Paul Gross Movies

When a computer glitch declares that Ray (David Marciano) is dead, he and Fraser (Paul Gross) head to their bank to correct the error and free up Ray's money. Once at the bank, the two lawmen recognize one of the cleaning crew as a crook of their acquaintance--and before long, our heroes are in the middle of a bank robbery. Locking themselves in the vault, Ray and Fraser set off the bank's sprinkler system in hopes of foiling the thieves, only to nearly drown themselves in the process. And as if this isn't bad enough, Ray's sister Francesca (Ramona Milano) manages to get herself snatched as a hostage. Camilla Scott makes her first series appearance as Constable Margaret Thatcher, Fraser's beautiful but contentious new boss. Originally broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on December 8, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Assigned to protect a federal witness, Fraser (Paul Gross) learns to his chagrin that the man in question is Gerrard (Ken Pogue), who killed Fraser's father (Gordon Pinsent) back in Canada. With Gerrard at large in Chicago, Fraser is ordered to bring the fugitive back alive at all costs. As Fraser wrestles with his own vengeful impulses, he must also contend with a handful of rogue Federal agents who have no intention of allowing Gerrard to testify in court. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on December 22, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Leslie Nielsen makes a return appearance as "legendary" Canadian mountie Sgt. Buck Frobisher, as do Alex Carter and Mark Melymick as well-meaning but bumbling FBI agents Ford and Deeter. Frobisher is among a group of singing mounties on board a train bound for an American concert. These redcoated songbirds as hijacked by a group of terrorists, led by Randal Bolt (Kenneth Walsh), who intend to kill everyone on board the train whether their demands are met or not. The climax involves a runaway choo-choo and Frobisher's sudden attack of "excess gas." Drama students will appreciate the character names given the members of the phony movie production crew. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on April 12, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) makes the acquaintance of exotic dancer Ida Banks (Lisa Engleman), who tells him that the Olympus Club, the strip joint where she works, has been targetted for a mob takeover. To make matters worse, Ida's mob-wannabe boyfriend Barry Pappas ( Nick Sandow) has confessed--in his sleep--that he has been dragooned into killing a rival club owner. The climax finds Fraser and Ray (David Marciano) trapped in the middle of a deadly turf war. Legendary comedian Milton Berle guest stars as Shelley Litvak. Originally broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on April 26, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Canadian mountie Fraser (Paul Gross) and American cop Ray (Raymond Vecchio) are assigned to protect their respective country's diplomats at a NAFTA convention, Fraser manages to run afoul of his Mexican counterpart, government agent Anita Cortez (Maria Therese Rangel). One mishap leads to another, and before long Fraser is reduced to addressing invitations for the convention under the supervision of several 12-year-olds. Even so, Fraser and Anita manage to forget their differences long enough to go after a suspected assassin. Take a look at the names of the three "Special Agents" in the supporting cast--sound familiar? First broadcast on American television, this episode made its US debut on February 16, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) gallantly saves the life of farmer Lyndon Buxley (Louis Del Grande)--only to be slapped with a gargantuan lawsuit by Buxley, who is sore that his precious eggs were destroyed during his rescue. It turns out that Buxley is secretly developing a new low-cholesterol egg, and it is this fact that may or may not save Fraser from bankruptcy. Meanwhile, siblings Ray (David Marciano) and Francesca (Ramona Milano) squabble over the ownership of a winning lottery ticket. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on March 1, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rick Rossovich guest stars as Canadian pro hockey player Mark Smithbauer, an old friend of Benton Fraser (Paul Gross). Alas, Mark is not the Mark that Fraser remembers from his youth: Where once he played for love of the game, Smithbauer has become an arrogant, money-grubbing jerk. Even worse is the fact that Mark has apparently been bribed to lose a game by vicious bookmaker Broda (Miguel Fernandes). It should surprise no one that this episode ends with a wild car-and-skate chase through the icy streets of Chicago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ian MacDonald (Rino Romano), a pathological liar who desperately craves attention, is being sent back to Canada to face a perjury charge. Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) are assigned to escort Ian with a minimum of fuss and muss. Unfortunately it appears as if someone is after the young prevaricator--three polite but sinister-looking men whom Ian identifies as members of the Canadian Mafia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Fraser (Paul Gross) is unexpectedly reunited with Victoria Metcalf (Melina Kanakaredes), the only woman he has ever truly loved--even though he'd been forced to arrest her the last time they met. Now, Victoria claims that she is being pursued by her former partner in crime Jolly (Denis Forrest), who thinks that the woman has absconded with $500,000 from a recent bank robbery. Protesting her innocence, Victoria turns to Fraser for protection--but could she have another, more sinister agenda in mind? First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on June 2, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) finds himself in a comedy of errors that threatens to turn tragic at a moment's notice. Through no fault of his own, Fraser ends up in a compromising situation with bird-brained Katherine Burns (Jane Krakowski), the fiancee of hot-tempered Nigel Ellis (Nicholas Campbell). No sooner has Ellis been convinced that there's no hanky-panky between Fraser and Katherine than another embarrassing turn of events makes things seem far worse than before. As Ellis prepares to avenge his honor, Ray (David Marciano) and Diefenbaker race to Fraser's rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fraser (Paul Gross) witnesses an apparent suicide attempt by a delusional man who is searching for someone who has been dead for five years. Further investigating the situation, Fraser comes to the conclusion that a local private mental institution is a hotbed of crime. Going undercover as a patient (he has no trouble being committed after mentioning the fact that he owns a deaf wolf named Diefenbaker), Fraser tries to find out the secret behind the institution's ominous "Blue Room"--and stumbles upon a sinister wholesale-murder scheme. Due South creator Paul Haggis shows up unbilled as one of Fraser's fellow inmates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A Canadian production shot along the British Columbia coast, this is the story of a washed-up rock star who finds redemption. It was adapted for the screen by Paul Quarrington from his own award-winning novel. Desmond Howl (Maury Chaykin) is a faded music superstar who now lives a hermit's life in an out-of-the-way oceanside mansion. Living off residuals from previous hits, Howl spends all his time and energy in his state-of-the-art home recording studio trying to compose whale music. He hopes to write a symphonic piece, using the whales' own sounds, that will have the power to summon the marine mammals from the depths. Howl is haunted by hallucinations and nightmares involving his brother Paul, who recently died, apparently by his own hand. Howl also has to deal with his ex-wife, who meddles in his affairs. He manages to shut out these interferences until a young runaway arrives at his doorstep. Claire Lowe (Cyndy Preston) gradually captures the jaded musician's heart with her need for caring, and their relationship becomes a metaphor for the tender music Howl is trying to create. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

In search of the scoundrel who murdered his mountie father, sweet-tempered, straight-arrow RCMP constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) shows up in the nail-tough 27th Police Precinct of Chicago as the tongue-in-cheek cop series Due South launches its first season. Teaming with sardonic, streetwise Chicago police detective Ray Vecchio (David Marciano), Benton manages to track down his quarry, but in so doing behaves in such an unorthodox manner that his Canadian superiors deem it wise to keep Fraser permanently in the Windy City, assigning him to the local Canadian Consulate. Season one proves to be quite a period of adjustment for the naïve Constable Fraser and his hearing-impaired pet wolfhound Diefenbaker, as they not only acclimate themselves to Chicago customs and procedures, but also attempt to create a cozy home out of their rundown apartment in one of the town's grungiest neighborhoods. Much to the dismay of rule-bound 27th Precinct Captain Welsh (Beau Starr), Benton continues to assist the brash, flashily-attired Det. Vecchio in his investigations, nearly always getting results despite his bizarre (to say the least methods). Meanwhile, the handsome young mountie becomes the object of attraction to two local females: Elaine Besbriss (Catherine Bruhier), the Precinct's pretty civilian aide, and Ray's loudmouthed younger sister Francesca (Ramona Milano). As for Ray, he welcomes Benton's input if only because it enables him to one-up a team of rival detectives, Jack Huey (Tony Craig) and Louie Gardino (Daniel Kash), otherwise known as "The Duck Boys" (Huey and Louie, get it?) Another of Benton's new friends is police medical examiner Dr. Esther Pearson (Deborah Rennard).
A number of recurring characters are introduced this season, including the Fraser family's longtime friend Buck Frobisher (Leslie Nielsen), and endearing pathological liar Ian McDonald (Rino Romano) -- not to mention the ghost of Benton's father (played by Gordon Pinsent), who occasionally materializes in the closet of Benton's office at the Canadian Consulate to offer advice and consul. Although the proceedings are generally lighthearted, things take a somber turn in a two-part episode wherein Benton is reunited with his "lost love," career criminal Victor Metcalf (Melina Kanakaredes), who enmeshes the impressionable mountie in an unsavory crime caper that threatens to forever drive a wedge between Benton and Ray. Also making trouble for the partners is relentless States Attorney Louise St. Laurent (Lee Purcell), who has persuaded herself that Fraser and Vecchio are "dirty" cops. Though canceled by CBS at the end of its first season, Due South was renewed for a second year on Canadian television, courtesy of the CTV network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide