Les Carlson
Born
Leslie Merle Carlson

(1933-02-24)February 24, 1933
DiedMay 3, 2014(2014-05-03) (aged 81)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active19672010
Spouse(s)Patricia Hamilton (divorced)
Joan Warren (19832014; his death)
Children2, including Ben Carlson

Les Carlson ( Leslie Merle Carlson; February 24, 1933 – May 3, 2014) was an American-Canadian film and television character actor who acted on stage in Canada, the U.S. and England. His films include the horror films Deranged, Black Christmas, and Videodrome, as well as the family film A Christmas Story. His television credits include The Twilight Zone and The X-Files. He was sometimes billed as "Les Carlson" and sometimes as "Leslie Carlson".

Early life

Born in the small South Dakota city of Mitchell, Carlson earned both a BFA and a MA from the University of South Dakota,[1] which he attended in the 1950s and began his acting career performing in several stage plays in both the U.S and England.

Career

His performances include A Walk in the Woods in 1991 at the Gateway Theatre and Glengarry Glen Ross, Jekyll & Hyde (musical), Hamlet, Joggers, All My Sons and Death and the Maiden. He immigrated to Canada in the late 1960s and began acting in many films and TV shows in the early '70s. His most memorable film roles were in the horror classic Black Christmas and Deranged, both in 1974 and as a pushy Christmas tree salesman in A Christmas Story in 1983. Carlson appeared in four movies from director David Cronenberg, including Videodrome and The Dead Zone. His TV appearances include The X-Files, Friday the 13th: The Series, 21 Jump Street and Road to Avonlea.

Personal life

Carlson was married to actress Patricia Hamilton and they had one child together, actor Ben Carlson. He had another son, Edmund Carlson, with his second wife, Joan Warren, in 1988.[2] He died of cancer in Toronto, Ontario, aged 81.[3]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1972Norman Corwin Presents1 episode - Letters from an Only Child
1973The Neptune FactorBrigs, Triton Radiomanother title - The Neptune Disaster
The Hard Part BeginsThe Mechanic(credited as Les Carlson)
1974DeedeeTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
DerangedTom Simsother title - Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile
Black ChristmasBill Grahamother titles - Silent Night, Evil Night & Stranger in the House
1975King of Kensington1 episode - Where's Cathy?
1976ShootJim(credited as Les Carlson)
1977I Wasn't ScaredMaster Warrant Officer George Lewinsky(credited as Les Carlson)
Raku Fire(credited as Les Carlson)
Love at First SightStu(credited as Les Carlson)
Deadly HarvestThe Minister(credited as Les Carlson)
Custard PieAldo Ludwit(credited as Les Carlson) (unknown episodes)
Who Has Seen the WindJoe Pivotte(credited as Les Carlson)
The New AvengersDouglas Collings1 episode - Emily
1978CatsplayTV movie
High-Ballin'Bud(credited as Les Carlson)
1979Lost and FoundJean-Paul
1980Circle of TwoDoctor At The Hospital(credited as Les Carlson)
Nothing PersonalMarshal #2
1981Mr. PatmanMr. Abernathyother title - Crossover (credited as Les Carlson)
Improper Channels(credited as Les Carlson)
Escape from Iran: The Canadian CaperLaingenTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
1982ShocktraumaElton BatesTelevision Film (credited as Les Carlson)
1983The Littlest Hobo2 episodes - Forget Me Not, Trucker (1982–1983)
VideodromeBarry Convex(credited as Les Carlson)
The Dead ZoneBrenner(credited as Les Carlson)
A Christmas StoryTree Man(credited as Les Carlson)
1984That's My BabyMax(credited as Les Carlson)
1985Night HeatHarder1 episode - Ancient Madness
1986The FlyDr. Brent Cheevers
The Laurenceville StoriesConoverTV mini-series
Unnatural CausesBobTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
1987American PlayhouseConover1 episode - The Prodigious Hickey
Smart StreetMarty(credited as Les Carlson)
Anne of Green Gables: The SequelMr. Marty Charles LawsonTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
Rolling VengeanceMisty's Father(credited as Les Carlson)
1988War of the WorldsDetective #11 episode - The Walls of Jericho
The Twilight ZoneJim Hilsen1 episode - The Hunters (credited as Les Carlson)
1989Looking for MiraclesPrincipalTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
SingSuit(credited as Les Carlson)
Friday the 13th: The SeriesArkwright1 episode - The Prisoner
Street LegalSquire/Michael2 episodes - Romeo and Carol, See No Evil (1987–1989)
1990Scales of JusticeLarry Proke1 episode - Regina vs Horvath (credited as Les Carlson)
Mom P.I.1 episode - Looking for a Living
Neon RiderBrent Paxton1 episode - All's Fair
MacGyver"Sparky" / Doctor2 episodes - Ma Dalton, Passages (credited as Les Carlson)
21 Jump StreetProfessor Gray1 episode - Diplomats for Sale
ChaindanceWillyother title - Common Bonds
1991Road to AvonleaMr. Lawson7 episodes - The Story Girl Earns Her Name, The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's, The Materializing of Duncan McTavish, Aunt Abigail's Beau, Malcolm and the Baby, Sara's Homecoming, Dreamer of Dreams (1990–1991) (credited as Les Carlson)
The Girl from MarsMr. SharbutTelevision film
K2Dexter
1992ImpoliteBilly
Highlander: The SeriesSam Thompson2 episodes - Free Fall, Deadly Medicine
To Grandmother's House We GoDoormanTelevision film
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez DisasterTheo PolasekTelevision film
1993Morning GloryHoward PrideTelevision film
A Stranger in the MirrorHarry DurkinTelevision film
No Child of MineTelevision film
1994The X-FilesDr. Spitz
Dr. Troisky
2 episodes - "Born Again", "Little Green Men"
1995Young AgainMr. Dillon(credited as Les Carlson)
The Song SpinnerLorieTelevision film
1996Moonshine HighwayPappyTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
Side EffectsDr. Herschel Eisen1 episode - You Can Run
Beyond the CallDanTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
1997Psi Factor: Chronicles of the ParanormalDr. Dale Hoff1 episode - Donor
1999The Wishing TreeProfessor
2000CameraThe ActorShort film
Silver ManMule
The Spreading GroundMagyar(credited as Les Carlson)
Catch a Falling StarMan At StationTelevision film
The Harlan County WarUdellTelevision film
The Last DebatePat TubbsTelevision film
2001HavenOld ManTV mini-series
Bailey's MistakeStablemanTelevision film
Short 6The Actor
Stolen MiracleMr. NeelandsonTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
2002Odyssey 5Ruckner1 episode - Astronaut Dreams
Tribulation ForceEli, The Witnessother title - Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (credited as Les Carlson)
The Berenstain BearsGramps1 episode - Trouble with Grown-ups/Too Much TV (credited as Lesley Carlson)
2004Anonymous RexTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
SnowChesterTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
2005Looking for AngelinaJustice Britton(credited as Les Carlson)
Sue Thomas: F.B.EyeMr. Weaver1 episode - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Plague City: SARS in TorontoTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
2007Your Beautiful Cul de Sac HomeHarry Peale
2010At RiskGeorge FinlayTelevision film (credited as Les Carlson)
HavenVaughn Carpenter1 episode - "As You Were"

References

  1. "University of South Dakota". usd.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  2. Obituary: Leading man Leslie Carlson left his heart with the theatre, The Globe and Mail, June 12, 2014.
  3. "Leslie Merle CARLSON Obituary" (paid notice in the May 9 to May 10 issue of the Toronto Star), legacy.com. Accessed November 1, 2022.
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