producer of Virgo's films Rude, Love Come Down, Lie with Me, Poor Boy's Game and The Book of Negroes, as well as John Greyson's films The Law of Enclosures[4] and Proteus. Rude and Love Come Down were both Genie Award nominees for Best Picture.
As an actor, D'Oliveira's roles have included voice roles in Rupert, Chilly Beach, Monster Force, Tales from the Cryptkeeper and Donkey Kong Country, guest roles in Adderly, Neon Rider, Night Heat, War of the Worlds, Street Legal, Side Effects, Due South, TekWar, Forever Knight, Traders, The City, Queer as Folk, Show Me Yours, ZOS: Zone of Separation and The Border, and the films Uncut, Getting Away with Murder and Bollywood/Hollywood.
In 2023, he was awarded the inaugural Trailblazer Award, in honour of his work as a pioneering BIPOC filmmaker, as part of the Toronto International Film Festival Amplify Voices Award slate.[5]
Personal life
editOpenly gay, he is married to film director and screenwriter Maxime Desmons.[6]
Filmography
editProducer
edit- 1993 - Save My Lost Nigga Soul
- 1995 - Rude
- 2000 - Love Come Down
- 2000 - The Law of Enclosures
- 2003 - Proteus
- 2005 - Lie with Me
- 2007 - Poor Boy's Game
- 2008 - Bonne mère (Short)
- 2008 - Baggage (Short)
- 2009 - Somebody Is Watching Us (Short)
- 2010 - Subway Harmonies (Short)
- 2011 - Au plus proche (Short)
- 2014 - What We Have
- 2015 - The Book of Negroes (TV Mini-Series)
- 2018 - The Grizzlies
- 2021 - Wildhood
- 2022 - Brother
Actor
edit- 1988 - Short Circuit 2 as 'Bones'
- 1990 - Deep Sleep as Angel
- 1994 - Exotica as David / Man At Opera
- 1994 - Back in Action as Gantry
- 1994 - Trial by Jury as Rafael, Juror
- 1995 - Jungleground as 'Blackjack'
- 1996 - Getting Away with Murder as Electronic Salesman
- 1996 - Bogus as Office Worker
- 1997 - Uncut as Peter Denham
- 1997 - My Teacher Ate My Homework as Doctor
- 1997-2000 - Donkey Kong Country (TV Series) - Funky Kong / Eddie, The Mean Old Yeti (voice)
- 1998 - Double Take as Raul
- 1999 - The Five Senses as Todd
- 1999 - Angel in a Cage as Lucio
- 2001 - Full Disclosure as Marek
- 2001 - Glitter as Movie Producer
- 2002 - Bollywood/Hollywood as Stevie Sood
- 2004 - New York Minute as News Broadcaster
- 2008 - Chilly Beach: The Canadian President as Constable Al (voice)
- 2018 - 72 Hours as Ravi (Season 1 Episode 1- Burning Obsession)
References
edit- ^ "a Canadian story retold - and worth the wait". The Globe and Mail, January 3, 2015.
- ^ Kelly Townsend, "Damon D'Oliveira appointed as CMPA chair". Playback, September 29, 2023.
- ^ "Film-makers picked for program". Halifax Daily News, July 28, 1991.
- ^ "Canadian film offered by DIA as part of fest". Windsor Star, June 20, 2001.
- ^ Christian Zilko, "American Fiction' Wins People's Choice Award at 2023 TIFF (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire, September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Plus ça change: abuse and attraction in North Bay, ON". Daily Xtra, August 20, 2015.