Kenneth Welsh
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 30, 1942
- Died
- May 5, 2022
- Birthplace
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Kenneth Welsh, CM (March 30, 1942 – May 5, 2022) was a Canadian film and television actor (sometimes credited as Ken Welsh). He was known to Twin Peaks fans as the multi-faceted villain Windom Earle, and had more recently played the father of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. In 1984 he was nominated for a Genie Award as Best Actor for his portrayal of Reno Colt in the film "Reno and the Doc", written and directed by Charles Dennis. In 1997 Welsh directed Dennis in the latter's play "SoHo Duo" at the West Bank Theatre in New York City. Welsh was born in Edmonton, Alberta to a father who worked for the Canadian National Railway. He grew up in Alberta and studied drama at school. He later moved to Montreal and attended the National Theatre School. Following graduation, he auditioned for the Stratford Festival in Ontario and then spent the first seven years of his career on stage. Welsh has portrayed historical figures including Thomas E. Dewey, Colin Thatcher, Harry S. Truman (twice), Thomas Edison, James "Scotty" Reston, General Harry Crerar and James Baker. He has made guest appearances on the acclaimed TV series Due South and Slings and Arrows. In 2003, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. His role as the Vice-President of the United States in the 2004 environmental disaster film The Day After Tomorrow sparked some controversy due to his physical resemblance to Dick Cheney, who at the time was the real Vice President. Director Roland Emmerich later confirmed that he deliberately chose Welsh for that very reason. Emmerich stated that the character of the Vice-President in the film was intended to be a not-so-subtle criticism of the environmental policies of the Presidency of George W. Bush. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenneth Welsh, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
Afterwards 2025
as Garen
Campton Manor 2024
as Lawrence
Midnight at the Paradise 2022
as Max
The Middle Man 2021
as Mr. Miller
Psycho Goreman 2020
as Narrator & Judicator (voice)
And the Birds Rained Down 2019
as Boychuck
Undercover Grandpa 2017
as Harry
Awakening the Zodiac 2017
as Ben
Chicanery 2017
as Pringle Hewitt
A Nutcracker Christmas 2016
as Dimitri
The Void 2016
as Dr. Richard Powell
- The Ballad of Immortal Joe
The Ballad of Immortal Joe 2015
Actor
Wet Bum 2014
as Ed
The Art of the Steal 2013
as 'Uncle' Paddy MacCarthy
Rewind 2013
as President
The Story of Luke 2013
as Jonas
Cottage Country 2013
as Earl
The Riverbank 2012
as Joe Mason
Survival of the Dead 2010
as Patrick O'Flynn
Grey Gardens 2009
as Max Gordon
Adoration 2009
as Morris
A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride 2008
as Jack
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl 2008
as Uncle Hendrick
Secrets from Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks 2007
as Self
Silk 2007
as Mayor Joncour
Hamlet {Solo} 2007
as Self
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer 2007
as Dr. Jeff Wagner
One Way 2006
as William Henderson
The Covenant 2006
as Provost Higgins
The Snow Queen 2005
as King
The Fog 2005
as Tom Malone
The Exorcism of Emily Rose 2005
as Dr. Mueller
The Murdoch Mysteries: Under the Dragon's Tail 2005
as Inspector Ramsgate
Four Brothers 2005
as Robert Bradford
Bailey's Billion$ 2005
as Mouse Delaney
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope 2005
as professor Wójcik
Our Fathers 2005
as Bishop Murphy
The Aviator 2004
as Dr. Hepburn
The Day After Tomorrow 2004
as Vice President Becker
The Wild Guys 2004
as Andy
Miracle 2004
as Doc Nagobads
Eloise at Christmastime 2003
as Sir Wilkes
Ice Bound 2003
as Dr. Ben Murdoch
Eloise at the Plaza 2003
as Sir Wilkes
The Pentagon Papers 2003
as John McNaughon
The Man Who Saved Christmas 2002
as Newton Baker
The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire 2002
as Dr. Watson
Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher 2002
as Dr. James Franken
The Day Reagan Was Shot 2001
as James Baker
Focus 2001
as Father Crighton
The Royal Scandal 2001
as Dr. Watson
The Sign of Four 2001
as Dr. Watson
Sanctuary 2001
as Sam Hathaway
Haven 2001
as Harry Truman
The Hound of the Baskervilles 2000
as Dr. Watson
Cold Blooded 2000
as Chief Inspector Brodsky
Witchblade 2000
as Joe Siri
Deliberate Intent 2000
as Peder Lund
Love Come Down 2000
as Ira Rosen
Who Killed Atlanta's Children? 2000
as William Kunstler
Love and Murder 2000
as Isaak Levin
Vendetta 1999
as Mayor Joe Shakspeare
G-Saviour 1999
as General Garneaux
Mind Prey 1999
as Tower Manette
Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story 1998
Actor
Dead Husbands 1998
as Chase Woodward
Edison: The Wizard of Light 1998
as Thomas Edison
Thanks of a Grateful Nation 1998
as Sen. Shelby
Thunder Point 1998
as Armstrong
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1998
as Caz Hollowitz
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way 1997
as George Steinbrenner
Dead Silence 1997
as Sheriff Lenny Budd
The Wrong Guy 1997
as Mr. Nagel
Habitat 1997
as Coach Marlowe
Absolute Power 1997
as Sandy Lord
Escape Clause 1996
as Owen Jessop
Portraits of a Killer 1996
as Jim Miller
- Turning April
Turning April 1996
as Father
The Conspiracy of Fear 1996
as Captain Rose
Rowing Through 1996
as Harry Parker
Kissinger and Nixon 1995
as James 'Scotty' Reston
Margaret's Museum 1995
as Angus MacNeil
Hiroshima 1995
as President Harry S Truman
Dancing in the Dark 1995
as Dr. Bel
Vanished 1995
as Bill Palmer
Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story 1995
as Mr. Higgins
Hideaway 1995
as Detective Breech
Legends of the Fall 1994
as Sheriff Tynert
Whale Music 1994
as Kenneth Sexstone
Boozecan 1994
as Tim
Another Woman 1994
as Dr. Kenneth Holcross
Timecop 1994
as Utley
And Then There Was One 1994
as David Burns
Getting Gotti 1994
as Bennett
Death Wish V: The Face of Death 1994
as Lt. Mickey King
Dieppe 1993
as Maj. Gen. Harry Crerar
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story 1993
as Judge Norton
Bye Bye Love 1993
as David
Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story 1993
as Don Eisenberg
Adrift 1993
as Guy Nast
Bonds of Love 1993
as Judge
The Great Dinosaur Hunt 1993
as Narrator
The Good Fight 1992
as Dick Chandler
A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story 1992
as Paul Michel
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster 1992
as Sam Skinner
Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis Story 1992
as Michael Schottland
Christmas on Division Street 1991
as David Atwood
Grand Larceny 1991
as Virgil Klovitz
The Big Slice 1991
as Lieutenant Bernard
- Perfectly Normal
Perfectly Normal 1991
as Charlie Glesby
The Widowmaker 1990
as Atkinson
The Last Best Year 1990
as Jerry
Murder Times Seven 1990
as Nick Ruggieri
The Freshman 1990
as Dwight Armstrong
Murder in Black and White 1990
as Ruggieri
Christmas in America 1989
as Harry Morgan
Straight Line 1989
as Dr. Hammel
Love & Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher 1989
as Colin Thatcher
Dick Francis: Blood Sport 1989
Actor
Champagne Charlie 1989
as John Whistlow
Physical Evidence 1989
as Harry Norton
The January Man 1989
as Roger Culver
Another Woman 1988
as Donald
Liberace: Behind the Music 1988
Actor
Crocodile Dundee II 1988
as Brannigan
The House on Carroll Street 1988
as Hackett
Loyalties 1987
as David Sutton
A Stranger Waits 1987
as Richard Miller
Radio Days 1987
as Radio Voice (voice)
And Then You Die 1987
as Eddie Griffin
Heartburn 1986
as Dr. Appel
Lost! 1986
Actor
Loose Ends 1986
as Elder Seth
Murder Sees the Light 1986
as Patten
The Climb 1986
as Walter Frauenberger
Perfect 1985
as Joe McKenzie
- The Cuckoo Bird
The Cuckoo Bird 1985
as Harry
The War Boy 1985
as Stephan Berecky
Falling in Love 1984
as Doctor
Piaf 1984
as Police Inspector / Georges / Physiotherapist
Covergirl 1984
as Harrison
Reno and the Doc 1984
as Reno
Of Unknown Origin 1983
as James Hall
Tell Me That You Love Me 1983
as David
No More Hibakusha! 1983
as (voice)
Hot Money 1983
as Parker
- Gary Carter Visits Japan
Gary Carter Visits Japan 1983
as Narrator
Phobia 1980
as Sergeant Wheeler
F.D.R.: The Last Year 1980
as Thomas E. Dewey
Double Negative 1980
as Dr. Klifter
Riel 1979
as McWilliams
The School for Scandal 1975
as Charles Surface
Piaf 1974
Actor
Credits from TMDB.