Stacie Mistysyn

Last updated

Stacie Mo'ana Mistysyn
Born (1971-07-23) July 23, 1971 (age 52)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Years active1982-present
Television Degrassi
Spouse James Gallanders (since 2009)
Awards Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role

Stacie Moana Mistysyn [1] (born July 23, 1971) is an American and Canadian actress who is best known for her role as Caitlin Ryan throughout multiple incarnations of the Degrassi teen drama franchise, from Degrassi Junior High through Degrassi: The Next Generation . She previously played Lisa Canard in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1982 to 1986.

Contents

She won a Gemini Award for Degrassi Junior High in 1989 and was nominated in 1987 and 1990. She was also named in a Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast nomination in 1990.

Biography

Mistysyn was born in Los Angeles to American parents, and was raised in Toronto. [2] As of 2005, she had dual American and Canadian citizenship, but considered herself Canadian. [3] She auditioned for The Kids of Degrassi Street at the age of 10 after coming across an audition flyer at her school. She played the role of Lisa Canard from 1982 to 1986, when development began on Degrassi Junior High, where she opted to play a new character instead of reprising her previous role. [4] Initially auditioning for a "rebellious, punky" character named Annie, she was instead given her own character, Caitlin Ryan, named after a relative of the show's publicist. [4]

According to the Toronto Star, Caitlin was "arguably its most popular character, whose storylines included her questioning her sexuality, an epilepsy diagnosis and the trauma after an ex committed suicide". [5] In 1992, Mistysyn appeared as Caitlin in Degrassi High's television movie finale, School's Out!, where she uttered the quote "You were fucking Tessa Campanelli?", the second time "fuck" was said on Canadian television after co-star Stefan Brogren moments earlier in the film. [6] She appeared in the acclaimed 1990 Canadian film Princes in Exile . [7]

After Degrassi, Mistysyn was accepted into Ryerson University, but chose to continue acting instead. In 1994, she starred in the television movie X-Rated, produced by the creators of Degrassi. [8] [9] American filmmaker Kevin Smith, a fan of the Degrassi series and of Mistysyn, wanted her to appear in 1995's Mallrats , but Universal Pictures insisted he use a better-known actress; the role Smith wanted for Mistysyn was instead given to Shannen Doherty, [10] who is seen wearing a Degrassi jacket in the film. [11]

In 1996, Mistysyn moved to Los Angeles to avoid typecasting. [12] [4] She commuted to Toronto and back for Degrassi: The Next Generation before permanently returning in 2006. [12] Mistysyn is close friends with Degrassi co-star Amanda Stepto, and in the late 2000s the two had plans to develop their own comedy series, OverXposed, which did not come to fruition. [13] Mistysyn and Stepto performed as DJs in Toronto in the late 2000s and early 2010s. [14] [15]

Mistysyn is a certified fitness coach. [5] [16]

Awards and nominations

In 1989, Mistysyn won a Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for Degrassi Junior High. She was previously nominated for the award in 1987 [17] and again in 1990, [18] in addition to being nominated as part of an ensemble for a Young Artist Award that year. [19]

Personal life

Mistysyn attended Malvern Collegiate Institute while starring on Degrassi Junior High. [12] She married actor James Gallanders in 2009 and has two children. [12] In an online article for Medium, she revealed that she struggled with an eating disorder and anxiety near the end of Degrassi's run. [20] In 1991, it was reported that Mistysyn was rehearsing as the singer of a local Toronto band previously called Dream Design. [21]

Mistysyn had a brother, Cory, [7] who died in 2010. [22] Her sister Kim appeared in an episode of Degrassi Talks , discussing her sexuality. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearSeriesRoleNotesRef
1990 Princes in Exile Holly [23]
1991The PromRebecca [24]
1992 School's Out! Caitlin RyanTV movie [25]
1994 X-Rated River OwenTV movie [26]
1999 The Wrong Girl MissyTV movie
Picture of PriorityK.C. High
2003 Jersey Guy Susan
2020Narbo's Guide to Being a BroomheadSelf
2024Charlie TangoKim [27]

Television

YearSeriesRoleNotesRef
1982-1986 The Kids of Degrassi Street Lisa Canard17 episodes
1987-1989 Degrassi Junior High Caitlin Ryan
1989-1991 Degrassi High
1991C.B.C's Magic HourRebeccaEpisode: "The Prom"
1992Degrassi TalksSelf6 episodes
1993 Under the Umbrella Tree MeganEpisode: "Love" [28]
Class of '96 WaitressEpisode: "Look Homeward Angela"
1996 Weird Science Jenny DressenEpisode: "Family Affair"
1998 Seven Days LitaEpisode: "The Gettysburg Virus"
2001-2008 Degrassi: The Next Generation Caitlin RyanMain character; 69 episodes
2003 Wild Card GingerEpisode: "Backstabbed"

Related Research Articles

<i>Degrassi Junior High</i> 1987 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi Junior High is a Canadian television series created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. The second series in the Degrassi franchise and the first to be set in a universe that has spanned multiple decades, it aired on the CBC from 18 January 1987 to 27 February 1989, and on PBS in the United States starting from September 1987. A non-union show, it was primarily produced by Playing With Time with involvement from WGBH. Although not generally acknowledged by the mainstream, it has been frequently referred to as a pioneer of the teen drama genre that prefigured later and better-known series such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson's Creek.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> 2001 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series created by Yan Moore and Linda Schuyler. It is the fourth series in the Degrassi franchise and a revival of Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. It premiered on CTV on October 14, 2001 and concluded on August 2, 2015 on MTV Canada.

<i>Degrassi</i> Canadian teen drama franchise

Degrassi is a Canadian teen drama television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. Spanning five main series from 1979 to 2017, it follows the lives of youths in Toronto. With the exception of the first series, the franchise takes place in the same fictional timeline, with the titular junior high and/or high school as the central setting. Outside of television, the franchise comprises companion novels, graphic novels, documentaries, soundtracks, and non-fiction works.

<i>Degrassi High</i> 1989 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi High is a Canadian television series created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood. The third entry in the Degrassi teen drama franchise and the direct continuation of Degrassi Junior High, it aired on the CBC for two seasons from November 6, 1989 to February 28, 1991 and on PBS in the United States starting from January 13, 1990. Like its predecessor, it was a non-union show produced by Playing With Time with involvement from WGBH.

<i>Degrassi Talks</i> 1992 documentary television series based on the Degrassi franchise

Degrassi Talks is a Canadian non-fiction documentary television miniseries and part of the Degrassi franchise created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood. Running six episodes from February 29 to March 30, 1992, it featured actors from Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High taking the role of journalists and conducting interviews with other teenagers and young adults across Canada on various topics addressed by the series such as abuse, substance addiction, homophobia, and teenage pregnancy. It combined candid and man-on-the-street interviews as well as relevant archive footage from the television series and on-screen statistics. Each episode was hosted by an actor whose character had some relation to the focused subject.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Mastroianni</span> Canadian actor

Pasquale Mastroianni, known professionally as Pat Mastroianni, is a Canadian actor who is best known for his role as Joey Jeremiah in the Degrassi television franchise, playing the role as a student in Degrassi Junior High (1987–89) and Degrassi High (1989–91), and then reprising the role as an adult on Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–06). In 1988, he received a Gemini Award for Degrassi Junior High.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Stepto</span> Canadian actress (born 1970)

Amanda Felicitas Stepto is a Canadian former actress who is best known for her role as Christine "Spike" Nelson in the Degrassi television franchise. With no previous acting experience, Stepto rose to prominence playing the character in the critically and commercially successful CBC series Degrassi Junior High (1987–89) and its follow-up Degrassi High (1989–91).

<i>Schools Out</i> (1992 film) 1992 television film based on the Degrassi franchise

School's Out is a Canadian drama television film based on the Degrassi teen drama franchise created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. It was directed by Hood and written by Yan Moore, based on a story by Moore, Schuyler and Hood. It aired on CBC Television on January 5, 1992, and served as a finale to the series Degrassi High and its predecessor Degrassi Junior High, which are collectively known as the Degrassi Classic era of the franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Jeremiah</span> Fictional character from the "Degrassi" franchise

Joseph "Joey" Jeremiah is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. He is portrayed by Pat Mastroianni. He debuted in the first episode of Degrassi Junior High and appeared throughout Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, and the first five seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. As one of the main focus characters of the original two series, his role primarily concerns his friendship with Archie "Snake" Simpson and Derek "Wheels" Wheeler, his on-and-off romantic relationship with Caitlin Ryan, and in The Next Generation, his relationship with his stepson Craig Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlin Ryan (Degrassi)</span> Fictional character from Degrassi franchise

Caitlin Ryan is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. Portrayed by Stacie Mistysyn, Caitlin is a main character on both Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, which chronicle her maturation from a seventh grader to a high school graduate. Mistysyn returned to play an adult Caitlin on Degrassi: The Next Generation, in which Caitlin was a recurring character. Mistysyn won a Gemini Award for her portrayal of the character in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kit Hood</span> Canadian television writer, director, and producer (1943–2020)

Christopher Hood, known professionally as Kit Hood, was a Canadian director, editor, writer, and producer who is best known for being the co-creator of the Degrassi television franchise. He was the co-creator and a major creative force of the first three series of the franchise, The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979–86), Degrassi Junior High (1987–89), and Degrassi High (1989-91). As a director, Hood won a Gemini Award in 1987 for the Degrassi Junior High episode "It's Late".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Nelson</span> Fictional character from Degrassi

Christine "Spike" Nelson is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. Portrayed by Amanda Stepto, Spike appeared throughout Degrassi Junior High (1987–89), Degrassi High (1989–91), and the first nine seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–10). Starting as an unnamed extra before being given a name and storyline, Spike's character largely revolves around her teenage pregnancy and motherhood.

"Mother and Child Reunion" is the two-part pilot episode of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, which premiered on October 14, 2001 on the CTV Television Network. The episode was written by story editor Aaron Martin and series co-creator/creative consultant Yan Moore, and directed by Bruce McDonald. As with the majority of Degrassi: The Next Generation episodes, "Mother and Child Reunion" takes its title from a pop song, "Mother and Child Reunion", written and performed by Paul Simon.

The 2nd Gemini Awards were held on December 8, 1987, to honour achievements in Canadian television. It was broadcast on CBC.

The 4th Gemini Awards were held in 1989 to honour achievements in Canadian television. It was broadcast on CBC.

Its Late (<i>Degrassi Junior High</i>) 11th episode of the 1st season of Degrassi Junior High

"It's Late" is the 11th episode of the first season of Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi Junior High. It originally aired on the CBC in Canada on April 5, 1987. After a careless night with Shane at a classmate's party, Spike fears she is pregnant. Meanwhile, Arthur gives continuously bad romantic advice to his friend Yick.

Showtime (<i>Degrassi High</i>) 10th and 11th episodes of the 2nd season of Degrassi High

"Showtime" is a two-part episode of the Canadian teen drama Degrassi High. It was the tenth and eleventh episodes of the show's second season, airing on CBC on 28 January and 4 February 1991. In the two-part episode, the titular school is thrown into disarray after Archie "Snake" Simpson finds Claude Tanner dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The episode was the first time the franchise had depicted suicide.

A New Start (<i>Degrassi High</i>) 1st and 2nd episodes of the 1st season of Degrassi High

"A New Start" is the two-part premiere episode of the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi High. It aired on CBC in its hour-long form on 6 November 1989, and on PBS in the United States on 13 January 1990. The episode was written by Yan Moore and directed by Kit Hood. It is the first of three episodes of Degrassi that depict abortion, followed by 2003's "Accidents Will Happen" from Degrassi: The Next Generation and 2017's "#IRegretNothing" from Degrassi: Next Class.

<i>Degrassi Junior High</i> (season 1) Season of Degrassi Junior High

The first season of Degrassi Junior High, a Canadian teen drama television series, aired in Canada from January 18, 1987, to May 3, 1987, consisting of thirteen episodes. The series follows the lives of a group of seventh and eighth grade school children attending the titular school as they face various issues and challenges such as child abuse, homophobia, teenage pregnancy, and body image. Filming for the season began on 8–10 July 1986 in Etobicoke, Ontario and wrapped in the winter of 1986.

"Bye-Bye, Junior High" is the sixteenth episode of the third and final season of Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi Junior High. It originally aired on CBC Television in Canada on February 27, 1989. It was written by Yan Moore and directed by Kit Hood. The episode takes place at the end of the school year as graduation approaches; despite the fallout from the death of his parents at the beginning of the season, Derek "Wheels" Wheeler manages to pass, but Christine "Spike" Nelson, who is raising her daughter Emma, must make up for poor grades over the holidays, something which she does not react well to. At the graduation dance, a fault in the boiler room causes a fire to spread throughout the school, razing it to the ground.

References

  1. ↑ "Home". staciemistysyn.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ Nicholls, Stephen (January 5, 1990). "Stacie remembers her TV debut". The Leader-Post. p. 59. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ Sunshine, Fannie (September 9, 2005). "Degrassi girl back home for play". The East York Mirror. ProQuest   362190446.
  4. 1 2 3 "An Interview With Stacie Mistysyn By: Einat Razin". Staciemistysyn.net. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Grignon, Denis (August 26, 2023). "I was in my 20s when 'Degrassi Junior High' debuted. It was my must-see TV". Toronto Star . Archived from the original on August 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "8 Of The Most Iconically Awkward Degrassi Moments Of All Time". Junkee. June 23, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Degrassi Talks: Sexuality". Degrassi Online. December 6, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ Atherton, Tony (February 26, 1994). "Degrassi grows up". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 47. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ McCann, Wendy (February 26, 1994). "Grown up Degrassi Kids disturbing reflection of life". Star-Phoenix. p. 28. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  10. ↑ Slotek, Jim (March 15, 2017). "Pat Mastroianni on the 'Degrassi' reunion, working with Drake and dropping the F-bomb". Toronto Sun .
  11. ↑ Gill, Alexandra (February 3, 2005). "'You really like it here?'". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Murdoch, Lorie (November 21, 2013). "From Degrassi to L.A. and back". Beach Metro Community News.
  13. ↑ Cullman, Roger (February 6, 2008). "In the DJ Booth With the Degrassi Girls". BlogTO. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Amanda Stepto". De Grassi Tour. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ↑ Ongsansoy, Hans (June 20, 2009). "Spike - from 'Degrassi' to DJ booth". Nanaimo Daily News. p. 24. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Stacie Mistysyn gives fellow 'Degrassi' star an 'epic' birthday gift: 'So clever'". ca.style.yahoo.com. December 22, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Bill (October 24, 1987). "Seeing Things gets 11 Gemini Awards nominations". The Sun Times. p. 24. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ Atherton, Tony (December 3, 1990). "Atherton's picks for the 1990 Geminis". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 40. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "11th Annual Awards". April 9, 2014. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ Mistysyn, Stacie Moana (August 30, 2022). "When the World Tried To Make Me Fat". Better Humans. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Life after Degrassi High". The Ottawa Citizen. July 3, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Cory Mistysyn Obituary (2010) - Toronto Star". Legacy.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  23. ↑ "A subtle story of child heroes". The Sun Times. November 9, 1990. p. 50. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  24. ↑ Blakey, Bob (December 24, 1990). "CFCN show aims to round up a cowboy song". Calgary Herald. p. 66. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  25. ↑ Anderson, Bill (January 3, 1992). "Rudolph's gone; cops, serial killers back on TV". Star-Phoenix. Canadian Press. p. 37. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Eccentrics thrive in CBC's 'X-Rated'". Nanaimo Daily News. February 25, 1994. p. 28. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  27. ↑ Gratton, Marie-Eve (March 8, 2023). "Le film « CHARLIE TANGO » en tournage avec David La Haye et Stacie Mistysyn". CTVM.info (in French). Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Life after Degrassi High". The Ottawa Citizen. July 3, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
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.