Stephen McHattie Biography

Stephen McHattie was born Stephen McHattie Smith in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on February 3, 1947. At 16 he began acting in local amateur plays and at 19 moved to New York, where he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He began his career on stage in the 1968 Broadway production of The American Dream. Two years later he made his film debut in The People Next Door, which starred Nehemiah Persoff.

One of Stephen’s best known roles was the title role in the 1976 television movie James Dean, co-starring American actress Meg Foster, whom he later married (and divorced). The role was supposed to be his breakthrough to stardom in the States, but regrettably didn’t work out as planned. He remained down south, playing roles not only in films, but also making guest appearances on many hit TV series such as Starsky and Hutch, Kojak, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice and Law & Order. He also played regular roles on the series Beauty and the Beast (as Gabriel) and Seinfeld (as the psychiatrist Dr. Reston).

Star Trek fans know Stephen best as Romulan Senator Vreenak from an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also provided his vocal talents to the animated show Justice League (2002) as The Shade.

In 1989 he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a play for his incredible performance in Ghetto, working alongside George Hearn.

His movie roles include 300, Watchmen, Shoot 'Em Up, Beverly Hills Cop 3, A History of Violence and Life with Billy, for which he won a 1995 Gemini for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Stephen returned to Canada in the early 1990s, appearing in Canada: A People’s History as Canadian hero Major-General Sir Issac Brock, and in The Rocket as the legendary coach Dirk Irvin.

From 1998 to 2000, Stephen became a familiar face to Canadian audiences in the role of Uncle Jimmy on the CBC series Emily of New Moon, based on a book by iconic Canadian author L.M. Montgomery. He received his second Gemini nomination for his work in the series.

In 2007 Stephen won a Genie award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in the film Maurice Richard (2005).

Stephen has also appeared on hit Canadian series such as Republic of Doyle and Murdoch Mysteries, receiving another Gemini nomination for his performance on the latter series.

The talented actor's recent film roles include Chetney Baker in the biopic Born to Be Blue (2015), Randall Toth in the horror flick The Dark Stranger (2016), Mr. James in the crime thriller Birdland (2016) and Captain MacKay in Angelique's Isle (2019).

He played Elijah Wood's father in the indie film Come to Daddy (2020) and Samuel Allen on the Netflix sci-fi series October Faction, which debuted on the streaming service in 2020.

Stephen is married to Canadian actress Lisa Houle. They have three children together.

Filmography:

Birdland (2016)
The Dark Stranger (2016)
Born to be Blue (2015)
The Dark Stranger (2015)
Big Muddy (2015)
Hellmouth (2014)
Dr. Cabbie (2014)
Wolves (2014)
Meetings with a Young Poet (2013)
Torment (2013)
Septic Man (2013)
The Art of the Steal (2013)
The Husband (2013)
Exil (2013)
Haunter (2013)
Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal (2012)
The Tall Man (2012)
Immortals (2011)
Score: A Hockey Musical (2010)
This Movie Is Broken (2010)
Watchmen (2009)
You Might as Well Live (2009)
Pontypool (2008)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
All Hat (2007)
Poor Boy's Game (2007)
Kaw (2007)
300 (2006)
The Covenant (2006)
The Fountain (2006)
A History of Violence (2005)
The Lazarus Child (2005)
Twist (2003)
Secretary (2002)
The Highwayman (2000)
Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills (1997)
The Climb (1997)
My Friend Joe (1996)
Theodore Rex (1995)
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)
The Dark (1993)
One Man Out (1989)
Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
Call Me (1988)
Sticky Fingers (1988)
Caribe (1987)
Best Revenge (1982)
Death Valley (1982)
Gray Lady Down (1978)
Tomorrow Never Comes (1978)
Moving Violation (1976)
The Ultimate Warrior (1975)
Von Richthofen and Brown (1971)
The People Next Door (1970)