Press
Biographies, selected press and contact, for journalists, festivals and programmers.
Praise
“Coriolanus, as embodied by Mr. Johnstone, has a powerful dignity and smoldering eloquence.”
“Dion Johnstone impresses us as one of the finest Shakespearean actors of his generation.”
“When he finally explodes, it’s with an unleashed aggression rarely seen on a Stratford stage.”
“Johnstone’s spare portrayal of Martius, a stoic athlete moving with great dignity borne of supreme arrogance.”
“Dion Johnstone, rippling with vigor, plays the conflicted title character.”
Selected Press
The New York Times Review: In ‘Coriolanus,’ a Politician for a Campaign Season TV Fanatic Dion Johnstone Explains Erik’s Struggle to Escape the Whitley Way Chicago Sun-Times ‘Red Velvet’ role a Shakespearean revelation for Dion Johnstone Toronto Life Spotlight: Dion Johnstone is an Othello you don’t want to mess with Stage Door Julius Caesar, Groundling Theatre and Crow’s Theatre Shakespeareances Coriolanus, Red Bull Theater at Barrow Street Playbill Dion Johnstone, Patrick Page and Stephen Spinella Cast in Coriolanus University of Chicago Black Shakespeare(ans) DatabaseInterviews
The Suburban Cohen in the City, Episode 202 Dial the Gate Dion Johnstone, Part One Dial the Gate Dion Johnstone, Part Two Stargate SG-1 Solutions From Shakespeare to ChakaBiography
Dion Johnstone is a Canadian actor. He played Chef Erik Whitley across five seasons of Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, spent nine seasons with the Stratford Festival, and made his Broadway debut in King Lear opposite Glenda Jackson. He can be found at dionjohnstone.com.
Dion Johnstone is a Canadian actor working across film, television and theatre. He played Chef Erik Whitley across five seasons of Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, and recently completed Kungfuland, his first kung fu comedy, filmed in Singapore.
He spent nine seasons with the Stratford Festival, where his roles included Othello, Caliban, Oberon and Orlando. He has played the title role in Coriolanus for Red Bull Theater, Ira Aldridge in Red Velvet at Chicago Shakespeare, and Brutus in Julius Caesar in Toronto. He made his Broadway debut in King Lear opposite Glenda Jackson. He can be found at dionjohnstone.com.
Dion Johnstone is a Canadian actor working across film, television and theatre.
He played Chef Erik Whitley across five seasons of Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, and recently completed Kungfuland, his first kung fu comedy, filmed on location in Singapore. Earlier screen work includes Departure, Ties That Bind, Star Falls, and several roles across Stargate SG-1, much of it performed under prosthetics and creature makeup.
Born in Montreal and raised in Edmonton, he graduated from the University of Alberta with a BFA in Acting and trained at the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. He began his professional career in Vancouver with two seasons at Bard on the Beach, before joining the Stratford Festival, where he spent nine seasons playing Othello, Caliban, Oberon and Orlando among others.
In the United States he played the title role in Coriolanus for Red Bull Theater, Ira Aldridge in Red Velvet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and leading roles for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington. He made his Broadway debut in King Lear opposite Glenda Jackson, and played Brutus in Julius Caesar in Toronto.
He is also a visual artist. He lives in the Toronto area, and can be found at dionjohnstone.com.
Contact
ManagementGayle Abrams and Daniel Abrams
OAZ
info@oazinc.com · 416-860-1790
oscarsabramszimel.com
Gary Gersh, Bill Veloric, Brian Davidson
Innovative Artists
212-253-6900
innovativeartists.com
High resolution images are available on request. Selected portraits and production stills: dionjohnstone.com/gallery
Reel and creditsDemo reel · Full résumé · IMDb