David Hemblen (16 September 1941 – 16 November 2020) was an English–Canadian actor who frequently worked in Canadian film, television and theatre. He was born in London, England, and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. He is known for his role as George in La Femme Nikita, Customs inspector in Atom Egoyan's Exotica, Lord Dread/Lyman Taggert in Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Detective Dick Hargrove in T. and T. and as Inspector Winterguild in TekWar. He is also known for his role as Johnathan Doors in Earth: Final Conflict and for voicing the character of Magneto in the X-Men animated series from 1992 to 1997.

Early life and education Born in London, England, Hemblen grew up in Toronto, Ontario, where he pursued a classical education before turning to theatre. He received an M.A. in English and was working towards a Ph.D. in medieval studies when he was spotted during a rehearsal of a university production by Clifford Williams of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Hemblen was offered a season at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre. In the 1960s, Hemblen was a political activist and member of the Young Socialists.

Career Hemblen began his career in theatre in the 1960s. His stage career includes more than 70 productions as actor/director at major Canadian theatres, including the Stratford Festival and four seasons at the renowned Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For his portrayal of Dr. Astrov in Toronto's Tarragon Theater production of Uncle Vanya, Hemblen received a Dora nomination for Best Leading Actor.

Film and television Hemblen was a mainstay on the television series Earth: Final Conflict, playing Jonathan Doors, a role he is best known for. He appeared in the first two seasons as a main character and remained in the third season as a recurring character until being killed off in season four. He played recurring roles in A Nero Wolfe Mystery (Lewis Hewitt) and La Femme Nikita (George). He voiced Magneto on the popular show X-Men: The Animated Series, the Night Master on Yin Yang Yo!, the Vaultkeeper in Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Lord Dread/Lyman Taggart on Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, and Asmodeus Poisonteeth in Redwall.

Hemblen played a ruthless henchman Jones in Short Circuit 2 (1988), Reverend Buckley in Where the Spirit Lives (1989), and appeared as Christopher Newport in Pocahontas: The Legend (1999). He has also been featured in several Atom Egoyan films, such as Speaking Parts, The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Where the Truth Lies (2005), and Family Viewing (1987), for which he was nominated for a Genie Award.

In 1975, he starred in the children's television serial The Adventures of Timothy Pilgrim.

Personal life and death Hemblen lived most of the year in Toronto and made an annual winter visit to his second home in the south of France. He had one daughter, Kate, who is also an actress.

Hemblen died at the age of 79 on November 16, 2020.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRole Notes1987Family ViewingStan1988Short Circuit 2Jones1988Norman's Awesome ExperienceSeptimus Fabius1989Speaking PartsProducer1989Where the Spirit LivesReverend Buckley1989Straight LineDetective Hargrove1991 The AdjusterBert1993 A Man in UniformFather1993M. ButterflyIntelligence Officer #11994BrainscanDr. Fromberg1994ExoticaCustoms Inspector1994MesmerDr. Ingehousz1994ReplikatorPolice Chief1995Tommy BoyArcher1995Pocahontas: The LegendChristopher Newport1995Iron Eagle on the AttackSoviet Interrogator1995 The Champagne SafariCharles BedauxVoice1996Hollow PointOleg Krezinsky1996Fly Away HomeDr. Killian1996Maximum RiskDmitri Kirov1997Booty CallDr. Blade1997 The Sweet HereafterAbbott2001RollerballSerokin2005Where the Truth LiesNY Hotel Concierge

Television

YearTitleRole Notes1975 The Adventures of Timothy PilgrimZachariah10 episodes1985Vista: The New MagiciansNarratorTelevision film1986Hot ShotsSebastianEpisode: "To Bee or Not to Bee"1986Night HeatBraden DeanEpisode: "Another Country"1986AdderlyMikhail AstrovEpisode: "The Dancing Lesson"1986 The CampbellsMajor George Henry StevensEpisode: "A Real Lady"1987BasementsMr. HuddTelevision film1987–1988Captain Power and the Soldiers of the FutureLord Dread / Lyman Taggert22 episodes1987, 1992Street LegalCurt MacDonald / Benton2 episodes1988Alfred Hitchcock PresentsAndrew WalkerEpisode: "Murder Party"1988 The Twilight ZoneCutlerEpisode: "20/20 Vision"1988–1990T. and T.Detective Dick Hargrove26 episodes1990In Defense of a Married ManColin BarrieTelevision film1990CounterstrikeMilos Janzan Episode: "Art for Art's Sake" 1991Captain Power: The BeginningLord DreadTelevision film1991Heritage MinutesJames MacleodEpisode: "Sitting Bull"1991Tropical HeatKriegerEpisode: "Death's a Beach"1991Le peloton d'exécutionSgt. MortlakeTelevision film1992CounterstrikeKlaus Reichmann Episode: "Cyborg" 1992Scales of JusticeSamuel GrangeEpisode "Regina v Nelles"1992–1997X-Men: The Animated SeriesMagneto, Various voices29 episodes1993Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian SpencerMunroTelevision film1993MatrixShamus CobbEpisode: "To Err is Human"1994–1994Tales from the CryptkeeperVarious voices9 episodes1993Lifeline to VictoryOldbestTelevision film1994TekWarInsp. WinterguildTelevision film1994TekLordsInsp. WinterguildTelevision film1994Model by DayCaptainTelevision film1994RoboCopDr. Apollinaire MonetEpisode: "Face of Eve"1994Highlander: The Animated SeriesOlak / GorthEpisode: "The Suspended Village"1994–1995Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action TeamsAdditional voices13 episodes1995When the Dark Man CallsOfficer EriksonTelevision film1995HiroshimaStephen EarlyTelevision film1995 The Song SpinnerCaptain NizzleTelevision film1995Forever KnightDr. Max VenderwalEpisode: "Sons of Belial"1995 The Neverending StoryAdditional voices / Ysipy2 episodes1996Road to AvonleaLemuel SnibbEpisode: "Davey and the Mermaid"1996Ace Ventura: Pet DetectiveBaron DeKlaus2 episodes1996Devil's FoodDeep VoiceTelevision film1996GoosebumpsMajor McCallEpisode: "Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes"1996We the JuryJudge Elton RoeTelevision film1997Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops IIMr. Yannis IvanovTelevision film1997 The Outer LimitsCommandantEpisode: "The Camp"1997Inspired by BachBertEpisode: "Sarabande"1997–2000Earth: Final ConflictJonathan Doors68 episodes1998Blazing DragonsDuke RudolfEpisode: "A Killer Makeover/The Age of Retention"1998 The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance PoliceMack SalmonEpisode: "The Final Episode"1998 The Last Don IIBishop Enzo2 episodes1998Silver SurferThe Supreme Intelligence / Husserl2 episodes1998Thunder PointSir FrancisTelevision film1999Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler StoryJudge PolleyTelevision film1999RedwallAsmodeus11 episodes1999Little MenMr. Able JenningsEpisode: "The Lantern Man"1999–2000Mythic WarriorsVarious roles3 episodes1999–2000La Femme NikitaGeorge9 episodes2000Common GroundChester BurroughsTelevision film2000Deliberate IntentJ. Michael LuttigTelevision film2000Canada: A People's HistoryJames CookEpisode: "When the World Began"2000Redwall: The MovieAsmodeusTelevision film2000Building for DisastersNarratorTelevision film2001All SoulsDr. Ryman KreegerEpisode: "Pilot"2001WitchbladeFather John BellamyEpisode: "Legion"2001Jane DoePhelpsTelevision film2001–2002Nero WolfeLewis Hewitt4 episodes2002Salem Witch TrialsJohn ProctorTelevision film2003 The Piano Man's DaughterDr. WarrenTelevision film2006Yin Yang Yo!Night Master2 episodes

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