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Jeff Wincott

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Jeffrey Wincott
Wincott at the 2021 Brooklyn Film Festival
Born
Jeffrey Howard Piero Wincott

(1956-05-08) May 8, 1956 (age 68)
Alma materRyerson University Theatre School
Occupation(s)Actor
Martial artist
Years active1976–present
FamilyMichael Wincott (brother)
Websitewww.jeffwincott.com

Jeffrey Wincott (born May 8, 1956)[1][2][3] is a Canadian actor and martial artist[1][4][5][6] best known for his lead role in the television series Night Heat.[5][7][8]

Wincott was also the star of several martial arts films in the 1990s.[9] In 1996 he was named one of the "Martial Arts Movie Stars of the Next Century" by Black Belt magazine.[9]

Early life and education

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Wincott was born and raised in Toronto.[3][5][7] His mother was from Piacenza, Italy.[10][11] His English father was an amateur boxer.[5] Actor Michael Wincott is his younger brother.[12]

Wincott began studying taekwondo at 15 and also swam competitively.[5] Wincott became interested in acting while in high school and wound up turning down a swimming scholarship to study acting at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, where he studied for 2 years.[1][5]

Career

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One of Wincott's first acting jobs was in 1979 when he appeared on two episodes of the Canadian sitcom King of Kensington.[3][13] He also appeared in an episode of the Canadian series The Littlest Hobo. that same year.[3][13]

In 1980 he toured with the Toronto-based Actors Touring Company in their production of Romeo and Juliet, followed by the Runnymede Theatre production Play it Again, Sam in which Wincott played the role of Humphrey Bogart.[14] That same year he also had a small role in the horror movie Prom Night, and the following year he had a small role in the film Quest for Fire.[3][14]

Wincott appeared in an episode of the Canadian drama series The Great Detective in 1982.[3][13] In 1981 and 1983 he appeared again in episodes of The Littlest Hobo.[3][13] He also appeared in episodes of the Canadian TV series Hangin' In in 1983 and 1984.[3][13]

From 1981 to 1983 Wincott lived in New York City, where he studied privately with Juilliard teacher Michael Kahn, before moving on to Los Angeles to film a beer commercial for Molson.[1][8][15] While in L.A. he taught breakdancing and would also perform mime on Venice Beach for money.[6][8][10][15]

In 1984 Wincott returned to Toronto and began working on the Canadian police drama series Night Heat.[1] The series starred Scott Hylands as Detective Kevin O'Brien and Wincott as his partner, the brash and impulsive Detective Frank Giambone.[5][7] The series ran for four seasons from 1985 to 1989 and also aired on CBS, making it the first Canadian-produced drama series to air on an American network.[7][13] In 1986 he also appeared in the Canadian drama film The Boy in Blue starring Nicolas Cage.[14]

In the 1990s Wincott was the star of several action films, often making use of his martial arts skills. Some of these films include Martial Law 2: Undercover (1991), "Mission of Justice" opposite Brigitte Nielsen (1992), Deadly Bet (1992), Martial Outlaw (1993), The Killing Machine (1994), Street Law (1995), Last Man Standing (1995), The Donor (1995), No Exit (1995), When the Bullet Hits the Bone (1996), and Future Fear (1997).[9][13][16]

In 2003 Wincott appeared in two episodes of the second season of TV series 24.[13] He played the recurring role of James 'Jimmy' Cacuzza on the crime drama series Sons of Anarchy, appearing in episodes that aired in 2008, 2012 and 2013.[13] In 2012 Wincott played Captain Mancuso in an episode in the third season of the TV series Blue Bloods, and reprised the role in the series fifth season.[13] He also played recurring character Marshal Hilliard in the miniseries The Lizzie Borden Chronicles (2015) and Detective Lucas in the miniseries The Night Of (2016).[13]

He was featured in the action films The Invasion (2007) and Unstoppable (2010) and played a supporting role in the independent film Kringle Time.[17]

In 2019, Jeff and his wife Charlotte founded Hollow Metropolis Films in order to create and produce their own work.[18] In 2020, the Wincotts co-produced their first feature film, The Issue with Elvis.[19][20] Directed by Charlotte, the film stars Jeff, as well as their son Wolfgang.[19] Wincott won the Best Actor award for his role in the film at the Toronto Beaches Film Festival,[21] and the Montgomery International Film Festival.[22] The Wincotts also co-produced Fall Fight Shine, a documentary about addiction and recovery featuring Jeff's own recovery story.[20] The film premiered in 2021.[20]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Happy Birthday Gemini Taxi Driver
1980 Prom Night Drew
1985 Big Deal Ted Powers
1986 The Boy in Blue Riley
1992 Martial Law 2: Undercover Detective Sean Thompson
1992 Deadly Bet Angelo
1992 Mission of Justice Officer Kurt Harris
1993 Martial Outlaw Kevin White
1994 Open Fire Alec McNeil Also associate producer
1994 The Killing Machine Harlin Garrett Released in the U.S. as The Killing Man
Also associate producer
1995 No Exit John Stoneman Also associate producer
1995 Law of the Jungle John Ryan Released in the U.S. as Street Law
Also associate producer and fight choreographer
1995 The Donor Billy Castle Also associate producer
1995 Last Man Standing Detective Kurt Bellmore Also co-producer
1996 Whiskey, Riddles, and Dandelion Wine Roger
1996 When the Bullet Hits the Bone Dr. Jack Davies Also associate producer
1996 Profile For Murder Michael Weinberg
1997 The Undertaker's Wedding Rocco
1997 Future Fear Dr. John Denniel
2000 Paper Bullets Dickerson
2001 BattleQueen 2020 Spencer
2001 Pressure Point Rudy Wicker
2002 Outside The Law Michael Peyton
2003 Stealing Candy Spinell
2003 S.W.A.T. Ed Taylor
2007 The Invasion Transit Cop
2008 House of Fallen Lucifer
2008 Lake City Leo
2010 Unstoppable Jesse
2019 Bolden Johnny Collins
2019 # Like Detective Horne
2021 Kringle Time Mayor Rodney Jorkins
2022 The Issue with Elvis Dr. Mercer Also Producer
2022 Fall Fight Shine (documentary) Himself Also Producer
TBA A Philistine In Queens Charlie Biggs Also Producer

Short film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Sharkskin Tony "Dots"
2007 Decisive Moment Cliff Faust
2007 Lustig German Sergeant
2009 Neighborhood Watch Jeff
2010 The Last Dinner The Warden
2016 Behind Bars Kidd
2019 Ping Pong Pigeons Zachary Lewis
2019 Platitudes Mr. Bennett
2020 Dystopian Snow Globe Pierce Pearson

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1978–1979 King of Kensington Jeff appeared in 2 episodes
1979–1983 The Littlest Hobo Barry McLeod / Mel appeared in 3 episodes
1983–1984 Hangin' In Daryl / Carl / Paul appeared in 3 episodes
1984–1989 Night Heat Detective Frank Giambone appeared in all 96 episodes
1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Tom King Episode: "Skeleton In The Closet"
1989 Matlock Spencer Hamilton Episodes: "Hunting Party: Part 1" "Hunting Party: Part 2"
1990–1991 Top Cops Robert Challice / Rocky Bridges / Joe Partington appeared in 3 episodes
1992 Secret Service Sheppard appeared in 2 episodes
1991–1993 Counterstrike Lexington / Rik Allen appeared in 2 episodes
1998 Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms Eric Devereaux Television film
1998 Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business Television film
1999 Cold Squad Thomas Sterling Brown Episode: "Dead End"
2000 Code Name: Eternity Breed Episode: "The Hunter"
2000 Earth: Final Conflict Malley / Phantom Episode: "Phantom Companion"
2000–2002 Relic Hunter Rollin Harley / Jonathan Quelch appeared in 2 episodes
2002 Mutant X Grady Colt Episode: "Whose Woods These Are"
2003 JAG Captain Masters Episode: "Complications"
2003 24 Davis appeared in 2 episodes
2005 NCIS Gunnery Sergeant Leeka Episode: "Red Cell"
2006 Sons of Butcher Ram Punchington / Duster Killby / Jack Nimble voice in 4 episodes
2007 Cleaverville Michael Television film
2008 The Wire Johnny Weaver Episode "-30-"
2009 Drop Dead Diva Security Chief Episode: "Dead Model Walking"
2009 One Tree Hill Attorney Episode: "Some Roads Lead Nowhere"
2011 Person of Interest Lieutenant Allan Gilmore Episode: "The Fix"
2012–2015 Blue Bloods ESU / Captain Mancuso Episodes: "Family Business" "Occupational Hazards"
2012 The Good Wife Tim Resnick Episode: "Battle of The Proxies"
2008–2013 Sons of Anarchy Jimmy Cacuzza appeared in 3 episodes
2014 The Lizzie Borden Chronicles Marshal Hilliard appeared in 5 episodes
2016 The Night Of Detective Lucas appeared in 4 episodes
2019 The Code General Carrick CBS original pilot

Theatre work

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Year Title Role
1976 Red Peppers Bert Bentley
1976 Still Life Albert Godby
1977 Anne of a Thousand Days Mark Smeaton
1978 Romeo and Juliet Tybalt
1979 Play It Again, Sam Bogie
1980 Bent Wolf/Kapo

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominated Work Category Name of Award Result
1986 Night Heat Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Gemini Awards Nominated
2016 Behind Bars Festival Director's Award Toronto Independent Film Festival Won
2018 Behind Bars Best Short Jury Award Toronto Independent Film Festival Won
2019 Ping Pong Pigeons Best American Short Film Mysticon Film Festival Won
2019 Ping Pong Pigeons Spirit Of The Fest 15 Minute Film Festival Won
2019 Platitudes Best Supporting Actor Mindfield Film Festival Won
2020 Dystopian Snow Globe Best Actor Mindfield Film Festival Won
2020 Dystopian Snow Globe Small Radical Films Small Axe Film Festival Semi-Finalist
2020 Dystopian Snow Globe Best Quarantine Film Poe Film Festival Finalist
2021 Kringle Time Best Supporting Actor GenreBlast Film Festival Nominated
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Producer Washington Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Feature Film Toronto Beaches Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Actor Toronto Beaches Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Actor Montgomery International Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Actor Hollywood Women's Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Feature Film Hollywood Women's Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Dramatic Feature Care Awards Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Best Original Film Poe Film Festival Won
2021 The Issue with Elvis Audience Selection Best of Fest Poe Film Festival Won
2021 Fall Fight Shine Best Documentary Feature Film Hollywood Women's Film Festival Won
2022 Fall Fight Shine Best Documentary Feature Toronto Independent Film Festival Won
2023 Fall Fight Shine Best Documentary Audience Award Golden State Film Festival Won
2024 A Philistine In Queens Best Feature Film (2nd Place) ReelHeart International Film and Screenplay Festival Won
2024 A Philistine In Queens Best Actor ReelHeart International Film and Screenplay Festival Nominated
2024 A Philistine In Queens Best Drama Feature Down East Flick Fest Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Knutzen, Eirik (August 2, 1987). "Fighting crime, on the set and off". The Philadelphia Inquirer - TV Week (insert). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 4. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Petrucelli, Alan W. (September 15, 1985). "TV Chatter". The Philadelphia Inquirer - TV Week (insert). Frankfort, Illinois. p. 9. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Crew, Val (November 16, 1985). "Ask About TV". Baxter Bulletin - Passtimes (insert). Mountain Home, Arkansas. p. Page 8. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ross, Rene (December 31, 1985). "Home workouts keep Wincott looking trim". The Chilliwack Progress. Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. p. 43. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Guttman, Monika (February 28, 1988). "Jeff Wincott has a lot in common with his 'Night Heat' character". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kuntucky. Gannet News Service. p. 165. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Witbeck, Charles (January 4, 1986). "Canada's 'Night Heat' Drawing Impressive Nighttime Numbers". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. p. 36. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d Boone, Mike (May 23, 1987). "Night Heat cruises on to American prime-time TV". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. p. 81. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c Belcher, Walt (October 16, 1986). "Secret 'Night Heat' is innovative TV". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 68. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c Allen, Terrence (January 1996). "Meet the Martial Arts Movie Stars of the Next Century". Black Belt. Vol. 34, no. 1. Valencia, California: Active Interest Media. p. 56. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Crockett, Lane (March 14, 1986). "'Night Heat' a gritty, late-might success". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. Gannet News Service. p. 2C. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Croci, Roberto (November 12, 2014). "Michael Wincott: An impeccable cinephile". L'Uomo Vogue (in Italian). Milan, Italy: Condé Nast. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  12. ^ Brown, Barry (August 1, 1987). "Tidy Toronto Yields Gritty 'Night Heat'". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jeff Wincott at IMDb
  14. ^ a b c Knutzen, Eirik (August 2, 1987). "Fighting crime, on the set and off". The Philadelphia Inquirer - TV Week (insert). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 55. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b Crockett, Lane (May 1, 1986). "Late night audiences warm up to 'Night Heat' actor". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 6B. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Lott, M. Ray (2004). The American Martial Arts Film. McFarland. p. 222. ISBN 9780786418367. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Sandoval, Lapacazo (July 24, 2021). "Kringle Time - a dark comedy about childhood heroes and their dark secrets". New York Amsterdam News. New York City, New York, United States. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  18. ^ "Jeff". hollowmetropolisfilms.com. Hollow Metropolis Films. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  19. ^ a b Braun, Liz (March 9, 2022). "The Issue With Elvis – Review by Liz Braun". awfj.org. Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Tupponce, Joan (November 8, 2021). "Filmmaker, storyteller, neuroscientist: Charlotte Wincott's latest project is a reflection of her many skills". news.vcu.edu. Richmond, Virginia, United States: Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  21. ^ "Winners Announced – 10th Annual Toronto Beaches Film Festival". torontobeachesfilmfest.com. Toronto Beaches Film Festival. September 12, 2021. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "2021 MIFF Winners". miffus.com. Montgomery County, Maryland, United States: Montgomery International Film Festival. September 19, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
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