George Anthony (journalist)

George Anthony (born George Anthony Ganetakos; August 26, 1940) is a Canadian entertainment journalist, biographer and television executive.

George Anthony
Born (1940-08-26) August 26, 1940
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation(s)Journalist, tv executive and biographer
Known forRick Mercer Report, Starring Brian Linehan

Career

Born in Montreal, Anthony began his career in entertainment as a reporter. He worked first for the Toronto Telegram until the paper folded on October 30, 1971. The next day, Anthony joined a group of ex-Telegram staffers to launch a new newspaper, the Toronto Sun, as one of its founding journalists.[1] He was the Toronto Sun's original entertainment editor and also served as the paper's film, music, and theatre critic and entertainment columnist. With the exception of a four-year period from 1980 to 1984, Anthony worked at the Toronto Sun until 1990.

In addition to his daily columns at the Toronto Sun, Anthony hosted an entertainment interview show on Global TV from 1975 to 1980.[2]

In November 1990, Anthony became the Creative Head of CBC Television Arts, Music, Science & Variety, responsible for the artistic aspects of all CBC Television's arts and variety programming.[3] Anthony worked to bring some of Canada's best-loved series to air for CBC Television including Made in Canada/The Industry, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Royal Canadian Air Farce and the Rick Mercer Report.[4] He has been honoured nationally and internationally for his contribution the Canadian entertainment industry.[5][6]

Anthony is a prominent supporter of and advocate for the Toronto International Film Festival, from its beginning days in 1976 when it was known as the Festival of Festivals and he was involved in securing appearances by high-profile actors, directors and producers.[7] Anthony and his wife Gail are Lifetime Honorary Patrons of the Festival.[8]

Anthony is the author of the critically acclaimed biography of Canadian television host Brian Linehan entitled Starring Brian Linehan: A Life Behind the Scenes, published in 2007 by McClelland & Stewart ISBN 978-0-7710-0757-6. He also collaborated on Next, the second autobiography of Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, published in 2012 by McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 9780771071379.

Awards

CBC Television programs under Anthony's watch have won more than 100 Gemini Awards. They have also received several international honours, including:

Anthony has been honoured nationally and internationally for his contributions to the Canadian entertainment industry. These awards include:

  • 2002—Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal[11]
  • 2009—Honorary Rose d'Or[12]
  • 2013—Playback's Film and TV Hall of Fame.[13]
  • 2015—Academy Special Award, 2015 Canadian Screen Awards[14]

References
  1. "26 George Anthony". torontosunfamily.blogspot.ca/. October 14, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  2. "Playback 2013 Canadian Film and TV Hall of Fame inductee: George Anthony".
  3. Slotek, Jim. "George Anthony to be honoured by Canadian Screen Awards". torontosun.com/. Sunmedia. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  4. "Rick Mercer Report Wins Rose D'Or Award". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 5, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  5. Vlessing, Etan (January 12, 2009). "Rose d'Ors going to Anthony, Macdonald". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  6. "Academy Special Awards". academy.ca. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  7. "A look back at the festival's biggest champions".
  8. "TIFF List of Supporters / Lifetime Honorary Patrons".
  9. Stewart, Blair. "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould". dailyfilmdose.com. dailyfilmdose.com. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  10. Blentic, Ennis. "Guy Maddin and The Séance Project". news.utoronto.ca/. University of Toronto. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  11. "The Governor General of Canada Honours". June 11, 2018.
  12. "U.K. dominates Rose d'Or honors". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. March 11, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  13. Godkin, David (September 4, 2013). "Playback 2013 Canadian Film and TV Hall of Fame inductee: George Anthony". Playback. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  14. "Canadian Screen Awards 2015".
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