# Ardon Bess

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{{Short description|Canadian actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name                  = Ardon Bess
| image                 = Ardon Bess in 2013.jpg
| imagesize             = 
| caption               = Bess in 2013
| birth_name             = 
| birth_date             = 1941
| birth_place            = [Kingstown](/source/Kingstown), [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](/source/Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines)
| death_date             = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} Death date then birth -->
| death_place            = 
| other_names             = 
| occupation            = [actor](/source/actor)
| years_active           = 1973-present
| spouse                = 
| partner       = 
| website               = 
}}
'''Ardon Bess''' (born 1941) is a Canadian [actor](/source/actor) best known for appearing in a ''[Heritage Minutes](/source/Heritage_Minutes)'' [short film](/source/short_film) about the 1958 [Springhill mining disaster](/source/Springhill_mining_disaster) portraying survivor [Maurice Ruddick](/source/Maurice_Ruddick),<ref>"Survivor's song; Miner's bravery honored in heritage vignette" by Alan Hustak, ''[Montreal Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette)'' (21 Feb, 1993) [Final Edition] Retrieved from {{ProQuest|432399699}}</ref> and for playing Nestor "The Jester" Best in the sitcom ''[King of Kensington](/source/King_of_Kensington)''.<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/22-the-king-of-kensington-cbc-1974-80/article25431445/ "#22: The King of Kensington (CBC, 1974-80)"] at [www.theglobeandmail.com](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)</ref><ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/waxman-a-big-artist-class-act-friends-say/article1029598/ "Waxman a big artist, class act, friends say"] by Murray Campbell & Krista Foss at [www.theglobeandmail.com](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)</ref>

==Early life and education==
Bess was born in [Kingstown](/source/Kingstown), [St. Vincent and the Grenadines](/source/St._Vincent_and_the_Grenadines).<ref>[https://www.northernstars.ca/bess_ardon/ Ardon Bess' bio] at www.northernstars.ca</ref> After completing his secondary school education in St. Vincent, he became a bank teller.<ref name=VeteranActorGazetteRef/> Before moving to Canada, Bess was acting in and directing local amateur theatre in Kingstown. He moved to Canada in 1964<ref name=VeteranActorGazetteRef/> and first lived in [Oakville, Ontario](/source/Oakville%2C_Ontario) with his father. He briefly studied architecture at [Ryerson Polytechnical Institute](/source/Ryerson_Polytechnical_Institute) in [Toronto](/source/Toronto). Bess was encouraged by a classmate<ref>"Actor Bess walked right through the white wall" by Pat Donnelly, ''[Montreal Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette)'' (21 Oct, 2000) [Final Edition] Retrieved from {{ProQuest|433651017}}</ref> at Ryerson to go to an acting audition which took place after a soccer practice they were both attending. Following that audition, Bess was offered his first professional theatre role as Sakini in a production of [''The Teahouse of the August Moon''](/source/The_Teahouse_of_the_August_Moon_(play)). Subsequently, Bess left Ryerson to attend the [National Theatre School of Canada](/source/National_Theatre_School_of_Canada).<ref name=VeteranActorGazetteRef>"Veteran actor is in fighting trim" by Pat Donnelly, ''[Montreal Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette)'' (22 Jan, 2011) Retrieved from {{ProQuest|847078127}}</ref>

== Career ==
He has also appeared in other films and television roles including ''[Trailer Park Boys](/source/Trailer_Park_Boys)'',<ref name=VeteranActorGazetteRef/> ''[How She Move](/source/How_She_Move)'', ''[Take the Lead](/source/Take_the_Lead)'', ''[The Ladies Man](/source/The_Ladies_Man)'', ''[Kung Fu: The Legend Continues](/source/Kung_Fu%3A_The_Legend_Continues)'', ''[Prom Night](/source/Prom_Night_(1980_film))'', ''[King of Kensington](/source/King_of_Kensington)'',<ref name=VeteranActorGazetteRef/> and ''[Jewel](/source/Jewel_(2001_film))''.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/07/arts/television-review-mother-s-struggle-fix-things-for-child-with-down-syndrome.html "Television Review; A Mother's Struggle to 'Fix Things' for a Child With Down Syndrome"] by Anita Gates at [www.nytimes.com](/source/The_New_York_Times)</ref> He earned a [Gemini Award](/source/Gemini_Award) nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for his role in ''One Heart Broken Into Song''.<ref>"Nominees for Gemini Awards" ''[Edmonton Journal](/source/Edmonton_Journal)'' (30 Oct, 2000) Retrieved from {{ProQuest|252757711}}</ref>

In 2000, Bess' role of Don in the short film ''My Father’s Hands'' earned him a [Golden Sheaf Award](/source/Yorkton_Film_Festival) in the category of best performance by a male.<ref>[https://playbackonline.ca/2000/05/29/29266-20000529/ "4 Square adds to its Scarred by History library"] by Cheryl Binning at [playbackonline.ca](/source/Playback_(magazine))</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1975
|''[My Pleasure Is My Business](/source/My_Pleasure_Is_My_Business)''
|Ambassador
|
|-
|1975
|''[Lions for Breakfast](/source/Lions_for_Breakfast)''
|Police officer
|Uncredited
|-
|1976
|''[Love at First Sight](/source/Love_at_First_Sight_(1976_film))''
|Auditor
|
|-
|1978
|''[High-Ballin'](/source/High-Ballin')''
|Policeman
|
|-
|1979
|''[H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come](/source/H._G._Wells'_The_Shape_of_Things_to_Come)''
|Merrick
|
|-
|1980
|''[Prom Night](/source/Prom_Night_(1980_film))''
|Teacher
|
|-
|1980
|''[Head On](/source/Head_On_(1980_film))''
|Poker Player
|
|-
|1980
|''[Deadline](/source/Deadline_(1980_film))''
|Limousine Driver
|
|-
|1982
|''[Highpoint](/source/Highpoint_(film))''
|Freightman
|Uncredited
|-
|1993
|''[Ordinary Magic](/source/Ordinary_Magic)''
|Barbershop #2
|
|-
|1994
|''[Trial by Jury](/source/Trial_by_Jury_(film))''
|Albert, Juror
|
|-
|1995
|''[Soul Survivor](/source/Soul_Survivor_(film))''
|Papa
|
|-
|1995
|''Moving Target''
|Jake
|
|-
|1999
|data-sort-value="4th Floor, The" | ''[The 4th Floor](/source/The_4th_Floor_(1999_film))''
|Hardware Owner
|
|-
|1999
|''My Father’s Hands''
|Don
|Short film
|-
|1999
|''One Heart Broken Into Song''
|Serious Cromwell
|
|-
|2000
|''[After Alice](/source/After_Alice)''
|Lenny
|
|-
|2000
|data-sort-value="Ladies Man, The" | ''[The Ladies Man](/source/The_Ladies_Man_(2000_film))''
|Stage Manager
|
|-
|2001
|''On Their Knees''
|Gas Station Clerk
|
|-
|2002
|data-sort-value="Skulls II, The" | ''[The Skulls II](/source/The_Skulls_II)''
|Mr. Beckford
|
|-
|2002
|''Jack & Ella''
|Darrell
|
|-
|2006
|''[Take the Lead](/source/Take_the_Lead)''
|Smitty
|
|-
|2007
|''[How She Move](/source/How_She_Move)''
|Uncle Cecil
|
|-
|2008
|''[Saving God](/source/Saving_God)''
|Officer Earle
|
|-
|2012
|''[Bloodwork](/source/Bloodwork_(film))''
|Martel
|
|-
|2016
|data-sort-value="Sunday Kind of Love, A" | ''[A Sunday Kind of Love](/source/A_Sunday_Kind_of_Love)''
|Server
|
|-
|2017
|''[Cardinals](/source/Cardinals_(film))''
|Stanley Axel
|
|-
|2022
|''[Junior's Giant](/source/Junior's_Giant)''
|Cec
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1973
|data-sort-value="Starlost, The" | ''[The Starlost](/source/The_Starlost)''
|Soldier
|Episode: "The Goddess Calabra"
|-
|1975–1978
|''[King of Kensington](/source/King_of_Kensington)''
|Nestor Best
|63 episodes
|-
|1980
|data-sort-value="Littlest Hobo, The" | ''The Littlest Hobo''
|Policeman / Ernie
| rowspan="2" |2 episodes
|-
|1984, 1985
|''[Hangin' In](/source/Hangin'_In)''
|Errol
|-
|1985
|''[Reckless Disregard](/source/Reckless_Disregard)''
|Jury Foreman
| rowspan="2" |Television film
|-
|1985
|data-sort-value="Park Is Mine, The" | [''The Park Is Mine''](/source/The_Park_Is_Mine_(1986_film))
|Daniels
|-
|1985
|[''Check It Out!''](/source/Check_It_Out!_(Canadian_TV_series))
|Clyde
|Episode: "Love on Sale"
|-
|1986
|''[Philip Marlowe, Private Eye](/source/Philip_Marlowe%2C_Private_Eye)''
|Jed Mason
|Episode: "Pickup on Noon Street"
|-
|1987
|''[CBS Schoolbreak Special](/source/CBS_Schoolbreak_Special)''
|Mr. McLean
|Episode: "The Day They Came to Arrest the Book"
|-
|1987
|[''Street Legal''](/source/Street_Legal_(Canadian_TV_series))
|Percival
|Episode: "Tango Bellarosa"
|-
|1987
|data-sort-value="Kidnapping of Baby John Doe, The" | ''The Kidnapping of Baby John Doe''
|Bill Davis
|Television film
|-
|1987
|''[Friday the 13th: The Series](/source/Friday_the_13th%3A_The_Series)''
|Hotel Manager
|Episode: "Cupid's Quiver"
|-
|1987, 1988
|''[Night Heat](/source/Night_Heat)''
|Gil Johnson / Tago
|2 episodes
|-
|1988
|''Hostage''
|Garage Attendant
|Television film
|-
|1988, 1990
|''[T. and T.](/source/T._and_T.)''
|Smiling Ryan
|2 episodes
|-
|1989
|data-sort-value="Campbells, The" | ''[The Campbells](/source/The_Campbells)''
|Jake
|Episode: "Eyes of Angels"
|-
|1990
|''[Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift](/source/Shining_Time_Station%3A_'Tis_a_Gift)''
|Tucker Cooper
|Television film
|-
|1993
|''[Heritage Minutes](/source/Heritage_Minutes)''
|[Maurice Ruddick](/source/Maurice_Ruddick)
|Episode: "Maurice Ruddick"<ref>[https://www.historicacanada.ca/productions/minutes/maurice-ruddick ''Heritage Minutes'': "Maurice Ruddick"] at [www.historicacanada.ca](/source/Historica_Canada)</ref>
|-
|1993
|''[Coming of Age](/source/Coming_of_Age_(1993_film))''
|Condo Salesman
|Television film
|-
|1993–1996
|''[Kung Fu: The Legend Continues](/source/Kung_Fu%3A_The_Legend_Continues)''
|Brad Poster / Rawlins / Saul
|4 episodes
|-
|1994
|''Spenser: The Judas Goat''
|Winston Boyko
|Television film
|-
|1994
|[''Ready or Not''](/source/Ready_or_Not_(Canadian_TV_series))
|Serjak
|Episode: "Break Up"
|-
|1995
|''[Due South](/source/Due_South)''
|Rudy Porter
|Episode: "An Eye for an Eye"
|-
|1995
|''Triplecross''
|Ben
| rowspan="3" |Television film
|-
|1995
|''Prince for a Day''
|Nix
|-
|1996
|''[Mr. and Mrs. Loving](/source/Mr._and_Mrs._Loving)''
|Justice of the Peace
|-
|1996
|''[F/X: The Series](/source/F%2FX%3A_The_Series)''
|Security Guard Tony
|Episode: "High Risk"
|-
|1998
|data-sort-value="Defenders: Choice of Evils, The" | ''The Defenders: Choice of Evils''
|Counsel Room Guard
| rowspan="3" |Television film
|-
|1998
|''Free of Eden''
|Businessman
|-
|1999
|data-sort-value="Promise, The" | ''The Promise''
|Jury Foreman
|-
|1999
|[''Twice in a Lifetime''](/source/Twice_in_a_Lifetime_(TV_series))
|Dr. Harold Roth
|Episode: "Ashes to Ashes"
|-
|2000
|[''D.C.''](/source/D.C._(TV_series))
|Old Man
|Episode: "Pilot"
|-
|2000
|''[On Hostile Ground](/source/On_Hostile_Ground)''
|Smiley
|Television film
|-
|2000
|[''Soul Food''](/source/Soul_Food_(TV_series))
|Uncle Pete
|4 episodes
|-
|2000
|[''Songs in Ordinary Time''](/source/Songs_in_Ordinary_Time_(film))
|Earlie's Grandfather
| rowspan="3" |Television film
|-
|2001
|''[Laughter on the 23rd Floor](/source/Laughter_on_the_23rd_Floor)''
|Cecil
|-
|2001
|[''Jewel''](/source/Jewel_(2001_film))
|Nelson
|-
|2001
|''[Trailer Park Boys](/source/Trailer_Park_Boys)''
|Levi
|6 episodes
|-
|2001
|''[MythQuest](/source/MythQuest)''
|Baba
|Episode: "The Blessing"
|-
|2001
|[''Fortier''](/source/Fortier_(TV_series))
|Dexter Kennedy
|Episode: "Soupçons et paranoïa: Part 1"
|-
|2002
|[''Sins of the Father''](/source/Sins_of_the_Father_(2002_film))
|Minister at Church
| rowspan="4" |Television film
|-
|2002
|''Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher''
|Blind Sid
|-
|2002
|''[10,000 Black Men Named George](/source/10%2C000_Black_Men_Named_George)''
|Daddy Moore
|-
|2002
|''Power and Beauty''
|Thomas
|-
|2002
|''[Degrassi: The Next Generation](/source/Degrassi%3A_The_Next_Generation)''
|Wayne
|Episode: "Don't Believe the Hype"
|-
|2003
|''[Odyssey 5](/source/Odyssey_5)''
|Congressman Reddling
|Episode: "Fossil"
|-
|2004
|''[72 Hours: True Crime](/source/72_Hours%3A_True_Crime)''
|[Patrick Critton](/source/Patrick_Critton)
|Episode: "Hijacked"
|-
|2004
|[''Doc''](/source/Doc_(2001_TV_series))
|Benny Anderson
|Episode: "Happy Trails"
|-
|2005
|''[Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye](/source/Sue_Thomas%3A_F.B.Eye)''
|Oscar
|Episode: "Bad Girls"
|-
|2009
|[''Da Kink in My Hair''](/source/Da_Kink_in_My_Hair_(TV_series))
|Pops
|Episode: "Looks Can Be Revealing"
|-
|2009
|[''Guns''](/source/Guns_(miniseries))
|Sonya's Father
|2 episodes
|-
|2011
|''[John A.: Birth of a Country](/source/John_A.%3A_Birth_of_a_Country)''
|Chief Barber
|Television film
|-
|2013
|[''Cracked''](/source/Cracked_(Canadian_TV_series))
|Attendant
|Episode: "Swans"
|-
|2014
|[''Remedy''](/source/Remedy_(TV_series))
|Henry Kozlow
|Episode: "Shift/Change"
|-
|2016
|[''Four in the Morning''](/source/Four_in_the_Morning_(TV_series))
|Amadeus
|Episode: "The Music"
|-
|2017
|''[Kim's Convenience](/source/Kim's_Convenience)''
|Arthur
|Episode: "Resting Place"
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0078746}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150710045017/http://theatremuseumcanada.ca/legend.php?aid=2985962 Theatre Museum Canada Legends Library]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bess, Ardon}}
Category:1941 births
Category:Living people
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Black Canadian male actors
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Male actors from Toronto
Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines emigrants to Canada
Category:20th-century Canadian male actors
Category:21st-century Canadian male actors

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ardon Bess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardon_Bess) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardon_Bess?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.