Luke Bilyk

Last updated

Luke Bilyk
Luke Bilyk at RealTVfilms.jpg
Bilyk interviewed at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Lukas Barry Bilyk

(1994-11-10) November 10, 1994 (age 30)
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Children1

Lukas Barry Bilyk (born November 10, 1994) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Drew Torres in Degrassi: The Next Generation , which he starred on from 2010 to 2015. [1] He is also recognized for his roles in films such as Kiss and Cry (2017) and F the Prom (2017).

Contents

Early life

Born in North York, Ontario, Canada, Bilyk grew up in nearby Vaughan, Ontario with three older sisters. He is of Italian, Ukrainian, German, and Jewish descent. [2]

He attended the Toronto Academy of Acting for Film and Television. [3]

Career

Bilyk had a starring role as Drew Torres on Degrassi: The Next Generation on seasons 10 through 14. His character developed over time; starting as an immature jock and ending as class president with a promising future. [4] [5]

From 2014 to 2015, he played Mark in the supernatural drama series Lost Girl. [3]

In 2017, he starred in the drama film Adam's Testament, earning him a Best Actor nomination from the International Christian Film & Music Festival. [6] That same year, he starred in the teen comedy F the Prom as TJ. [7]

In 2021, he starred in Blaine Thurier's Canadian horror comedy Kicking Blood . [8] He went on to appear in the second season of the Amazon Prime action crime series Reacher as Calvin Franz. [9]

Personal life

In December 2021, Bilyk got engaged to director Nicole Dorsey, whom he has been dating since 2015. They have a son, Elliot Rae Bilyk, born in August 2022. [10]

Luke is an active supporter of "Free the Children," and has traveled to India, Haiti, and Nicaragua with the charitable organization. Together with his Degrassi co-stars, he has helped build schools and to set up water filtration systems to provide safe drinking water for remote regions. [11] In 2013, he was a special guest at the Count Me In Conference, an "empowerment event" promoting volunteerism and offering opportunities. [12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009 Gooby Cute Kid
2015 Hellions Jace
2017 Kiss and Cry John Servinis
Adam's Testament Adam Gable
F the Prom TJ
2019 Black Conflux Donovan
The Marijuana Conspiracy Adam
2021 Kicking Blood Robbie
TBABalestraWade

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 Little Mosque on the Prairie Halaqa Teen #1Season 2, episode 7: "Best Intentions"
2008 The Latest Buzz TeenagerSeason 2, episode 6: "The Showdown Issue"
2009 The Jon Dore Television Show Skateboard Kid #2Season 2, episode 3: "Jon Gets Old"
2010 My Babysitter's a Vampire The SeekerTV movie
2010–2015 Degrassi Andrew "Drew" Torres Main role (seasons 10-14)
2011 Flashpoint Joe StanickSeason 4, episode 9: "The War Within"
2014–2015 Lost Girl MarkRecurring Role (season 5)
2016Holiday JoyZack HockstatterTV movie
2016–2017 Raising Expectations Adam WayneyMain role
2018 Legends of Tomorrow Elvis Presley / Jesse PresleySeason 3, episode 14: "Amazing Grace"
2020Meet Me at ChristmasLiamHallmark TV movie
A Teacher BearMiniseries
2021 Good Witch Sean4 episodes
2022 The Porter Franklin Edwards8 episodes
2023–2024 Reacher Calvin Franz5 episodes

Awards and nomination

YearTitleCategoryWorkResultNotes
2017 International Christian Film Festival Best Actor: Feature Film Adam's Testament Won [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Collins</span> Canadian actress (born 1986)

Lauren Felice Collins is a Canadian actress, best known for portraying Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation. She has also had supporting roles in the films Take the Lead (2006) and Charlie Bartlett (2007). In 2013, she appeared in multiple episodes of the sketch comedy Kroll Show, as well as a recurring guest role in the fourth season of the FX series The Strain (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Levy (Canadian actor)</span> Canadian actor and filmmaker (born 1983)

Daniel Joseph Levy is a Canadian actor and filmmaker. He began his career as a television host on MTV Canada. He received international prominence and critical acclaim for starring as David Rose in the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), which he co-created and co-starred in with his father, Eugene Levy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nina Dobrev</span> Canadian actress (born 1989)

Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva, known professionally as Nina Dobrev, is a Canadian actress. She is known for portraying Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the CW's supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries (2009–2015).

Andrea Jeanette "Annie" Clark, is a Canadian actress. She best known for portraying Fiona Coyne on Degrassi: The Next Generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Body Is a Cage</span> 15th and 16th episodes of the 10th season of Degrassi: The Next Generation

"My Body Is a Cage" is a two-part episode from the tenth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation. It originally aired in Canada on MuchMusic and the United States on TeenNick on August 11, 2010, with part two airing the following night. The episode follows transgender character Adam Torres as he struggles with himself and his family over his gender identity. Other plots include Anya MacPherson and her family learning that Mrs. MacPherson has cancer and Dave Turner's attempts at improving his grades by being a class clown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munro Chambers</span> Canadian actor

Munro Skylear Chambers is a Canadian actor who is best known for his roles as Wilder on The Latest Buzz (2007–2010), Elijah "Eli" Goldsworthy on Degrassi (2010–2015), Frankie Chandler on Lockwood (2016–present) and Nate on Second Jen (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.J. Saudin</span> Canadian actor (born 1992)

Faisal A.J. Saudin, known professionally as A.J. Saudin or Saudin, is a Canadian actor, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his role as Connor DeLaurier in the long-running teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.

<i>Degrassi</i> season 10 Season of television series

The tenth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered in Canada on July 19, 2010, concluded on April 22, 2011, and consists of 44 episodes. Due to the titular "next generation" of students having been written out by this time, the suffix was dropped. With the start of the tenth season, the series survived longer than the nine-year gap between the Degrassi High telemovie School's Out (1992) and The Next Generation's premiere episode "Mother and Child Reunion" (2001).

Jahmil French was a Canadian actor, most noted for his role as Dave Turner in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2009–2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landon Liboiron</span> Canadian actor

Landon Liboiron is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing Declan Coyne in Degrassi: The Next Generation and his lead role as Peter Rumancek in Netflix's original series Hemlock Grove (2013–15).

<i>Degrassi</i> season 11 Season of television series

The eleventh season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered on July 18, 2011, concluded on May 18, 2012, and consists of 45 episodes. Although only three school years have passed in the story timeline since season six, part one of season eleven is set in the final term of the Spring semester, while part two is set in the fall semester to the first term of the winter semester in the years it aired. Writers used a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted were modern for their viewers. The first half of this season again depicts the lives of a group of high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors while the second half of this season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors, and seniors as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that teenagers face such as gang violence, parenthood, transphobia, homosexuality, drug use, dysfunctional families, mental disorders, adoption, organ transplantation, crime, bulimia, alcoholism, sex, drug abuse, and murder.

<i>Degrassi</i> season 12 Season of television series

The twelfth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered on July 16, 2012, concluded on June 21, 2013, and consists of 40 episodes. Although only three school years have passed in the story timeline since season six, season twelve is set in the spring semester in the years it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season again depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that teenagers face such as homophobia, theft, religion, sexual harassment, dysfunctional families, peer pressure, pregnancy scares, stress, self image, self-injury, suicide, drug use, burglary, parenthood, depression, grief and relationships.

<i>Degrassi</i> season 13 Season of television series

The thirteenth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered on July 11, 2013, concluded on July 29, 2014, in Canada and the United States, and consists of 40 episodes. Although only four school years have passed in the story timeline since season six, this season was split into 4 parts. The first part is set in the summer. The second part is set in the fall/winter semester. The third and fourth part is set during the first term of the Spring semester. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, sophomores, seniors and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that teenagers face such as cancer, texting while driving, death, sexism, sleep disorders, cyber bullying, domestic violence, rape, racial profiling and relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Williams (actor)</span> Canadian actor

Evan Martin Williams is a Canadian actor. He made his screen debut playing secondary role in the 2006 dance drama film Save the Last Dance 2 before starring as Kelly Ashoona in the CTV teen drama series, Degrassi: The Next Generation (2008–2009). From 2015 to 2018 he starred as Chevalier de Lorraine in the historical drama series, Versailles. In 2023 he began starring as Elliot Augustine in the Hallmark Channel drama series, The Way Home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Me In (movement)</span>

Count Me In is a youth-led leadership organization. The global youth empowerment movement was founded in 2008 by Shane Feldman, and as of September 2017 the organization has impacted 10 million millennials in 104 countries. The organization was started in Toronto, Canada, and now has offices in Los Angeles and New York City. Count Me In promotes student volunteerism and community leadership, and has been recognized as the link between teenagers and the charitable sector. The organization's members have contributed over 100 million hours of community service worldwide, which was valued at $2.4 billion by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2016.

The fourteenth and final season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered on October 28, 2014. Although seven school years have passed in the story timeline since season six, season fourteen is set during the second term of the spring semester in the years it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season again depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, sophomores, seniors and Graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that teenagers face such as teenage pregnancy, dysfunctional families, sexism, arson, sexting, sexual identity, miscarriages, anxiety disorders, drug use, child abuse, abstinence, and gang violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloe Rose</span> Canadian actress (b. 1994)

Chloe Rose is a Canadian actress. She rose to prominence when she portrayed Katie Matlin in the long-running teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, from 2011 to 2013.

Raymond Ablack is a Canadian actor and comedian. He began his career in the early 2000s as a child actor on stage, performing as Young Simba in The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre. He later gained recognition for playing Sav Bhandari in the teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2007 to 2011.

<i>F the Prom</i> 2017 American film

F the Prom is a 2017 American teen comedy film directed and produced by Benny Fine and written by him, Rafi Fine, and Molly Prather. In the film, two estranged best friends reunite due to unfortunate circumstances and conspire to destroy the senior prom. The film stars Danielle Campbell, Joel Courtney, Madelaine Petsch, and Cameron Palatas, with Meg DeLacy, Nicholle Tom, Richard Karn, Jill Cimorelli, Luke Bilyk, Brendan Calton, Michael Chey, Adan Allende, Diamond White, Cheri Oteri, and Ian Ziering in supporting roles. It was released online and on-demand on December 5, 2017 to widely negative reviews.

Dale Austin Whibley is a Canadian actor. He gained attention in 2015 for appearing in the Nickelodeon musical comedy Make It Pop and later he starred in the Netflix slasher film There's Someone Inside Your House (2021).

References

  1. "Luke Bilyk looks back on life as a Degrassi star". www.postcity.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  2. "Biography".
  3. 1 2 "Luke Bilyk". Film Acting School Toronto Academy of Acting. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  4. "Exclusive video: 'Degrassi' star Luke Bilyk gets ready for the Emmys". EW.com. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  5. Rosario, Alexandra Del (June 12, 2021). "'Degrassi: The New Generation': EPs & Cast Reflect On Teen Drama's Longevity, Pitch Potential Reboot Threads – ATX". Deadline. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "International Christian Film Festival (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. Spangler, Todd (April 4, 2016). "YouTube's Fine Brothers Announce First Film, Comedy 'F*&% the Prom'". Variety. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  8. Mughal, Alisha (April 18, 2022). "'Kicking Blood' Finds the Gothic Menace in Sudbury, ON | Exclaim!". exclaim!. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  9. Petski, Denise (September 21, 2022). "'Reacher' Rounds Out Season 2 Cast With Serinda Swan, Ferdinand Kingsley, Rory Cochrane, More". Deadline. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  10. "Luke Bilyk on Instagram: "For nine months we waited to meet you my son, and now I can't take a moment without looking at you little Elliot Rae Bilyk. Me and mom will put up with all the sleep deprivation that comes along with raising you!"".
  11. "Luke Bilyk Talks About Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car'". WSJ. June 23, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  12. Kennedy, John R. (January 9, 2013). "'Degrassi' star Luke Bilyk to host youth empowerment event | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved March 8, 2024.