Janet Wright obit

Saskatoon arts icon, award-winning ’Corner Gas’ star Janet Wright dead at 71

 

She was not on the list.

Anne Cameron: a voice like no other

Award-winning stage and screen actress Janet Wright, a legendary presence in Saskatoon arts circles who is best known outside the city for her portrayal of the long-suffering matriarch on “Corner Gas,” has died at the age of 71.

Wright played Emma Leroy on the hit Canadian series, which ended its six-season run in 2009 and returned with a big-screen adaptation in 2014. Wright’s character Emma was the wife of Oscar Leroy, played by Eric Peterson, and mother to Brent, portrayed by series creator and star Brent Butt.

“Janet was like no other person I’ve ever met,” Butt said in a statement.

“She had a giant wit, a giant heart, and was one of the strongest human beings to ever stride around this planet.”

The series won the 2007 Gemini for best ensemble comedy performance.

Born in England on March 8, 1945, Wright and her family relocated to Canada and eventually settled in Saskatoon at a young age.

Wright was the co-founder of Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre, and performed at virtually every major theatre company in Canada.

She had been affiliated with the Vancouver Arts Club Theater since the early 1970s, and also directed for many major theatre companies across Canada, including productions at Ontario’s Stratford Festival.

“Janet was an artist on an uncompromising search for the truth in all its unvarnished beauty,” said Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino, who directed Wright as Ma Joad in the 2011 production of “The Grapes of Wrath.”

“She was a profoundly talented actress, director and champion for the importance of the arts. I will never forget her passion and forever be inspired by her commitment to our work.”

She won the best actress Genie Award in 1992 for “Bordertown Cafe,” and won the best supporting actress in a dramatic program or miniseries award in 2003 for “Betrayed.”

Her film credits include “The Perfect Storm,” opposite George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, and TV appearances on series “Dark Angel,” “The King of Kensington” and “The Beachcombers.

 

Actress

Corner Gas: The Movie (2014)

Corner Gas: The Movie

6.9

Emma Leroy

2014

 

Jessica Biel in The Tall Man (2012)

The Tall Man

5.9

Trish

2012

 

Selena Gomez and Joey King in Ramona and Beezus (2010)

Ramona and Beezus

6.5

Grandma Kemp

2010

 

Memory Lanes

6.5

TV Movie

Sarah Duggen

2009

 

Corner Gas (2004)

Corner Gas

8.4

TV Series

Emma Leroy

2004–2009

107 episodes

 

Alyssa Milano, James Caan, and Jason Gedrick in Wisegal (2008)

Wisegal

6.1

TV Movie

Angie - Patty's Mother

2008

 

David Paetkau in Whistler (2006)

Whistler

6.9

TV Series

Celia

2007

6 episodes

 

Mark Acheson, John Cassini, Gabrielle Miller, Janet Wright, Fred Ewanuick, Erin Karpluk, and Stephen Lobo in Love and Other Dilemmas (2006)

Love and Other Dilemmas

6.3

Jojo Ladro

2006

 

Kingdom Hospital (2004)

Kingdom Hospital

6.7

TV Series

Liz Hinton

2004

10 episodes

 

Thoughtcrimes (2003)

Thoughtcrimes

6.6

TV Movie

Zoya

2003

 

Arbor Vitae

5.2

Short

Senior Nurse

2003

 

Christopher Shyer in The Wonderful World of Disney (1997)

Phenomenon II

5.1

TV Movie

Jeri

2003

 

A Tale of Two Wives (2003)

A Tale of Two Wives

5.5

TV Movie

Phyllis

2003

 

Jinnah: On Crime - White Knight, Black Widow

8.5

TV Movie

Frosty

2003

 

Deborah Kara Unger and Ian McKellen in Emile (2003)

Emile

6.3

Alice

2003

 

Kari Matchett in Betrayed (2003)

Betrayed

6.4

TV Movie

Dr. Fleming

2003

 

Taken (2002)

Taken

7.8

TV Mini Series

Patty

2002

1 episode

 

Tony Shalhoub in Monk (2002)

Monk

8.1

TV Series

Bonnie

2002

2 episodes

 

Rob Lowe and Sam Neill in Framed (2002)

Framed

5.5

TV Movie

Joan Thomas

2002

 

Chris Isaak in The Chris Isaak Show (2001)

The Chris Isaak Show

7.8

TV Series

Evie

2002

1 episode

 

Chris Klein, LL Cool J, and Rebecca Romijn in Rollerball (2002)

Rollerball

3.1

Coach Olga

2002

 

Hostage Rescue Team

6.2

TV Movie

Simone

2001

 

Michael Paré, Patrick Muldoon, Clint Howard, and Keegan Connor Tracy in Blackwoods (2001)

Blackwoods

3.2

Ma Franklin

2001

 

Jessica Alba in Dark Angel (2000)

Dark Angel

7.4

TV Series

Annie

2001

1 episode

 

Lola (2001)

Lola

5.4

Ma Keller

2001

 

Brian Downey, Michael McManus, and Xenia Seeberg in Lexx (1996)

Lexx

7.3

TV Series

First Lady Priest

Lorca

1999–2001

3 episodes

 

Chasing Cain (2001)

Chasing Cain

6.5

TV Movie

Sonia

2001

 

Redwall (1999)

Redwall

8.2

TV Series

Constance

Ghost of Martin (voice)

1999–2001

26 episodes

 

The Perfect Storm (2000)

The Perfect Storm

6.5

Ethel Shatford

2000

 

Redwall: The Movie (2000)

Redwall: The Movie

7.7

TV Movie

Constance (voice)

2000

 

Emily of New Moon (1998)

Emily of New Moon

7.4

TV Series

Aunt Thom

1998–1999

3 episodes

 

Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension (1998)

Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension

6.6

TV Series

Mrs. Floyd

1998

1 episode

 

More Tales of the City (1998)

More Tales of the City

7.9

TV Mini Series

Vita Keating (as Jane Wright)

1998

1 episode

 

Paul Gross and David Marciano in Due South (1994)

Due South

8.0

TV Series

Sgt. Sam Thorn

1998

1 episode

 

Katey Sagal and Harland Williams in Mr. Headmistress (1998)

Mr. Headmistress

5.3

TV Movie

Naomi Bascombe

1998

 

Fast Track (1997)

Fast Track

6.5

TV Series

Charlotte Scannel

1997

1 episode

 

My Mother's Ghost (1996)

My Mother's Ghost

5.3

TV Movie

Winny

1996

 

Kelly McGillis, Lauren Hutton, and Christopher Plummer in We the Jury (1996)

We the Jury

6.2

TV Movie

Gladys McKenzie

1996

 

Beyond the Call (1996)

Beyond the Call

5.7

TV Movie

Fran

1996

 

Neon Rider (1989)

Neon Rider

6.1

TV Series

Michelle Pfeiffer

1994

1 episode

 

C. David Johnson, Eric Peterson, and Sonja Smits in Street Legal (1987)

Street Legal

7.3

TV Series

Jessica Grant

Doris Banachowska

1993–1994

3 episodes

 

Bordertown Cafe (1992)

Bordertown Cafe

7.0

Maxine

1992

 

Bingo (1991)

Bingo

5.0

Waitress

1991

 

Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Banks, and Ken Wahl in Wiseguy (1987)

Wiseguy

7.8

TV Series

Mabel

Millicent

1988–1989

2 episodes

 

Laura Lansing Slept Here (1988)

Laura Lansing Slept Here

6.3

TV Movie

Francie

1988

 

Cowboys Don't Cry (1988)

Cowboys Don't Cry

6.6

Pearl

1988

 

Christmas Comes to Willow Creek (1987)

Christmas Comes to Willow Creek

6.4

TV Movie

Martha Jane

1987

 

Leslie Nielsen in Home Is Where the Hart Is (1987)

Home Is Where the Hart Is

4.4

J.P.'s Wife

1987

 

Donnelly Rhodes in Danger Bay (1983)

Danger Bay

7.5

TV Series

1986–1987

2 episodes

 

The Beachcombers (1972)

The Beachcombers

7.1

TV Series

Didee

1987

1 episode

 

Mark Harmon and Diana Scarwid in After the Promise (1987)

After the Promise

7.7

TV Movie

Waitress

1987

 

American Gothic (1987)

American Gothic

5.8

Fanny

1987

 

Deadly Deception (1987)

Deadly Deception

6.4

TV Movie

Desk Clerk

1987

 

Loyalties (1986)

Loyalties

6.8

Audrey Sawchuk

1986

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

Woman Neighbor

1986

1 episode

 

Judd Hirsch in Brotherly Love (1985)

Brotherly Love

6.3

TV Movie

Helen Neary

1985

 

The Three Wishes of Billy Grier (1984)

The Three Wishes of Billy Grier

6.8

TV Movie

Woman in Bar

1984

 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983)

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

7.2

TV Movie

Helen Armstrong

1983

 

Diane Lane in Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982)

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains

6.7

Brenda - Aunt Linda's Friend

1982

 

Hans Caninenberg in Ritter's Cove (1980)

Ritter's Cove

TV Series

1980

1 episode

 

Huckleberry Finn and His Friends (1979)

Huckleberry Finn and His Friends

8.1

TV Series

Mrs. Judith Loftus

1980

1 episode

 

Who'll Save Our Children? (1978)

Who'll Save Our Children?

6.6

TV Movie

1978

 

King of Kensington (1975)

King of Kensington

7.5

TV Series

Evelyn

1978

1 episode

 

Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)

The Wiz

5.5

The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice, uncredited)

1978

 

Peep Show (1975)

Peep Show

6.2

TV Series

Lucy

1976

1 episode

 

Wolfpen Principle

7.0

Miss Mervin

1974

 

Warren Beatty and Julie Christie in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

7.6

Eunice

1971

 

Obscene House (1969)

Obscene House

5.2

1969

 

Producer

Shock Therapy TV (2011)

Shock Therapy TV

executive producer

2011

 

Soundtrack

Kingdom Hospital (2004)

Kingdom Hospital

6.7

TV Series

performer: "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (uncredited)

2004

1 episode