Rick Green
Encyclopedia
Rick Green is a Canadian
comedian
, satirist, and writer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo
. From 1975 until 1979, he worked as a presenter at the Ontario Science Centre. In 1979, he helped found the Toronto-based comedy troupe The Frantics. They were heard on their CBC Radio
show Frantic Times and their short-lived television series, Four on the Floor. He can be seen as Bill on The Red Green Show
Rick Green graduated from the University of Waterloo
in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. His first job was as a Demonstrator at the Ontario Science Centre
. As well as presenting shows on Lasers, Electricity, Cryogenics, etc., Rick developed numerous original programs, science plays and exhibits that combined information, humour and entertainment.
In 1979 he plunged into show biz full time as a member of The Frantics
comedy troupe. For the next 8 years they created and performed hundreds of live appearances, 150 radio shows, several albums, a half dozen hit stage shows and the groundbreaking TV series Four On The Floor. In 2003, the Frantics came out of retirement and again performed on stage and television.
In 1989, Rick became ‘Commander Rick’, the writer and host of TVO
’s speculative fiction news magazine series Prisoners of Gravity
.
At the same time, Rick joined Steve Smith
to co-create The Red Green Show
. He wrote & performed in the show for 11 seasons as the bumbling outdoorsman Bill. The Red Green Show
has spun off books (which Rick co-wrote and illustrated), DVD’s, CD’s and more. It remains Canada’s longest-running comedy series.
In 1999, Rick created History Bites
. The Separatists has been nominated for a Canadian Screenwriters Award. In 2004, Rick was named by the Ontario History Teachers as their “Person of the Year”. Based on the success of History Bites
, Rick was invited to become a member of the advisory board for the Histori.ca foundation in 2003.
In 2009 Rick wrote and directed the documentary about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adults, entitled ADD & Loving it
?! The film, featuring fellow comedian Patrick McKenna
won a New York Festivals Silver Award and earned Rick the CAMH Foundation Transforming Lives Award for 2009.The two largest ADHD advocacy groups in America, CHADD and ADD, have both endorsed the film, something they have never done with any book, film or program until now. Rick is currently co-writing a book with Dr. Umesh Jain of CAMH
entitled, ADD Stole My Car Keys.
His projects have won Gemini Awards, ACTRA Awards, New York Festival Awards, and various educational awards. His material has been performed by talented actors such as Jim Carrey
, Gordon Pinsent
, David Steinberg
, Graham Chapman
, Colin Mochrie
, Graham Greene
, Eric Stoltz
, and Martin Short
. In 2004 he wrote Kim Cattrall
’s HBO special, Sexual Intelligence.
In September of 2007, Rick was honoured by the University of Waterloo
, as one of the top 50 Alumni of the past 50 years.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, satirist, and writer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. From 1975 until 1979, he worked as a presenter at the Ontario Science Centre. In 1979, he helped found the Toronto-based comedy troupe The Frantics. They were heard on their CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
show Frantic Times and their short-lived television series, Four on the Floor. He can be seen as Bill on The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service stations in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale April 7, 2006 on CBC...
Rick Green graduated from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. His first job was as a Demonstrator at the Ontario Science Centre
Ontario Science Centre
Ontario Science Centre is a science museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, near the Don Valley Parkway about northeast of downtown on Don Mills Road just south of Eglinton Avenue East...
. As well as presenting shows on Lasers, Electricity, Cryogenics, etc., Rick developed numerous original programs, science plays and exhibits that combined information, humour and entertainment.
In 1979 he plunged into show biz full time as a member of The Frantics
The Frantics
The Frantics or Frantics is the name of:*The Frantics , a punk rock band.*The Frantics , a Canadian comedy troupe.*The Frantics , a Showtime network series....
comedy troupe. For the next 8 years they created and performed hundreds of live appearances, 150 radio shows, several albums, a half dozen hit stage shows and the groundbreaking TV series Four On The Floor. In 2003, the Frantics came out of retirement and again performed on stage and television.
In 1989, Rick became ‘Commander Rick’, the writer and host of TVO
TVO
TVO is an abbreviation with several different significations:*Televisora de Oriente, a Venezuelan TV station*Teollisuuden Voima, a Finnish nuclear power company*Total Value of Ownership, an evaluation method*TVOntario, a Canadian TV station...
’s speculative fiction news magazine series Prisoners of Gravity
Prisoners of Gravity
Prisoners of Gravity was a Canadian public broadcasting television news magazine program that explored speculative fiction — science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic books — and its relation to various thematic and social issues...
.
At the same time, Rick joined Steve Smith
Steve Smith (comedian)
Steven "Steve" Smith, Jr., is a Canadian actor, writer and comedian.Smith was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Before turning to comedy, he studied engineering at the University of Waterloo and then worked a variety of jobs...
to co-create The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service stations in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale April 7, 2006 on CBC...
. He wrote & performed in the show for 11 seasons as the bumbling outdoorsman Bill. The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service stations in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale April 7, 2006 on CBC...
has spun off books (which Rick co-wrote and illustrated), DVD’s, CD’s and more. It remains Canada’s longest-running comedy series.
In 1999, Rick created History Bites
History Bites
History Bites was a television series on the History Television network that ran from 1998-2003. Created by Rick Green, History Bites explored what would be on television if the medium had been around for the last 5,000 years of human history. Typically, a significant historical event was chosen...
. The Separatists has been nominated for a Canadian Screenwriters Award. In 2004, Rick was named by the Ontario History Teachers as their “Person of the Year”. Based on the success of History Bites
History Bites
History Bites was a television series on the History Television network that ran from 1998-2003. Created by Rick Green, History Bites explored what would be on television if the medium had been around for the last 5,000 years of human history. Typically, a significant historical event was chosen...
, Rick was invited to become a member of the advisory board for the Histori.ca foundation in 2003.
In 2009 Rick wrote and directed the documentary about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adults, entitled ADD & Loving it
ADD & Loving it
ADD & Loving It?! is a Canadian Documentary that aired on Global Television in September 2009. It was Written and Directed by Rick Green, and stars Patrick McKenna...
?! The film, featuring fellow comedian Patrick McKenna
Patrick McKenna
Patrick McKenna born May 8, 1960 in Sylvania, Saskatchewan is a Canadian comedic and actor. He is best known for playing Harold Green on the television series The Red Green Show, Marty Stephens on Traders, and the Trudeau miniseries. McKenna is a member of Toronto's The Second City comedy troupe...
won a New York Festivals Silver Award and earned Rick the CAMH Foundation Transforming Lives Award for 2009.The two largest ADHD advocacy groups in America, CHADD and ADD, have both endorsed the film, something they have never done with any book, film or program until now. Rick is currently co-writing a book with Dr. Umesh Jain of CAMH
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a consortium of mental health clinics at several sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its name in French is Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale...
entitled, ADD Stole My Car Keys.
His projects have won Gemini Awards, ACTRA Awards, New York Festival Awards, and various educational awards. His material has been performed by talented actors such as Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
, Gordon Pinsent
Gordon Pinsent
Gordon Edward Pinsent, CC, FRSC is a Canadian television, theatre and film actor.-Early life:Pinsent, the youngest of six children, was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, the son of Flossie ; originally from Clifton, Newfoundland, and Stephen Arthur Pinsent, a papermill worker and cobbler;...
, David Steinberg
David Steinberg
David Steinberg is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, director, and author. At the height of his popularity, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was one of the best-known stand-up comics in the United States...
, Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
, Colin Mochrie
Colin Mochrie
Colin Andrew Mochrie is a Scottish Canadian actor and improvisational comedian, most famous for his appearances on the British and US versions of television improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.-Early life:...
, Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
, Eric Stoltz
Eric Stoltz
Eric Hamilton Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer. He is widely known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture...
, and Martin Short
Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
. In 2004 he wrote Kim Cattrall
Kim Cattrall
Kim Victoria Cattrall is an English actress. She is known for her role as Samantha Jones in the HBO comedy/romance series Sex and the City, and for her leading roles in the 1980s films Police Academy, Big Trouble in Little China, Mannequin, and Porky's...
’s HBO special, Sexual Intelligence.
In September of 2007, Rick was honoured by the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, as one of the top 50 Alumni of the past 50 years.