Ajay Fry

{{Short description|Canadian comedian and television personality (born 1983)}} {{Infobox person | name = Ajay Fry | caption = Ajay Fry | image = Ajay_Fry.jpg | birth_name = Ajay Jack Fry | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|06|17|df=yes}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | occupation = Television host and personality | years_active = 1990–present | known_for = ''The Little Lulu Show'' (1995–1996) }}

'''Ajay Fry''' (born '''Ajay Jack Fry''', 17 June 1983) is a Canadian comedian, television personality and producer who grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, best known as host on the official ''Orphan Black'' after show ''After the Black'' on BBC America, and the Canadian daily entertainment talk show ''InnerSpace'' on Space (2008–2018).

== Early life == Fry was born in Toronto, Ontario, on June 17, 1983, to Pat Fry,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0296777/|title=Pat Fry|website=IMDb|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> a voiceover artist (best known for his role as the titular character's father on the Canadian children's TV series Caillou) and former radio host, and Sharon Fry (née Hoff), a legal assistant. Fry grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, where he regularly performed at The Institution while attending Colonel By Secondary School.

== Career ==

=== Early career === At age 7, Fry took his first job as a host on a local community travel series in Ottawa called Rainbow Merry-Go-Round. He went on to make appearances on ''Are You Afraid of the Dark?'' and ''Big Wolf on Campus'', and has voiced characters on animated series such as ''The Little Lulu Show'' and ''Arthur'', among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1322843/|title=Ajay Fry|website=IMDb|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> At the age of 20, Fry moved to Toronto to attend Humber College<ref>{{Cite journal|date=Winter 2011|title=Class Notes|url=https://www.humber.ca/alumni/sites/default/files/dialogue/issue/dialogue-winter-2011.pdf|journal=Humber Dialogue|archive-date=2016-04-25|access-date=2016-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425175113/https://www.humber.ca/alumni/sites/default/files/dialogue/issue/dialogue-winter-2011.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>'s Comedy: Writing and Performance program, where he was nominated for the Phil Hartman Award. After graduating he attended Second City Conservatory training and launched his first web series, The Not Yet Show.<ref>{{Citation |url=|title=Not Yet already a Web success. (convergence: where entertainment meets technology) (Brief Article) |access-date=}}</ref>

=== Crunch === From September 2006 until August 2008, Fry hosted of Crunch, the Saturday morning block of cartoon programming on YTV. During this time he also appeared on-screen at the Rogers Centre to promote Jr. Jays weekend activities.

=== InnerSpace === In the summer of 2008, after two years on YTV, Fry<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.ca/show/innerspace/#cast|title=InnerSpace|website=Space.ca|access-date=2016-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409215628/http://www.space.ca/show/innerspace/#cast|archive-date=2016-04-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> was hired as the new host of The Circuit, a weekly entertainment news program on Space Channel. In 2009, the show was re-branded to InnerSpace<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discuss.channelcanada.com/showthread.php?7444-SPACE-Flagship-Genre-After-Show-INNERSPACE-Premieres-Sept-16|title=SPACE Flagship Genre After-Show INNERSPACE Premieres Sept 16|website=Channel Canada TV Forums|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> a nightly "after show" style program following Space's prime time programming. After 2 seasons, InnerSpace changed formats once again, becoming an entertainment news talk show with co-hosts Teddy Wilson and Morgan Hoffman.

During his tenure at InnerSpace, Fry has interviewed a wide array of celebrities and artists, including actors Jeff Bridges, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Wahlberg, Sigourney Weaver, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo, Martin Sheen, Will Ferrell, Dave Bautista, Nathan Fillion, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy; Directors Joss Whedon, Zack Snyder, Guillermo del Toro; authors, Neil Gaiman, Robert Munsh, Robert J. Sawyer, Stan Lee; the casts of The Twilight Saga, The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Orphan Black, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and many others.

Fry has conducted set visits, interviews and covered video game industry events, across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, including a set visit for the Harry Potter film franchise, visits to Skywalker Ranch,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/innerspace-co-host-goes-inside-skywalker-ranch-1.781077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101034649/http://www.ctvnews.ca/innerspace-co-host-goes-inside-skywalker-ranch-1.781077|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2012|title='InnerSPACE' co-host goes inside Skywalker Ranch|website=CTVNews|date=13 March 2012 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> and has covered The Toronto International Film Festival, E3, San Diego Comic-Con,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.channelcanada.com/canadian-channels/specialty-channels/space/genre-fanatics-rejoice-space-takes-viewers-to-san-diego-comic-con-during-the-two-part-original-special-innerspace-comic-con-august-2-and-3|title=Genre Fanatics Rejoice! SPACE Takes Viewers to San Diego Comic-Con During the Two-Part Original Special INNERSPACE: COMIC-CON, August 2 and 3|website=Channel Canada|date=31 July 2012 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> Fan Expo Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/space-takes-over-fan-expo-canada-this-weekend-with-panels-autograph-sessions-and-innerspace-510615101.html|title=SPACE Takes Over Fan Expo Canada™ This Weekend, With Panels, Autograph Sessions, and INNERSPACE|website=www.newswire.ca|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> Calgary Expo,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/look-out-calgary-space-invades-alberta-for-the-calgary-comic-and-entertainment-expo/|title=Look Out Calgary! Space Invades Alberta for The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, April 26–28 – Bell Media|website=www.bellmedia.ca|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> and numerous other national and international events.

Fry's hosting duties also extend to a number of after shows and specials for some of Space Channel's more prominent series, including the Day of the Doctor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/the-day-of-the-doctor-ex-ter-mi-nates-the-record-books-with-11-million-viewers-largest-ever-on-space/|title=The Day of the Doctor Ex-ter-mi-nates the Record Books With 1.1 Million Viewers, Largest Ever on Space – Bell Media|website=www.bellmedia.ca|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> After Bite (following Bitten),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bitten.space.ca/a-few-words-from-the-hosts-of-innerspace-after-bite/|title=A Few Words from the Hosts of InnerSpace: After Bite|website=Space.ca|access-date=2016-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424201849/http://bitten.space.ca/a-few-words-from-the-hosts-of-innerspace-after-bite/|archive-date=2016-04-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> and After the Black (following Orphan Black).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/orphan-black/blog/2016/03/orphan-black-after-show-coming-to-bbc-america|title='Orphan Black' After-Show Coming to BBC America {{!}} BBC America|website=BBC America|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

In 2011, Fry won 'Outstanding Contribution to Film or TV' at the Canadian Science Fiction Awards for his work on InnerSpace along with co-host, Teddy Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.throng.ca/2011/07/space-congratulates-innerspace-co-hosts-on-winning-feature-prize-at-the-constellation-awards/|title=Space congratulates Innerspace co-hosts on winning feature prize at The Constellation Awards - Throng|website=Throng|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

=== After the Black === On Saturday, March 26, 2016 it was announced that After the Black, the Orphan Black after show hosted by Fry and his co-hosts Teddy Wilson and Morgan Hoffman had been picked up by BBC America and would be broadcast following Orphan Black during the show's fourth season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/orphan-black-gets-weekly-aftershow-878504|title='Orphan Black' Gets Weekly Aftershow|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=26 March 2016 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

=== YouTube === In 2015, Fry became a Much creator<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/much-digital-studios-announces-nine-new-creators/|title=Much Digital Studios Announces Nine New Creators – Bell Media|website=www.bellmedia.ca|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> and launched a YouTube series called 5 on Fry (a weekly look at five different topics), as well as a personal vlog.

== Other work == Fry has made a number of appearances in other media, including appearing as himself in the commercial for a 2014 Nintendo Canada contest celebrating the launch of Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze,<ref>{{Citation|last=Nintendo|title=Canada's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Banana Mania Contest|date=2014-02-07|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgEy88l5WpQ|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> and appearing in a supporting role as a fictionalized version of himself in the 2015 film Pure Pwnage: The Movie.<ref>{{Citation|last=Lapaire|first=Geoff|title=Pure Pwnage|date=2000-01-01|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4682866/|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> He has also appeared in the Captain Canuck web series as himself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.543598352352417.1073741841.411790342199886&type=3|title=Ajay Fry plays himself in Captain Canuck- The Animated Web Series {{!}} Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

Fry has hosted numerous media and industry events, including etalk Live On The Red Carpet At The Toronto International Film Festival (co-hosted with Jessi Cruickshank),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/bell-media-goes-beyond-the-velvet-rope-at-the-2012-toronto-international-film-festival-510675621.html|title=Bell Media Goes Beyond the Velvet Rope at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival®|website=www.newswire.ca|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> the Joe Shuster Awards (Canada's Comic Book Awards),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://joeshusterawards.com/2011/06/05/announcing-the-2011-joe-shuster-awards-hosts-ajay-fry-and-teddy-wilson/|title=Announcing the 2011 Joe Shuster Awards hosts: Ajay Fry and Teddy Wilson!|last=Boyd|first=Kevin A.|website=The Joe Shuster Awards |date=5 June 2011 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> the Canadian Science Fiction Awards,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://constellations.tcon.ca/2011.shtml|title=The Constellation Awards - A Canadian Award for Excellence in Film & Television Science Fiction|website=constellations.tcon.ca|access-date=2016-04-16|archive-date=2013-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311060257/http://constellations.tcon.ca/2011.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Toronto Independent Music Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/toronto/things-to-do/toronto-independent-music-awards-festival-and-gala-ceremony|title=Toronto Independent Music Awards Festival And Gala Ceremony|website=Time Out Toronto|date=23 October 2015 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

Fry has contributed written work to Metro News and has appeared in The Toronto Star.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/26/the-force-gets-critiqued.html|title=At Lightsaber Battle Toronto 2015, an expert opines on the skill and style of Toronto's top Sith and Jedi warriors.|last=Robinson|first=Michael|date=2015-10-26|newspaper=The Toronto Star|issn=0319-0781|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> He makes regular appearances on Canada AM,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/gaming/ajay-fry-reviews-evolve-kirby-the-rainbow-curse-and-ori-and-the-blind-forest-1.2259777/comments-7.614866 |title=Video game reviews with Innerspace co-host Ajay Fry |website=canadaam.ctvnews.ca |access-date=2016-04-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507233245/http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/gaming/ajay-fry-reviews-evolve-kirby-the-rainbow-curse-and-ori-and-the-blind-forest-1.2259777/comments-7.614866 |archive-date=2016-05-07 }}</ref> etalk, CTV News, The Marilyn Denis Show, CP24, and CHUM Radio, and has appeared on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/something-you-might-not-know-about-canada-trackball.html|title=Something You Might Not Know About Canada: Trackball|last=Strombo.com|website=George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm1322843}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fry, Ajay}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian comedy writers Category:Canadian infotainers Category:Canadian male child actors Category:Canadian male voice actors Category:Canadian male comedians Category:Canadian television hosts Category:Canadian television talk show hosts Category:Canadian television producers Category:Comedians from Toronto Category:Humber Polytechnic alumni Category:Male actors from Toronto Category:Canadian male television writers Category:Canadian television writers Category:Screenwriters from Toronto