# Denis Simpson
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Denis_Simpson
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Denis_Simpson.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Simpson
> Source revision: 1354610192
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|Canadian actor and singer (1950–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| image_size = 120px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1950|11|4}}
| birth_name = Dennis Anthony Leopold Simpson[Csillag, Ron (9 November 2010). "[http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20101109.NWOBITSIMPSONATL/BDAStory/BDA/deaths Multitalented entertainer best known as a co-host of Polka Dot Door]", ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', p. S8.]
| birth_place = [St. Ann's Bay](/source/Saint_Ann's_Bay%2C_Jamaica), Jamaica
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2010|10|22|1950|11|4}}
| death_place = [Toronto](/source/Toronto), [Ontario](/source/Ontario), Canada
| other_names = Dennis Simpson
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1971–2010
| spouse =
| partner =
| website =
}}
'''Dennis Anthony Leopold Simpson''' (4 November 1950 – 22 October 2010)[[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/879992--denis-simpson-lived-to-entertain?bn=1 "Denis Simpson lived to entertain"]. ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', 22 October 2010.] was a Canadian actor and singer best known as a host of the TV series ''[Polka Dot Door](/source/Polka_Dot_Door)''. He was also an original member of the singing group [The Nylons](/source/The_Nylons).
==Early life and family==
Born in [St. Ann's Bay](/source/Saint_Ann's_Bay%2C_Jamaica), [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica), Simpson arrived in Canada at the age of eight and moved with his family to the [Toronto](/source/Toronto) suburb of [Scarborough](/source/Scarborough%2C_Ontario) at age 10. He attended Guildwood Public School and was remembered as an exceptional student and a friendly and gentle young man. His half-sister, born 1964 in Toronto, is actress [Gloria Reuben](/source/Gloria_Reuben). At [York University](/source/York_University), where he studied for one year, Simpson focused on music, theatre, and dance.[{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13841/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: The Nylons|last=Bush|first=John|publisher=[AMG](/source/All_Media_Guide)|accessdate=7 May 2010}}] he left the band to appear in the [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) musical ''Indigo'' before they became commercially successful.
Simpson was also a longtime host of the children's television series ''[Polka Dot Door](/source/Polka_Dot_Door)'' from 1978 until the mid-1980s. He appeared in such television series as ''[Seeing Things](/source/Seeing_Things_(TV_series))'', ''[Mr. Dressup](/source/Mr._Dressup)'', ''[Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show](/source/Sharon%2C_Lois_%26_Bram's_Elephant_Show)'', ''[Night Visions](/source/Night_Visions_(TV_series))'', ''[These Arms of Mine](/source/These_Arms_of_Mine_(TV_series))'', ''[Robson Arms](/source/Robson_Arms)'', and ''[MacGyver](/source/MacGyver_(1985_TV_series))'' and on the Canadian game shows ''Acting Crazy'' and ''[Talk About](/source/Talk_About_(game_show))''. He also hosted a cooking show on [Channel M](/source/CHNM-DT) called ''Café m'' and was the "Live Eye Guy" for [Citytv Vancouver](/source/CKVU-TV)'s ''[Breakfast Television](/source/Breakfast_Television)''.