Gig Morton

Last updated
Gig Morton
Born (1996-03-22) March 22, 1996 (age 28)
Comox, British Columbia, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Website GigMorton.com

Gig Morton (born March 22, 1996) is a Canadian actor and podcast host. Beginning a professional career as a child actor at age nine, Morton is a six time Young Artist Award nominee, best known for his role as B-Dawg's boy, "Billy" in four installments of the Air Buddies film franchise, Air Buddies , Snow Buddies , Space Buddies , and Santa Buddies , as well as for his co-starring role as "Derby" on the Canadian television show Mr. Young .

Contents

Early life

Gig Morton was born March 22, 1996, in Comox, British Columbia. [1] "Gig" is Morton's given name and, when asked about where the name originated during an interview with Celebuzz, Morton explained—"It's actually my real name that's on my birth certificate. It's a funny story: when my dad was little—my dad's name is Gary—his little brother couldn't say Gary, so he called him ‘Gig’ and that became his nickname. And everyone calls him Gig besides my Nana, my dad’s mom." [2]

Raised in Courtenay, British Columbia, Morton began acting at age seven when his sisters were doing community theatre. [2] [3] His mother and sisters convinced him to audition, and he ended up landing his first role in the Rainbow Youth Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz . [1] [2] [4] After discovering his love for musical theatre, Morton would go on to appear in numerous musical stage productions, including lead roles in the Vanier Senior Secondary's production of Adventures in the Forest, the Red Room Studio's production of Oliver! and the Courtenay Little Theatre's production of Peter Pan . [5]

Career

Morton began his professional acting career in 2005 at age nine, [1] appearing in a commercial for Save-On-Foods, and has since appeared in numerous commercials for Aviva Insurance, Kellogg's and Mattel among others. [5] In 2006, Morton made his film debut, appearing as the boy (known in later films as "Billy") selected to adopt the golden retriever puppy, "B-Dawg" in the Disney family comedy, Air Buddies , and made his television debut the following year with a small guest-starring role on the detective series Psych . [4] [6]

In 2008, Morton reprised his role as "Billy" in the second installment of the Air Buddies franchise, Snow Buddies , and landed his first starring role in the black comedy short film The Escape of Conrad Lard-Bottom. [4] [6] [7] Later that same year he starred in the holiday fantasy film, Christmas Town as "Mason McCann", a boy who, along with his mother, discovers a town where Santa Claus and his elves are working. [6] These roles earned Morton a total of three Young Artist Award nominations the following year as "Best Young Actor in a DVD film" for his role as "Billy" in Snow Buddies, "Best Young Actor in a Short Film" for his role as "Conrad Lard-Bottom" in The Escape of Conrad Lard-Bottom and "Best Young Actor in a TV Movie" for his role as "Mason McCann" in Christmas Town. [7]

In 2009, Morton appeared as "Tommy Shatterfield" in the pilot for the family television drama, Mistresses , and as "John" in the western television movie Angel and the Bad Man . [6] [8] That same year, he once again reprised his role as "Billy" in the third and fourth installments of the Air Buddies franchise, Space Buddies and Santa Buddies . [4] [6] Morton was once again recognized with two Young Artist Award nominations the following year as "Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie" for his role as "John" in Angel and the Bad Man and as "Best Young Actor in a DVD Film" for his role as "Billy" in Santa Buddies. [8]

In 2010, Morton guest-starred on the crime series Shattered as "Stephen Alvert", the son of a wealthy German immigrant who is being investigated for murder. [4] [6] His dramatic performance earned him his sixth Young Artist Award nomination the following year as "Best Young Guest-Starring Actor, age 14-17, in a TV Series". [9] In 2011, Morton appeared in a co-starring role as "Carl", one of three travelers who share a taxi with a slacker who believes he is Jesus in the comedy short, Jesus, Chris. [10] That same year, Morton landed a co-starring role on the teen situation comedy Mr. Young , playing "Derby", the naive, but loyal best friend to a 14-year-old boy genius, played by Brendan Meyer, who takes a job as a high school science teacher. [2] [4] [11] [12] [13]

Morton hosts a video podcast called Gig and Erika are Kids These Days. [14]

Personal life

Morton resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended school on the set of Mr. Young alongside his fellow co-stars Brendan Meyer and Matreya Fedor. [4] [15] At age ten, after discovering his passion for musical theatre and dance, Morton began taking performance arts classes, studying acting, singing, guitar, hip-hop dancing, tap dancing and ballet. [1] [2] [3] [4] [16] Morton's hobbies and activities include swimming, skateboarding, fencing, biking, soccer, basketball, trampoline, yo-yo tricks, video games, and robot building. [1] [2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006 Air Buddies B-Dawg Boy (aka: Billy)Direct-to-DVD
2008 Snow Buddies BillyDirect-to-DVD
The Escape of Conrad Lard-BottomConrad Lard-BottomShort film
Christmas TownMasonDirect-to-DVD
2009 Space Buddies Billy
Santa Buddies
2010ElopementSkateboard kidFeature film
2011Jesus ChrisCarlShort film
2019Thirty-SeventeenShawnFeature film
2019Falling UpwardsEthanShort film
2021 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Random Boy

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 Psych FinnEpisode: "Gus's Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy"
2008Past LiesJacobTV movie
Fear Itself Sean MahoneyEpisode: "Family Man"
2009 Mistresses Tommy SatterfieldPilot
Impact MarkusMiniseries: Part 2
Angel and the Bad Man JohnTV movie
2010 Shattered Stephan AlvertEpisode: "Where's the Line?"
2011–2013 Mr. Young DerbyCo-starring
2014My Mother's Future HusbandWillisTV movie
2016Stranger in the HouseThomasTV movie
2016 Supernatural Elijah PetersonEpisode: "American Nightmare"
2016 Some Assembly Required Claude BruleeEpisode: "Claude's Kitchen"
2018Hot and FunnyEpisode: "Try Being Ugly"
2021 Batwoman College StudentEpisode: "Fair Skin, Blue Eyes"
2021 Motherland: Fort Salem KarlEpisode: "Of the Blood"
2022 Yellowjackets Bible InstructorEpisode: "Flight of the Bumblebee"
2023 Kung Fu Omni Tech #1Episode: "Beginning"

Awards

Awards
YearAwardCategoryFilm/SeriesResultRef.
2009 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Short Film - Young ActorThe Escape of Conrad Lard-bottomNominated [7]
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young ActorChristmas TownNominated [7]
Best Performance in a DVD Film Snow Buddies Nominated [7]
2010Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Actor Angel and the Bad Man Nominated [8]
Best Performance in a DVD Film Santa Buddies Nominated [8]
2011Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor 14-17 Shattered Nominated [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Bob Thornton</span> American actor, filmmaker, singer and songwriter (born 1955)

Billy Bob Thornton is an American film actor, filmmaker, singer, and songwriter. He received international attention after writing, directing, and starring in the independent drama film Sling Blade (1996), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. For his role in A Simple Plan (1998) he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is also known for his film roles in One False Move (1992), Tombstone (1993), Dead Man (1995), U Turn (1997), Primary Colors (1998), Armageddon (1998), Monster's Ball (2001), The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), Bad Santa (2003), and Friday Night Lights (2004).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Crystal</span> American actor, comedian and filmmaker (born 1948)

William Edward Crystal is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is known as a standup comedian and for his film and stage roles. Crystal has received numerous accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award as well as nominations for three Grammy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2007, the Critics' Choice Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Matthau</span> American actor (1920–2000)

Walter Matthau was an American screen and stage actor, known for his "hangdog face" and for playing world-weary characters. He starred in 10 films alongside his real-life friend Jack Lemmon, including The Odd Couple (1968) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). The New York Times called this "one of Hollywood's most successful pairings". Among other accolades, he was an Academy Award, a two-time BAFTA Award, and two-time Tony Award winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Broadbent</span> British actor (born 1949)

James Broadbent is an English actor. A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1972, he came to prominence as a character actor for his many roles in film and television. He has received various accolades including an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, an International Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Fillion</span> Canadian and American actor (born 1971)

Nathan Fillion is a Canadian-American actor. He played the leading roles of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds on Firefly and its film continuation Serenity, and Richard Castle on Castle. As of 2018, he stars as John Nolan on The Rookie and is an executive producer on the show as well as its spin-off series, The Rookie: Feds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gig Young</span> American actor (1913–1978)

Gig Young was an American stage, film, and television actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callum Keith Rennie</span> Canadian actor

Callum Keith Rennie is a British born Canadian actor, based in British Columbia. His breakthrough role was as punk rocker Billy Tallent in the music mockumentary Hard Core Logo (1996), followed by a starring role as Det. Stanley Raymond Kowalski on the third and fourth seasons of the television series Due South (1997–99). He then won a Genie Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the Don McKellar film Last Night (1998).

<i>Mr. Saturday Night</i> 1992 film by Billy Crystal

Mr. Saturday Night is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that marked the directorial debut of its star, Billy Crystal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Gleeson</span> Irish actor and director (born 1955)

Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. He has received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, two British Independent Film Awards and three IFTA Awards, along with nominations for an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, he was listed at number 18 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors. He is the father of actors Domhnall Gleeson and Brian Gleeson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory Jbara</span> American actor (born 1961)

Gregory Jbara is an American film, television, stage actor and singer. Best known as DCPI Garrett Moore in Blue Bloods (2010-2023), and his Tony Award winning performance as Jackie Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical (2009).

David Eric Lloyd Morelli is an American actor. He is best known for work as a child actor in such roles as Charlie Calvin in Disney's The Santa Clause film trilogy and the follow-up series The Santa Clauses, as well as "Little John" Warner in the NBC television series Jesse, and Kyle Grant in Dunston Checks In.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santino Fontana</span> American actor

Santino Fontana is an American actor and singer. He began his career in 2006 playing Hamlet at the Guthrie Theater. He has received a Tony Award, two Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, and Clarence Derwent Award. In 2019, Fontana won the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his lead performance as Michael Dorsey in the stage adaptation of Tootsie. In addition to his stage and TV work, Fontana voiced Prince Hans in Disney's 2013 animated film Frozen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyler Gisondo</span> American actor (born 1996)

Skyler Augustus Gisondo is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the films Licorice Pizza, Booksmart, and Vacation, as well as the television programs The Righteous Gemstones and Santa Clarita Diet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nolan Gould</span> American actor

Nolan Gould is an American actor. He is known for his role as Luke Dunphy on the ABC sitcom Modern Family.

The 31st Young Artist Awards ceremony, presented by the Young Artist Association, honored excellence of young performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television, theatre and music for the year 2009, and took place on April 11, 2010 at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn Hotel in North Hollywood, California.

Michael Hayden is an actor who has appeared both on the Broadway and West End stage, as well as on television. His best known role was Billy Bigelow in the stage musical, Carousel. He received both Laurence Olivier Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for his performance in the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bertie Carvel</span> British actor (born 1977)

Robert Hugh Carvel is a British film and theatre actor. He has twice won a Laurence Olivier Award: for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical, and for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Rupert Murdoch in Ink. For the latter role, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucker Albrizzi</span> American actor (born 2000)

Tucker Albrizzi is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Tyler Duncan on Big Time Rush, Jake on Good Luck Charlie, Randall Snyder on American Vandal and Colin McConnell on A.P. Bio. He has appeared in the movies I Am Number Four, Bridesmaids, Sicko, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, and ParaNorman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georg Olden (actor)</span> American actor

Georg Olden is a retired American actor, model and musical theatre performer. Beginning his career as a professional child actor and model at the age of ten, Olden is best known for his television roles; as "Drag" in the ABC Weekend Special: The Joke's On Mr. Little and as "Robbie Stuart" on the 1980s TBS sitcom Rocky Road. Rising to prominence as a teen idol in the mid-1980s, Olden is also known for his feature film roles; as "Piper" in the teen comedy Bad Manners and as one of the teenage bullies in the science fiction adventure Explorers.

Max Joseph Charles is an American actor and photographer. He appeared in the 2012 film The Three Stooges, as young Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man, and had a role in the ABC comedy science fiction series The Neighbors. In 2014, Charles voiced Sherman in DreamWorks' Mr. Peabody & Sherman. He played the recurring role of Spin in Disney XD's Lab Rats: Bionic Island. He voiced Kion on the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard, and Harvey on the Nickelodeon series Harvey Beaks. He also played Zach Goodweather on seasons two through four on the TV series The Strain, replacing Ben Hyland from the first season. Max Charles also voiced Buddy G in the direct-to-video Scooby-Doo film Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About - Gig Morton". GigMorton.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Meet & Greet: Gig Morton, Disney's 'Mr. Young' Star". CeleBuzz.com. September 25, 2011. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Young Brendan does adult job on new series". Edmonton Journal. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Exclusive Interview: Gig Morton". PopStar.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Credits - Gig Morton". GigMorton.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Actor Gig Morton nominated for multiple Young Artist Awards". PRLog.org. March 8, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "30th Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "31st Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "32nd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  10. ↑ "'Jesus Chris' - About The Film". BigWheelPictures.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Exclusive Q & A: Mr. Young's Gig Morton". FanLala.com. September 22, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  12. ↑ "Hollywood-sized success for a 'made-in-Burnaby' TV show". BurnabyNow.com. September 16, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28.
  13. ↑ "Disney buys Vancouver-made kids TV show". TheProvince.com. September 7, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Gig and Erika are Kids These Days", YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Stars of YTV's Mr. Young on Urban Rush". UrbanRushShawTV4. February 21, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  16. ↑ "Training - Gig Morton". GigMorton.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.