Luke Kirby

A stage-trained Canadian actor, Luke Kirby caught North America's attention with supporting turns in "Lost and Delirious" (2001), "Halloween: Resurrection" (2002) and "Shattered Glass" (2003) as well as the lead role in "Mambo Italiano" (2003). A full-fledged star in Canada with such projects as "Luck" (2003) and "Slings and Arrows" (The Movie Network, 2003-06), he made further American inroads with a small role in the golf biopic "The Greatest Game Ever Played" (2005), a daring turn as a very sexual young man on the controversial drama "Tell Me You Love Me" (HBO, 2007), and a charming role as Lindsay Lohan's boss in the long-gestating "Labor Pains" (ABC Family, 2009).

Nominated for multiple Gemini Awards in Canada, Kirby starred in the series "Cra$h & Burn" (Showcase, 2009-10) and in Sarah Polley's "Take This Waltz" (2011). Although he enjoyed much more professional success in his homeland, Luke Kirby impressed audiences and critics alike across North America with his ample charm and acting chops, leaving many to hope his American fame would soon catch up.

Born June 21, 1978 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Luke Farrell Kirby was the son of American expatriates but grew up very much a product of his native land, graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada. He enjoyed almost immediate success after completing his studies, landing an important supporting role in the sensitive Canadian boarding school drama "Lost and Delirious" (2001) as Jake, the boy whose presence destroys the budding lesbian relationship between roommates Paulie (Piper Perabo) and Tori (Jessica Paré). He made his first impression on American audiences, however, with a small role as a lusty college student who falls prey to the unstoppable undead killer Michael Myers in the underwhelming "Halloween: Resurrection" (2002), a movie most notable for Jamie Lee Curtis' final performance as Laurie Strode in the obligatory pre-credits death cameo.

Kirby made a better impression in the comedy "Mambo Italiano" (2003), which gave him his first lead film role playing a sweet, gay Canadian-Italian man whose romantic happiness is endangered by his comically overwhelming family. For his performance, he was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award. After a supporting turn in the acclaimed, based-on-real-life Stephen Glass biopic "Shattered Glass" (2003), he earned another leading role in the Canadian gambling comedy "Luck" (2003) opposite Sarah Polley. His professional momentum was aided by his frequent stage performances, earning him a reputation as a serious-minded young actor unafraid of challenges, and he earned two Gemini Award nominations for his TV work in the miniseries "Sex Traffic" (CBC, 2004) and on the drama "The Eleventh Hour" (CTV, 2002-05), a.k.a "Bury the Lead" in America. Kirby's profile rose even higher when he landed the juicy role of Jack Crew, a spoiled American actor, in the Shakespearean-play-set Canadian black comedy "Slings and Arrows" (The Movie Network, 2003-06), which earned a cult reputation in the United States as well.

After a supporting role in "The Greatest Game Every Played" (2005), the soft-focus biopic of legendary golfer Francis Ouimet (Shia LeBeouf), Kirby landed bigger roles in his homeland, appearing in the Canadian films "All Hat" (2007) and "The Stone Angel" (2007). He seemed poised for an American breakthrough when he was cast on the sex therapy drama "Tell Me You Love Me" (HBO, 2007) as Hugo, a man who enjoyed a passionate sex life with his girlfriend but worried that they lacked true intimacy. Although it proved short-lived, the series drew enormous publicity for its explicit (simulated) sex scenes, including several that revealed just how fearless Kirby was when it came to baring himself - in every sense of the word - to get to the truth of a scene.

After the show ended, Kirby appeared on the Canadian series "Flashpoint" (CTV, 2008-12) as well as on the American series "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010) and "Law & Order; Criminal Intent" (NBC, 2001-07; USA Network, 2007-11) before landing a noteworthy role in the romantic comedy "Labor Pains" (ABC Family, 2009) as Nick, the cute new boss of a young woman (Lindsay Lohan) who fakes a pregnancy to keep her job, but becomes trapped by her lie as she falls for Kirby's sexy mogul. A lightweight diversion, the film attracted more attention than its admittedly lower-tier quality deserved due to Lohan's very public personal and legal troubles at the time. Even though it was scheduled for a theatrical release, it ended up premiering on television to barely any fanfare.

The actor rebounded by landing the starring role on the Canadian claims investigator drama "Cra$h & Burn" (Showcase, 2009-2010), for which he earned his third Gemini Award nomination. He reunited with old friend and co-star Sarah Polley for "Take This Waltz" (2011), which she wrote and directed, starring as the quirky, charming neighbor of writer Margot (Michelle Williams), who finds herself falling in love despite the fact that she is already married to Lou (Seth Rogen). Shifting gears completely, he next took a supporting role in the Samuel L. Jackson thriller "The Samaritan" (2012).

By Jonathan Riggs