Gary Basaraba

Gary Basaraba is a veteran Canadian actor whose career spans over four decades, marked by a remarkable versatility across film, television and voice work. Born on March 16, 1959 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Basaraba honed his craft at the Yale Drama School before breaking into the industry in 1985 with a memorable turn as Jack Grainger, the devoted father in One Magic Christmas. His early television appearances included gritty episodes of Miami Vice in 1987, where he showcased an ability to convey intensity within the fast‑paced crime drama format. Throughout the 1990s he built a reputation for supporting roles that added depth to ensemble casts, portraying American journalist Heywood Broun in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) and the Southern sheriff Grady Kilgore in the beloved film Fried Green Tomatoes. A notable milestone came when he was cast by Martin Scorsese as Saint Andrew in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), establishing a professional relationship that would later bring him back for The Irishman (2019) as Frank “Fitz” Fitzsimmons and for Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). On television he became a familiar face in procedural dramas, delivering distinct performances in multiple Law & Order episodes, as well as recurring roles such as Sergeant Richard Santoro on Brooklyn South and Officer Ray Hechler on Boomtown. He also ventured into voice acting, providing the booming presence of Hefty Smurf in The Smurfs (2011). More recent credits include a compelling turn as Jimmy Burke in Blue Bloods, the shrewd accountant Don in the thriller The Accountant (2016), and a guest spot as Neil on The Leftovers. Basaraba’s enduring presence in both mainstream and independent projects underscores his commitment to his craft and his status as a reliable character actor whose contributions continue to enrich Canadian and international storytelling.