Biography
John Tench (born October 7, 1965, in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American-Canadian actor, director, writer, and poet, 6′ 0″ (183 cm) tall, who grew up in Canada and began working in theatre and film in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. He started his career at the legendary Factory Theatre Lab with Ken Gass, then studied and worked in New York City, London, Paris, and across Continental Europe before returning to Toronto, where he founded the influential theatre company Theatre Kathartic in 1980, touring internationally with works by Sam Shepard, Dario Fo, and Bertolt Brecht. He is a master of accents and dialects, has been nominated for numerous Best Actor awards, and currently teaches directing and scene study at the Toronto Film School and Yorkville University. His most notable film credits include a Knot Top Gang Member in Watchmen (2009, directed by Zack Snyder), Roughneck #2 in Brokeback Mountain (2005, directed by Ang Lee), a Motel Owner in Shooter (2007, directed by Antoine Fuqua), Viktor in The Colony (2013), Hondo in Angel and the Badman (2009), and a Cowboy Pimp in Dead Hooker in a Trunk (2009). On television he is best known as Alexander Graham Bell in Murdoch Mysteries (2012, 5 episodes), with additional credits in American Gods (2017), Schitt's Creek (2019), Alias Grace (2017, 4 episodes), Designated Survivor (2016), Fringe (2009), Stargate SG-1 (2007), The X-Files (1995), Friday the 13th: The Series (1989), and Ginny & Georgia (2021). In video games he voiced T-Bone Grady in Watch Dogs 2 (2016) and Dutch Roosevelt in Far Cry 5 (2018).
Acted in 149
2020s
- 2026
Lunar Sway
Movie
- 2025
- 2024
A Bluegrass Christmas
Billy Ribbons
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh
Greg · 3 episodes
One More Time
The Hawk · 1 episode
- 2023
Bones of Crows
Trueman Quinn · 1 episode
- 2022
Here for Blood
Dusty
- 2021
Hero Dog: The Journey Home
Captain Walker
- 2020
Kitty Mammas
Mark
2010s
- 2019
Dreams
Det. Jack Richards
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Let's Rap
Franco St. Clair
5088
Roy
- 2014
- 2013
Christmas with Tucker
Tom Turner
Hard Rock Medical
Wolf · 2 episodes
Cracked
PTSD Support Group Member · 1 episode
- 2012
- 2011
Comforting Skin
Tattoo Artist
Repeaters
Mr. Weeks
Endgame
Kelly · 1 episode
Matty Hanson and the Invisibility Ray
Eddie Skinner
Goodnight for Justice
Bartender
- 2010
2000s
- 2009
Angel and the Badman
Hondo
The Zero Sum
Robert
Dead Hooker in a Trunk
Cowboy Pimp
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
The Perfect Suspect
Curry
The Secrets of Comfort House
Carl
The Suspect
Doug Zwick
Presumed Dead
Tyson
This Space for Rent
Major Tom · 1 episode
- 2005
Premonition
Goran
Godiva's
Stew · 2 episodes
- 2004
The Life
Man
The Winning Season
Cap Clarke
- 2003
- 2002
Black Point
Kevin
- 2001
Strange Frequency
Mondo Baines · 1 episode
MythQuest
Eliaures · 1 episode
The Operative
Norvid
- 2000
Code Name: Eternity
Skerrit · 1 episode
Call of the Wild
Straker · 1 episode
Backroads
Guy Lachaud
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
Welcome to Paradox
Director · 1 episode
- 1997
The Ticket
Chuck
- 1996
Two
Red Sammie · 1 episode
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
Leon
Dead Ahead
Anthony
- 1995
Power of Attorney
Carlos
- 1994
Lonesome Dove: The Series
TV
- 1993
Stone Protectors
Max (voice) · 13 episodes
Heritage Minutes: Nitro
Cochrane
- 1992
Secret Service
Michael Kennedy · 1 episode
Landslide
Dr. Susskind
- 1991
Christmas on Division Street
Grimes
Dead Certain
MacLaughin
- 1990
Home for Christmas
Mugger
Outcast
Henry
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
The Understudy: Graveyard Shift II
Transit
T and T
George · 1 episode
- 1987
City in Panic
Tony
The Darkside
Sully
Niagara Strip
Larabee
- 1986
Race to Midnight
Movie
- 1985
No release date
The Haunting in Wicker Park
Ben