Oliver Koomsatira

Oliver Koomsatira (born August 16th, 1985) is a Montreal-based professionally trained bilingual actor.

Early Life

Koomsatira was born in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), to Danai Koomsatira, a culinary chef born in Thailand, and Louise Brière, a nursing aid born in Quebec. He has one brother, Frederic, who is 4 years older. Koomsatira has Chinese and French Canadian ancestry. The family moved several times in his early years before settling in The West Island (Roxboro) when he was 5 years old. As an adolescent, Koomsatira was constantly in and out of trouble with his teachers and the law while paradoxically maintaining excellent grades. He was suspended and had several detentions for getting in fights and talking back to teachers. In an interview, he said 'the only things that kept me alive during high school were the talent shows I performed in and my rap creations'. From age 12 to 19, Koomsatira also dedicated his week-ends and summers to The Royal Canadian Army Cadets, where he won several awards and was selected to be on an international exchange in Germany.

Talent Shows

From grade 7 to 11, Koomsatira performed in every talent show he could. He began by performing martial arts choreographies with his brother, involving hand to hand combat and weapons handling (nunchuckues and boes). By grade 9 and 10, he choreographed his own martial arts numbers and performed them with his friends while creating other break dance numbers. In his final year, he invited his brother to perform one last time. He told us 'it's those high school shows that really gave me the drive to follow my dream of performing. I always wanted to be an actor, but my dream was crumbling under the pressure I was getting to chose a real career'.

Theatrical Training

By the end of grade 11, it came time for Koomsatira to chose what he was to study in Cegep. At that time, all he focused on were his rap creations. He made demos, performed in concerts, and all he wanted was to become a rap star. Since there was no school for rappers, he seriously began to explore what his true calling was. Remembering he had a dream to become an actor, he auditioned for The Professional Theatre Program at Dawson College and was admitted. He spent the next three years learning the craft of acting with some of the best teachers in Montreal. He learned Interpretation with Bertrand A. Henry, Winston Sutton and Jude Benny; Voice with W. Steven Lecky; Camera Acting with Gary Plaxton; Movement and Dance with Cynthia Hendrickson; Stage Combat (Sword Fighting with Rapier and Hand to Hand) with Kimberley Barfuss; Interpretation of Shakespeare with Victor Knight and Dr. Doug Buchanan; Text with Fred Ward and Improvisation with Barbara Kelly. While in school he participated in 5 theatre productions. He played John Buchanan Jr. (child), Gonzalez and Roger Doremus in Summer and Smoke, directed by Jude Benny; Stephen in The Shadow Box, directed by Winston Sutton; Freddy Eynsford Hill in Pygmalion, directed by Winston Sutton; Costard in Love's Labour's Lost, directed by Douglas Buchanan; and Blifil and The Constable in Tom Jones, directed by Bertrand A. Henry.

Theatre Credits

Title/Role/Production Company/Director

A CHRISTMAS CAROL/ Various / Village Scene Productions / Jacqueline Van de Geer

DO YOU REALLY KNOW ME/ Ang / TACcom / James Murray

THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE/ Capoeirista / Ôma Entertainment / Isabelle Delage

ISLAND QUEST/ Jackie / Ôma Entertainment / Isabelle Delage

FRIENDSHIP AKWASASNE/ Gafaignoto / Grupo Porto da Barra / Comprido

ME ME ME/ Stanley / Dynamo Théâtre / Robert Dion

MOI MOI MOI/ Ferdinand / Dynamo Théâtre / Robert Dion

YO YO YO/ Fernando / Dynamo Théâtre / Robert Dion

ANIMATION SUD-OUEST DE MONTRÉAL/ Kevin / TACcom / Anne-Marie Savoie

LA PEAU D’ÉLISA (Public Reading)/ Le Jeune Homme / Creativurge / Sophie Labelle

BOMBARDIER/ Jason Stewart / TACcom / James Murray

YOU DECIDE/ Harry, Sylvester / TACcom / James Murray

PAREILS, PAS PAREILS, UN PEU PAREILS./ Kim, Carlos, Réginald / TACcom / Yves Amyot

GRAND THEFT LOTTO (School Tour)/ Sam / TACcom / Maryvonne Cyr

L’AVENTURE SAINE CITÉ (School Tour)/ Samuel / TACcom / Maryvonne Cyr

GAYANASHAGOWA/ Thomas / Gravy Bath Prod / Anthony Kokx

AU-DELÀ DE LA VILLE/ Félix / Gravy Bath Prod / Anthony Kokx

POOLS PARADISE/ Rev. Humphrey / Three Blind Mice / Anne-Marie-Pierre

WHAT WHERE/ Bom / Gleams Theatre / Constantin Sokolov

LAW (School Tour)/ Master / TACcom / Marie Doyon

CUTHBERT’S LAST STAND UNCUT/ Cuthbert / Unwashed Grape / Paul Hawkins

THE THREE ANTIGONES/ Creon / McGill Players / Alysse Rich

WHITE NOISE/ The Prisoner / Projet Nomade / Eliane Ellbogen

SPRING AWAKENING/ Moritz Steifel / Persephone Prod / Gabrielle Soskin

CUTHBERT’S LAST STAND/ Cuthbert / GLBT Festival / Paul Hawkins

SEE HOW THEY RUN/ Rev. Humphrey / Three Blind Mice / Anne-Marie Pierre

TACIT AGREEMENT/ Steve / Fringe Festival / Paul Hawkins

Film Credits

Title/Role/Production Company/Director

ACCESS COCO BEACH/ Lead / Xclamat!on/ Neil Kroetch (Corporate)

LOVE’S LIGHT/ Lead / Fly and Ixion Prod / Lukas Constantine (Ind)

GENERAL TAO POUTINE/ Lead / Karma Studios / Michael Sapina (Ind)

A STUDENT’S LIFE/ Lead / Montreal / Jan Belina (Ind)

QUI EÛT JU JOUIT/ Lead / Boogey Buds Prod / Loïc Surprenant (Ind)

CLEAN BREAK/ Principal / INterFace MEdia / John A. Glasspoole (Doc)

LES JEUX SONT FAITS/ Principal / INterFace MEdia / John A. Glasspoole (Doc)

THE MONSTER/ Actor / Mtset Prod / Jason Gondziola (Ind)

UNE CRÈME, DEUX SUCRES/ Actor / Boogey Buds Prod./ Nicolas Lareau (Ind)

CONVERSATIONS/ Non-Speaking Role / Les Productions Nez Croche / Neil Kroetch (Ind)

SATIRONIQUE/ Acrobatic Role / Collège Ahunstic / Anka Fortin-Porlier

Reference

*http://talenthunter.com/Thainada
*http://www.hollywood-north.com/details.asp?v=12795
*http://oliverkoomsatira.unblog.fr/
*http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/022306/theatre.html
*http://montrealfilmgroup.com/links_members.php
*http://www.persephoneproductions.org/eng/springawakening.php
*http://www.persephoneproductions.org/press/sa_01.php
*http://mtset.com/characters.php
*http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=*SBECKETT&n=22093
*http://www.quebecdrama.org/SECTIONS/06_Membership/membercompanies.html
*http://www.delitfrancais.com/view.php?aid=2219
*http://www.torontodelivers.com/2007/10/review_me_me_me.html
*http://www.eyeweekly.com/daily/?p=1000
*http://www.torontodelivers.com/2007/08/me_me_me.html
*http://www.scenechanges.com/previews.html
*http://www.torontolivetheatre.com/showdetail.cfm?ID=2734
*http://rss.canadianshakespeares.ca/snews.php?article=5

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