Toronto, ON (December 2, 2004) — ACTRA is honouring accomplished performer and founding member Lloyd Bochner with an ACTRA Award of Excellence. The award will be presented today during a special afternoon reception at the Canadian Residence of Alain Dudoit, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles.

“As one of the founding members of ACTRA, Mr. Bochner represents the pioneering spirit and solidarity that built our organization into the strong union it is today,” said Thor Bishopric, ACTRA’s National President. “We are delighted to have had this opportunity to recognize his tremendous creative achievements, longtime commitment to the Canadian film community in Los Angeles, and his enduring commitment to ACTRA and his fellow performers.”

Mr. Bochner has been a member of ACTRA for 61 years, and a performer for 70. He started performing at the age of 10, appearing in Hart House Theatre, the Royal Alex, and performing in Canada’s earliest radio dramas and feature films. In the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, the ‘golden age of television,’ he commuted between Toronto and the U.S. starring in Studio One, Kraft Theater, One Man’s Family and Hong Kong. His later TV series stints included The Richard Boone Show, Combat, The Twilight Zone and a starring role in Dynasty as Cecil Colby. He has also appeared in more than 50 feature films and countless stage productions, including being a founding member and five-year player at the Stratford Festival. Currently, he is the president and CEO of Bluenose Productions, currently in production on two projects.

While building an impressive career as a performer and producer, Mr. Bochner has given much back to the community hosting Variety Club telethons in Toronto for many years, advising Famous People Players in Toronto, as a Patron of Hart House Theatre, and as founder and Chairman of the Committee to End Violence.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of more than 21,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly-acclaimed professional performing community. ACTRA celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2003.

-30-

Media Contact:
Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, tel 416-642-6751, ctaverner@actra.ca