# David Eisner (actor)

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{{short description|Canadian actor}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = 
| website            = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| other_names        = David S. Eisner<ref name="TCMf" />
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1958|3|3}}
| birth_place        = 
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = 
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1979–Present
| organization       = 
| spouse             = 
| mother             = 
| father             = 
| awards             = 
}}

'''David Eisner''' (born March 3, 1958) is a Canadian actor.<ref>"David Eisner's middle name is chutzpah". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', May 21, 1983.</ref> Best known for his recurring television role in ''[King of Kensington](/source/King_of_Kensington)'' and his regular roles in ''[Hangin' In](/source/Hangin'_In)'' and ''[Blue Murder](/source/Blue_Murder_(Canadian_TV_series))'', he is co-director with [Avery Saltzman](/source/Avery_Saltzman) of the [Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company](/source/Harold_Green_Jewish_Theatre_Company) in Toronto.<ref>"Stars of David unites art and Jewish heritage: Show brings collection of personal interviews to life". ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', May 14, 2014.</ref>

== Career ==
Eisner is a two-time [Gemini Award](/source/Gemini_Award) nominee for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for ''Hangin' In'', at the [1st Gemini Awards](/source/1st_Gemini_Awards) in 1986<ref>"Here's your Gemini Awards scorecard". ''[Montreal Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette)'', November 29, 1986.</ref> and the [2nd Gemini Awards](/source/2nd_Gemini_Awards) in 1987.<ref>"Cancelled show leads the pack in Gemini race". ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', October 22, 1987.</ref> In 2005, he played [Henry Morgentaler](/source/Henry_Morgentaler) in the controversial [CTV](/source/CTV_Television_Network) television movie ''Choice''.<ref>"CTV's Morgentaler biopic may face uphill struggle". ''[Windsor Star](/source/Windsor_Star)'', January 5, 2005.</ref>

His other credits have included guest appearances in ''[Highway to Heaven](/source/Highway_to_Heaven)'' (1986), ''[Counterstrike](/source/Counterstrike_(1990_TV_series))'' (1993), ''[Due South](/source/Due_South)'' (1994), ''[Forever Knight](/source/Forever_Knight)'' (1995), ''[Total Recall 2070](/source/Total_Recall_2070)'' (1999), ''[Traders](/source/Traders_(TV_series))'' (1999), ''[Earth: Final Conflict](/source/Earth%3A_Final_Conflict)'' (2002), ''[This Is Wonderland](/source/This_Is_Wonderland)'' (2006), ''[The Line](/source/The_Line_(TV_series))'', ''[Remedy](/source/Remedy_(TV_series))'' (2015), ''[Living in Your Car](/source/Living_in_Your_Car)'' (2010), and the [CBC Radio](/source/CBC_Radio) drama series ''Rumours and Boarders''.<ref>"Boarders checks out after 6 years". ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', June 9, 1998.</ref> His film appearances include ''[Running](/source/Running_(film))'' (1979), ''[Phobia](/source/Phobia_(1980_film))'' (1980), ''[Happy Birthday to Me](/source/Happy_Birthday_to_Me_(1981_film))'' (1981), ''[A New Life](/source/A_New_Life_(film))'' (1988), ''[This Is My Life](/source/This_Is_My_Life_(1992_film))'' (1992), ''[Trial by Jury](/source/Trial_by_Jury_(film))'' (1994), ''[Time to Say Goodbye?](/source/Time_to_Say_Goodbye%3F)'' (1997), ''[Good Will Hunting](/source/Good_Will_Hunting)'' (1997), ''[Steal This Movie!](/source/Steal_This_Movie!)'' (2000) and ''[Bless the Child](/source/Bless_the_Child)'' (2000).

Eisner and Saltzman founded the Harold Green Jewish Theatre in 2007.<ref>"Actors found new Toronto Jewish theatre company". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', November 21, 2007.</ref> With the company, he has acted in productions of [David Ives](/source/David_Ives)' ''New Jerusalem''<ref>"A mix of heart and head in well balanced production". ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', March 23, 2014.</ref> and [Alfred Uhry](/source/Alfred_Uhry)'s ''[Driving Miss Daisy](/source/Driving_Miss_Daisy_(play))''.<ref>"Great cast, director, but play lacks usual vision". ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', June 8, 2015.</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===
<!-- "television films belong in the television table" per WP:FILMOGRAPHY -->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ {{Screen reader-only|David Eisner film credits}}<!-- [WP:ACCESSIBILITY](/source/WP%3AACCESSIBILITY) & [MOS:TABLECAPTION](/source/MOS%3ATABLECAPTION) -->
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1979
|[''Running''](/source/Running_(film))
|Man
|
|-
|1980
|[''Phobia''](/source/Phobia_(1980_film))
|Johnny Venuti
|
|-
|1981
|[''Happy Birthday to Me''](/source/Happy_Birthday_to_Me_(1981_film))
|Rudi
|
|-
|1988
|data-sort-value="New Life, A" | [''A New Life''](/source/A_New_Life_(film))
|Billy
|
|-
|1988
|[''Family Reunion''](/source/Family_Reunion_(1988_film))
|Benjie
|
|-
|1992
|[''This Is My Life''](/source/This_Is_My_Life_(1992_film))
|Oliver
|
|-
|1994
|[''Trial by Jury''](/source/Trial_by_Jury_(film))
|Melman
|
|-
|1995
|''[Butterbox Babies](/source/Butterbox_Babies)''
|Mr. Kellerman
|
|-
|1996
|''[Extreme Measures](/source/Extreme_Measures)''
|Guy's Lawyer
|
|-
|1997
|''[Good Will Hunting](/source/Good_Will_Hunting)''
|Executive #3
|
|-
|1999
|''Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story''
|Inmate Advocate
|
|-
|2000
|''[Steal This Movie!](/source/Steal_This_Movie!)''
|[William Kunstler](/source/William_Kunstler)
|
|-
|2000
|''[Bless the Child](/source/Bless_the_Child)''
|Dr. Ben
|
|-
|2004
|[''Taking Lives''](/source/Taking_Lives_(film))
|Committee Head
|
|-
|2005
|''Left Behind III: World at War''
|Allan Campbell
|
|-
|2019
|[''Run This Town''](/source/Run_This_Town_(film))
|Phil
|
|}

=== Television ===
<!-- Rowspans allowed only for "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY -->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ {{Screen reader-only|David Eisner television credits}}<!-- [WP:ACCESSIBILITY](/source/WP%3AACCESSIBILITY) & [MOS:TABLECAPTION](/source/MOS%3ATABLECAPTION) -->
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1977–1979
|''[King of Kensington](/source/King_of_Kensington)''
|Guido / Wally
|9 episodes
|-
|1979
|data-sort-value="Littlest Hobo, The" | ''[The Littlest Hobo](/source/The_Littlest_Hobo)''
|Sly
|Episode: "Stand In"
|-
|1981–1987
|''[Hangin' In](/source/Hangin'_In)''
|Michael Difalco
|110 episodes
|-
|1984
|[''Samson and Delilah''](/source/Samson_and_Delilah_(1984_film))
|Arin
|Television film (as David S. Eisner)<ref name="TCMf">{{cite web | title=David S. Eisner: Filmography | url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/902998%7C0/wp#filmography | access-date=15 August 2025 | website=[Turner Classic Movies](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies)}}{{dead link|date=December 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|-
|1986
|''[Highway to Heaven](/source/Highway_to_Heaven)''
|Todd Worton
|Episode: "Sail Away"
|-
|1988
|''[T. and T.](/source/T._and_T.)''
|Doctor
|Episode: "Playing with Fire"
|-
|1988
|''[Family Reunion](/source/Family_Reunion_(1988_film))''
|Benji
|Television film
|-
|1988
|[''Alfred Hitchcock Presents''](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents_(1985_TV_series))
|Gordon Blake
|Episode: "Kandinsky's Vault"
|-
|1991–1993
|[''Street Legal''](/source/Street_Legal_(Canadian_TV_series))
|Various roles
|3 episodes
|-
|1992
|[''To Catch a Killer''](/source/To_Catch_a_Killer_(1992_film))
|Williams
|2 episodes
|-
|1993
|[''Counterstrike''](/source/Counterstrike_(1990_TV_series))
|Stan Moore
|Episode: "[Betrayed](/source/List_of_Counterstrike_(1990_TV_series)_episodes)"
|-
|1993
|''Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story''
|Ron Lester
|Television film
|-
|1994
|''[Due South](/source/Due_South)''
|Dr. Howard
|Episode: "Diefenbaker's Day Off"
|-
|1995
|''[Forever Knight](/source/Forever_Knight)''
|Fred Berman
|Episode: "The Fix"
|-
|1995
|''Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story''
|Floor manager
|Television film
|-
|1995
|''Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling''
|Paul Bustany
|Television film
|-
|1995
|[''Shock Treatment''](/source/Shock_Treatment_(1995_film))
|Jake's Dad
|Television film
|-
|1997
|''Let Me Call You Sweetheart''
|Barney Haskell
|Television film
|-
|1997
|''[Time to Say Goodbye?](/source/Time_to_Say_Goodbye%3F)''
|Justis
|Television film
|-
|1998
|data-sort-value="Last Don II, The" | ''The Last Don II''
|Frankie's Lawyer
|Episode #1.1
|-
|1998
|''Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples''
|Brecht
|Television film
|-
|1999
|''[Total Recall 2070](/source/Total_Recall_2070)''
|Vereen
|Episode: "Rough Whimper of Insanity"
|-
|1999
|''Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol''
|Dan Cohen
|Television film
|-
|1999
|[''Twice in a Lifetime''](/source/Twice_in_a_Lifetime_(TV_series))
|Dr. Dan Brickner
|Episode: "Healing Touch"
|-
|1999
|''[Psi Factor](/source/Psi_Factor)''
|Sidney Fineman
|Episode: "Once Upon a Time in the West"
|-
|2001
|''[Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot](/source/Jackie%2C_Ethel%2C_Joan%3A_The_Women_of_Camelot)''
|Schiff
|Television film
|-
|2001
|data-sort-value="Familiar Stranger, The" | ''[The Familiar Stranger](/source/The_Familiar_Stranger)''
|Robert Becker
|Television film
|-
|2001
|''Chasing Cain''
|Lloyd
|Television film
|-
|2001
|[''Soul Food''](/source/Soul_Food_(TV_series))
|Norman Spicer
|Episode: "Sex and Money"
|-
|2001
|''Jenifer''
|Impatient Passenger
|Television film
|-
|2001–2004
|[''Blue Murder''](/source/Blue_Murder_(Canadian_TV_series))
|Dr. Brian Lukowich
|39 episodes
|-
|2002
|data-sort-value="5th Quadrant, The" | ''The 5th Quadrant''
|Roy Sullivan
|Episode: "Wild Animal King/Divining Miss M"
|-
|2002
|''[Two Against Time](/source/Two_Against_Time)''
|Dr. Cooper
|Television film
|-
|2002
|''[Earth: Final Conflict](/source/Earth%3A_Final_Conflict)''
|Hybrid
|Episode: "Street Wise"
|-
|2002
|[''Martin and Lewis''](/source/Martin_and_Lewis_(film))
|[Lew Wasserman](/source/Lew_Wasserman)
|Television film
|-
|2003
|''[Odyssey 5](/source/Odyssey_5)''
|Dr. Hammond
|Episode: "Follow the Leader"
|-
|2003
|[''Jasper, Texas''](/source/Jasper%2C_Texas_(film))
|Mike Bradford
|Television film
|-
|2004
|[''Doc''](/source/Doc_(2001_TV_series))
|Coach Monahan
|Episode: "No Pain, No Gain"
|-
|2005
|''Choice: The Henry Morgentaler Story''
|[Henry Morgentaler](/source/Henry_Morgentaler)
|Television film
|-
|2005
|''Confessions of an American Bride''
|Rabbi Kaplan
|Television film
|-
|2005
|''[Swarmed](/source/Swarmed)''
|David Orsow
|Television film
|-
|2006
|''[Covert One: The Hades Factor](/source/Covert_One%3A_The_Hades_Factor)''
|Professor Allen Carey
|2 episodes
|-
|2006
|data-sort-value="State Within, The" | ''[The State Within](/source/The_State_Within)''
|Sam Levinson
|4 episodes
|-
|2008
|''[Will You Merry Me?](/source/Will_You_Merry_Me%3F)''
|Marvin Fine
|Television film
|-
|2009
|data-sort-value="Line, The" | [''The Line''](/source/The_Line_(TV_series))
|Therapist
|2 episodes
|-
|2010
|''[Living in Your Car](/source/Living_in_Your_Car)''
|Dr. Stan Minksy
|Episode #1.7
|-
|2011
|[''Flashpoint''](/source/Flashpoint_(TV_series))
|Adrian Hayes
|Episode: "Collateral Damage"
|-
|2011
|''[Three Inches](/source/Three_Inches)''
|Track Suit
|Television film
|-
|2012
|[''Titanic''](/source/Titanic_(2012_TV_series))
|[Benjamin Guggenheim](/source/Benjamin_Guggenheim)
|3 episodes
|-
|2012
|[''King''](/source/King_(2011_TV_series))
|Dr. Stanton
|Episode: "Freddy Boise"
|-
|2015
|[''Remedy''](/source/Remedy_(TV_series))
|Dr. Graeme Kane
|Episode: "Life in Technicolour"
|-
|2016
|''[Saving Hope](/source/Saving_Hope)''
|Dr. Stroman
|Episode: "Not Fade Away"
|-
|2019
|[''Suits''](/source/Suits_(American_TV_series))
|Board Member
|Episode: "Harvey"
|-
|2020
|[''Mrs. America''](/source/Mrs._America_(miniseries))
|[Martin Abzug](/source/Bella_Abzug)
|2 episodes
|-
|2021
|[''See''](/source/See_(TV_series))
|Ambassador Scopus
|Episode: "The Truth About Unicorns"
|-
|2023
|''[Less Than Kosher](/source/Less_Than_Kosher)''
|Rabbi Morris
|6 episodes
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Portal|Biography|Canada|Film|Television|Theatre}}

==External links==
* {{AFI person|377500-David-Eisner}}
* {{TCMDb name|id=56453%7C0|name=David Eisner}}
* {{TCMDb name|id=902998%7C0|name=David S. Eisner}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|david_eisner}}
* {{IMDb name|0252138}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisner, David}}

Category:1958 births
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male stage actors
Category:Canadian theatre directors
Category:Jewish Canadian male actors
Category:Male actors from Toronto
Category:Living people
Category:Canadian male radio actors

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