Ted Simonett

Ted Simonett (born 1953) is a Canadian actor most widely known for his work in Canadian Tire television commercials. His character typically touted the features and benefits of products unique to Canadian Tire in a friendly, helpful everyday scenario. He is widely considered an "everyman" that is easy to relate to. Simonett became a household face in Canada, and one of the most recognizable characters on Canadian television.

Little information about Simonett is available, as indicated in recent newspaper articles attempting to find out who the 'Canadian Tire guy' really is. He was signed with Canadian Tire with stipulations in his contract which prevented him from participating in interviews. Rumours circulated that there was a clause in his contract that required him to keep his trademark beard.

Simonett was raised in Kingston, Ontario, where he attended Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute and later Queen's University. He spent time working in Britain, and since then has been a Toronto based actor appearing in film, television, and on the stage. He became Canadian Tire's spokesman in 1997.

In 2005 Canadian Tire changed advertising agencies, which led to a gradual phasing out of Simonett's character. In March 2006, he and on-screen wife "Gloria" were let go since the commercials had become the subject of parody, and as such were no longer considered effective. Recently, they have been parodied on "Royal Canadian Air Farce", "This Hour Has 22 Minutes", and the "Rick Mercer Report". In many circles, particularly in relation to blog sites, Simonett's character - commonly referred to as on the Canadian Tire Guy (TCTG) - has evoked particularly hostile reactions.

Maclean's

The October 28, 2005 edition of "Maclean's" published an article that ridiculed Ted Simonett and his "Canadian Tire Guy" character. ["Maclean's" October 28, 2005 [http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20051031_114409_114409&source=srch What a tool] Accessed August 16, 2006] Shortly afterward, in March 2006, Canadian Tire unveiled its new ad campaign without Simonett. [CTV March 10, 2006 [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/20060310/canadian_tire_couple_060310/20060310/?hub=TopStories&subhub=PrintStory Canadian Tire dumps know-it-all neighbour ads] Accessed August 16, 2006]

Filmography

* "Forever Mine" (1999) (Mr. Galen)
* "The Marriage Fool" (1998) (TV) .... Falco ... aka "Love After Death"
* "Blackjack" (1998) (TV) .... Mark Smoot ... aka "John Woo's Blackjack"
* "The Fixer" (1998) (TV) .... Mike Jameson
* "Short for Nothing" (1998) .... Dad
* "Night of the Twisters" (1996) (TV) .... Stan
* "Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story" (1993) (TV) .... Judge Skwieraski ... aka "Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story" (USA)
* "Broken" (1992) .... Uncredited
* "Sorry, Wrong Number" (1989) (TV) .... Dave
* "The Dream Team" (1989) .... Yuppie
* "Glory! Glory!" (1989) (TV) .... Hank
* "Switching Channels" (1988) .... Tillinger
* "" (1987) .... Copeland's partner ... aka "Citizens on Patrol: Police Academy 4" (UK: poster title)
* "I'll Take Manhattan" (1987) (mini) TV Series
* "Prescription for Murder" (1987) (TV) .... Dr. Rosenberg

Television Work

* "" playing "Don Gannon" in episode: "Lullaby" (episode # 2.14) 13 June 1997
* "The Twilight Zone" playing "Gerry" in episode: "The Trance" (episode # 3.10) 26 November 1988
* "Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future" playing "Jim Mitchell" in episode: "The Intruder" (episode # 1.9) 15 November 1987
* "The Littlest Hobo" playing "Harrison" in episode: "The Clown" (episode # 3.14) 28 January 1982
* "The Littlest Hobo" playing "Dave Martindale" in episode: "Runaway" (episode # 2.15) 12 February 1981

References

External links

*
* [http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Columnists/Cockburn_Lyn/2005/07/21/1140785.html Edmonton Sun article about Simonett]
* [http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Mark_Bonokoski/2004/06/14/pf-498716.html Toronto Sun article about Simonett]
* [http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Ted%20Simonett Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia article]

* [http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20051031_114409_114409&source=srch Macleans - Humorous]

* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tctgfanclub/ Canadian Tire Guy Fan Club]

* [http://cpaws.org/news/archive/2006/10/from-canadian-tire-to-caribou.php From Canadian Tire to Caribou - Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society announcement]