Don McKellar

Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Date of Birth: August 17, 1963

Ethnicity: Scottish, English, Northern Irish, small amount of German

Don McKellar is a Canadian actor, writer, playwright, and filmmaker. He has directed the films Last Night (1998), which he also wrote; Childstar, which he co-wrote; The Grand Seduction, and Through Black Spruce; co-directed and co-written the film Elimination Dance; written the films Roadkill (1989) and Blindness (2008), and co-written the films Highway 61, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, and The Red Violin; he also starred in all of the above, except for Glenn Gould and The Grand Seduction. He has also starred in Exotica, Arrowhead, eXistenZ, waydowntown, Cooking With Stella, Treading Water, and Crimes of the Future (2022), and on television’s Twitch City, Odd Job Jack, in voice role; and Slings & Arrows, and wrote the book for the musical The Drowsy Chaperone. He is often described as a member of the Toronto New Wave of artists, and has often collaborated with filmmaker Bruce McDonald.

Don is the son of Marjorie, a teacher, and John McKellar, a corporate lawyer. Don was married to actress Tracy Wright, until her death.

Don’s paternal grandfather was John Gracy McKellar (the son of Duncan Neil McKellar and Martha Ann Rosser). John was born in Ontario. Duncan was born in Ontario, to Scottish parents, John McKellar and Agnes MacDougall. Martha was the daughter of John Rosser and Elizabeth Hughes.

Don’s paternal grandmother was Vera Olga Cook (the daughter of John Albert Cook and Mary Adelaide Horner). Vera was born in Ontario. John was the son of Peter Cook and Mary Ann Coyne, who were of Irish Protestant descent. Mary was the daughter of Daniel Fisher Horner and Elizabeth Wagg.

Don’s maternal grandfather was John Robert Stirrett (the son of John Park Stirrett and Martha Jane Vanhauser). Don’s grandfather John was born in Ontario. Don’s great-grandfather John was born in Ontario, to Scottish parents, George Stirrett and Jane Park. Martha was the daughter of Nathan Van Hooser and Elizabeth Rain, who were German and Scottish, respectively.

Don’s maternal grandmother was Helen May Sitch (the daughter of Walter Samuel Sitch and Sarah Jane Howden). Helen was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England. Walter was the son of Samuel Sitch and Sarah Ann Roast. Don’s great-grandmother Sarah was the daughter of John Howden and Mary Mathers.

Source: Obituary of Don’s paternal grandmother, Vera Olga (Cook) McKellar – https://www.legacy.com

2 Responses

  1. bablah says:

    Don’s paternal grandfather was John Gracy McKellar (the son of Duncan Neil McKellar and Martha Ann Rosser). John was born in Ontario. Duncan was born in Ontario to Scottish parents, John McKellar and Agnes MacDougall. Martha was the daughter of John Rosser and Elizabeth Hughes.

    Don’s paternal grandmother was Vera Olga Cook (the daughter of John Albert Cook and Mary Adelaide Horner). Vera was born in Ontario. John was the son of Peter Cook and Mary Ann Coyne, both of Irish Protestant descent. Mary was the daughter of Daniel Fisher Horner and Elizabeth Wagg.

    • bablah says:

      Don’s maternal grandfather was John Robert Stirrett (the son of John Park Stirrett and Martha Jane Vanhauser). Don’s grandfather John was born in Ontario. Don’s great- grandfather John was born in Ontario to Scottish parents, George Stirrett and Jane Park. Martha was the daughter of Nathan Van Hooser and Elizabeth Rain, who were German and Scottish respectively.

      Don’s maternal grandmother was Helen May Sitch (the daughter of Walter Samuel Sitch and Sarah Jane Howden). Helen was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England. Walter was the son of Samuel Sitch and Sarah Ann Roast. Don’s great-grandmother Sarah was the daughter of John Howden and Mary Mathers.

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