Ennis Esmer
{{Short description|Turkish-Canadian actor and comedian (born 1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ennis Esmer
| image = EnnisEsmer.jpg
| caption = Esmer in 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|12|29}}
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Ankara, Turkey
| occupation = Actor, writer, comedian, voice actor, producer, presenter
| years_active = 2003–present
| nationality = Canadian
| spouse = Amy Blaxland
}}
Ennis Esmer (born December 29, 1978) is a Turkish-Canadian actor, comedian, voice actor, writer, producer and presenter. He is best known for his roles as Osman 'Oz' Bey in The Listener (2009–2014), Nash in Red Oaks (2014–2017), Rich Dotcom in Blindspot (2015–2020) – a role that was specifically written for him,[https://ew.com/tv/nbc-blindspot-martin-gero-ennis-esmer-rich-dotcom-impact/ 'How dark web hacker Rich DotCom became the heart of Blindspot'], Entertainment Weekly website, June 25, 2020, Retrieved August 7, 2021 and Kurtis 'Maz' Mazhari in Private Eyes (2016–2021).
Early life
Esmer was born in Ankara, Turkey, before moving to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 3. His father, Demir, and his mother, Alev, were both systems analysts. As a child, Esmer learned English by watching Canadian television – which included programs like Sesame Street and Today's Special.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/what-im-watching-ennis-esmer/article4274741/ 'What I'm Watching / Ennis Esmer'] The Globe and Mail, May 29, 2009, Retrieved August 7, 2021{{subscription required|s}} His parents divorced in his early teens, and his father remarried to Esmer's stepmother, Florence.{{Cite instagram |user=demir.esmer.ddc |postid=p/BmGtnMfnSqQ/|date=5 August 2018 |title=Niagara on the Lake |access-date=16 September 2021}} Esmer attended Earl Haig Secondary School, in the Toronto suburb of North York, participating in the Claude Watson Program for gifted arts students.[https://www.toronto.com/news-story/62528-ennis-esmer-hits-his-stride-in-the-world-of-acting/ 'Ennis Esmer hits his stride in the world of acting'] Toronto.com website, April 2, 2011, Retrieved August 7, 2021[https://earlhaig.ca/departments/claude/site/about.html 'Claude Watson Program'] Earl Haig website – Claude Watson section, No date, Retrieved August 7, 2021 During his time at the school, he took improv and experimental theatre classes, was elected to student council, and produced school assemblies which became miniature talent showcases.[https://trnto.com/ennis-esmer/ 'Ennis Esmer The star of NBC's hottest new show returns to the North York school that gave him his start and talks about his path to stardom'], Trto.com website (new site of previously cited postcity article), July 29, 2009, Retrieved August 7, 2021
Esmer then attended the York University drama program for three years but left before completing it. He struggled with the limitations it set on his natural comedic abilities and has said that part of this at the time was an issue of confidence and maturity. However, even after leaving the university and for many years, he has continued to study and work with David Rotenberg, a York University professor emeritus of Theatre Studies and the artistic director of his own Professional Actor's Lab – and has said that Rotenberg was the person who allowed him to actually work on his dramatic ability without calling his comedic gifts a crutch. Esmer also did some training at Second City and has worked every comedy stage in Toronto.{{cite podcast |url=https://www.thehungrystuntgirl.com/podcast/episode/38ff47ac/hsg-ep-12-ennis-esmer-schitts-creek-awkward-moments-and-ice-cream|title=HSG Ep. 12: Ennis Esmer – Schitt's Creek, Awkward Moments, and Ice Cream |website=The Hungry Stuntgirl |publisher=Heidi Germaine Schnappauf |host=Heidi Germaine Schnappauf |date=17 February 2020|access-date=7 August 2021}}
Career
Esmer first came to prominence as the writer and host of Toronto 1's short-lived variety series The Toronto Show in 2003.[https://trnto.com/ennis-esmer/ 'Ennis Esmer: The star of NBC's hottest new show returns to the North York school that gave him his start and talks about his path to stardom'], Trnto.com website (new site of previously cited postcity article), July 29, 2009, Retrieved August 7, 2021 His first acting role that got him notice was in 2006, as the temperamental janitor Zoltan in the Gemini Awards-winning Billable Hours – this role set a precedent in Esmer's career, as what was originally a one-off appearance was expanded to a recurring role because of the popularity of his take on it. His next major role came in 2009 in The Listener as Osman 'Oz' Bey, the best friend of the main character Toby Logan (played by Craig Olejnik). Esmer was nominated once in 2010 for an ACTRA Award, and twice in 2010 and 2011 for Canadian Comedy Awards for this role.[https://nationalpost.com/arts/qa-the-listeners-ennis-esmer-on-hosting-the-actra-awards 'Q&A: The Listener's Ennis Esmer on hosting the ACTRA Awards'], February 24, 2011, Retrieved August 7, 2011[https://canadiancomedyawards.org/archives.php?year=2010 'Canadian Comedy Awards Nominations & Awards Archives'], Canadian Comedy Awards website, no date, Retrieved August 7, 2021 In the opposite seasons to shooting The Listener in Toronto, Esmer was shooting his role as Eddie, the apartment complex manager, in The L.A. Complex in Los Angeles – a situation that would repeat in his career.[https://talknerdywithus.com/2012/09/interview-with-the-la-complexs-ennis-esmer/ 'Interview with The LA Complex's Ennis Esmer'], Talk Nerdy with Us website, September 17, 2012, Retrieved August 7, 2021
Starting in 2014, Esmer had regular roles in You Me Her, Private Eyes, Red Oaks, and Blindspot, once again often shooting in opposite or even the same seasons. In Audience Network's polyamorous comedy You Me Her, he played Dave Amari, best friend and neighbour of Jack Trekarsky, the 'Him' of the title. In Global Television Network/Ion Television's Private Eyes, he played Kurtis 'Maz' Mazhari, a Detective who helped main characters Matt Shade (played by Jason Priestley) and Angie Everett (played by Cindy Sampson) solve crimes. He would be nominated in 2019 for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards for this latter role.
In Amazon Studios 1980's set comedy-drama Red Oaks, he played the Turkish lothario tennis instructor Nash. He said of the role, 'It's fun to play a character who is a pretty decent representation of my ethnicity...His ethnicity doesn't define the role, and he gets to be a full person aside from that, and in fact, because of that.'[https://parade.com/523270/michelewojciechowski/ennis-esmer-from-amazons-red-oaks-on-playing-nash/ 'Ennis Esmer from Amazon's Red Oaks on Playing Nash'], Parade Magazine website, November 10, 2016, Retrieved August 7, 2021 In NBC's Blindspot, Esmer again took a role that was an originally a one-off spot in season one, and went first to recurring then series regular in season four. His instinctive improvisational style and delivery made fan-favourite Rich Dotcom what the show creator Martin Gero said was the character that defined the series.[https://ew.com/tv/nbc-blindspot-martin-gero-ennis-esmer-rich-dotcom-impact/ 'How dark web hacker Rich DotCom became the heart of Blindspot'], Entertainment Weekly website, June 25, 2020, Retrieved August 7, 2021[https://deadline.com/2018/08/blindspot-ennis-esmer-promoted-series-regular-nbc-drama-series-rich-dotcom-1202450928/ Blindspot': Ennis Esmer Promoted To Series Regular On NBC Drama Series'], Deadline website, August 23, 2018, Retrieved August 7, 2021 Esmer also had a memorable 3-episode arc as Emir Kaplan, the travel blogger who broke Stevie Budd's heart, in season five of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series Schitt's Creek''.
Upcoming, Esmer is to star in CTV's comedy Children Ruin Everything.[https://deadline.com/2021/03/aaron-abrams-ctv-children-ruin-everything-from-chuck-tatham-kurt-smeaton-1234720439/?fbclid=IwAR0GRyKF38orKn9_QURgCm95KGbWyHUZFrHiq45qHvG45GSvmdygb90bXb8 'Aaron Abrams To Star In Canadian Comedy 'Children Ruin Everything' From Chuck Tatham & Kurt Smeaton], Deadline website, March 21, 2021, Retrieved August 8, 2021
Esmer has also undertaken several hosting duties in Canada – hosting, among others, the Gemini Awards twice,[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/the-geminis-by-the-numbers/article4292145/ 'The Geminis by the numbers'], The Globe and Mail website, November 13, 2009, Retrieved August 7, 2021{{subscription required}} and the ACTRA Awards, even virtually hosting the feature films section of Directors Guild of Canada Awards in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also presented Wipeout Canada and the upcoming Roast Battle Canada, the Canadian version of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle.
In film, Esmer has worked extensively in Canadian indie short and feature-length films. He started his film career in a bit part as Ronnie in the American film How to Deal in 2003. His breakout film role was in 2007's Young People Fucking, co-written by his longtime friend and later Blindspot showrunner Martin Gero and other longtime friend Aaron Abrams. This film was notable not just for winning multiple Genie Awards and nearly sweeping the film category of the Canadian Comedy Awards, but also because of the furor around funding caused politically by its name and perceived content.
In 2014, Esmer starred in his first lead film role as Leonard Crane, a small-town newspaper reporter, in Big News from Grand Rock, a comedy-drama about the demise of small-town newspapers – on which he also served as an executive-producer.[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/02/27/ennis-esmer-adored-small-town-life-of-big-news-from-grand-rock.html 'Ennis Esmer adored small town life of Big News from Grand Rock'], Toronto Star website, February 27, 2015, Retrieved August 7, 2021 The same year, he played a supporting role as Sean in the romantic comedy Dirty Singles, for which he was nominated for an ACTRA Award, and won best male performance at the Canadian Comedy Awards. In 2015, he played a supporting role in sex comedy How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town, directed by Jeremy Lalonde, again serving as executive-producer. In 2016, he played a supporting role in Miss Sloane with Jessica Chastain. That same year, he played Moe, a flight crash investigator, in the television film Brace for Impact, for which he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by Supporting Actor in a Drama at the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018. Also in 2018, he played the astrophysicist Charlie in Clara, a science-fiction film which won the Jury Prize at the Austin Film Festival.[https://austinfilmfestival.com/blog/sw2w-akash-sherman/ 'SW2W: Akash Sherman – screenwriter to watch'], May 3, 2019, Retrieved August 8, 2021
He won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, for his regular role in Children Ruin Everything.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/csas-final-night-2023-1.6811617 "The Porter, Sort Of showered in awards on the CSAs' final night"]. CBC News, April 14, 2023.
Personal life
Esmer is in a long-term relationship with Amy Blaxland – a stylist, costume designer and businesswoman.{{cite podcast |url=https://play.acast.com/s/bigones/upintheairwithennisesmer |title=The Big Ones Presents: Playcation! Up In The Air With Guest Ennis Esmer |website=Acast |publisher=The Big Ones |host=Amanda Lund |date=11 February 2020 |access-date=7 August 2021}}
Ennis Esmer is both publicly and privately involved in many charities, focusing on homelessness, poverty, sick children, and reading (particularly in the Greater Toronto area).[https://www.toronto.com/news-story/6078263-support-youth-escaping-homelessness-at-annual-a-home-for-the-holidays-fundraiser/ 'Support youth escaping homelessness at annual A Home for the Holidays fundraiser'] Toronto.com website, November 3, 2015, Retrieved August 7, 2021[https://www.one.org/canada/blog/canadians-share-their-thoughts-on-live-below-the-line-challenge/ 'Canadians share their thoughts on Live Below the Line challenge'] One Organisation website, No Date, Retrieved August 7, 2021[https://web.sickkidsfoundation.com/thelistener/ 'Behind the scenes with SickKids patients on the set of The Listener'], Toronto Sick Kids Foundation website, No Date, Retrieved August 7, 2021[https://agoodbookdrive.tumblr.com/post/171052647613/say-hello-to-actor-ennis-esmer-you-can-watch/amp 'A Good Book Drive'], A Good Book Drive website, No date, Retrieved August 7, 2021
Esmer is also a lifelong Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays fan.[https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.5175775/raptors-fan-says-he-might-be-changed-as-a-person-after-watching-game-6-up-close-in-oakland-1.5175780 'Raptors fan says he might be 'changed as a person' after watching Game 6 up close in Oakland] Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website, June 14, 2019, Retrieved August 7, 2021[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/arts/television/ennis-esmer-of-red-oaks-talks-tennis-and-comedy.html 'Ennis Esmer of 'Red Oaks' Talks Tennis and Comedy'], The New York Times, October 14, 2015, Retrieved August 7, 2021 He is the originator of the nickname 'Spice and Dice' for Toronto Raptors players Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet.Esmer,E. [@ennisesmer]. (2022, Feb 4). 2016 nba draft. Siakam goes 27th. Fred undrafted. One could pretty safely argue they go 1-2 in a redraft. Who tops them so far? Sabonis, Ingram, Brown, Murray? I'd rather have 🌶 & 🎲 🎲 #SpiceAndDice #WeTheNorth™️[Tweet] Twitter. Retrieved April 8, 2022 .https://twitter.com/ennisesmer/status/1489488980693422082
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year
! width="200"|TV show ! width="150"|Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|2003 | Veritas: The Quest | Egyptian Guard | Episode: "Devil Child" |
| Queer as Folk | Henry | Episode: "Doctors of Dickology" | |
| data-sort-value="Cheetah Girls, The" | The Cheetah Girls | Comedian | TV movie | |
| rowspan="2"|2005 | Tilt | College Kid | Episode: "The Game" |
| Kojak | Stewart | Episode: "Fathers and Sons" | |
| 2006 | data-sort-value="Path to 9/11, The" | The Path to 9/11 | Mohammed Salameh | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Billable Hours | Zoltan | Recurring; 26 episodes Nominated – Gemini Award for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series (shared with cast) (2008){{cite web|title=awards database|url=http://www.academy.ca/About-the-Academy/Awards-Database?flow=person&step=1&byp-award-v=0&byp-winners-v=False&byp-name-v=Ennis+Esmer|website=academy.ca|access-date=1 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201082426/http://www.academy.ca/About-the-Academy/Awards-Database?flow=person&step=1&byp-award-v=0&byp-winners-v=False&byp-name-v=Ennis+Esmer|archive-date=December 1, 2016|url-status=dead}} |
| rowspan="2"|2007 | Trapped | Marc Creswell | Episode: "Hurricane Hotel" |
| Snowglobe | Jamie DiBiasi | TV movie | |
| rowspan="3"|2008 | ReGenesis | Dr. Daniel Peters | Episode: "TB or not TB" |
| Flashpoint | Frank | Episode: "Asking for Flowers" | |
| For the Love of Grace | Frank Lockwood | TV movie | |
| rowspan="2"|2009 | Unstable | Eric | TV movie |
| data-sort-value="Border, The" | The Border | Henry Masoud | Episode: "Missing in Action" | |
| 2009–2014 | data-sort-value="Listener, The" | The Listener | Osman 'Oz' Bey | Series lead; 64 episodes Nominated – Canadian Comedy Award for Best Performance by a Male – TV (2010){{cite web|title=2010 nominees|url=http://www.agamdarshi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2010CCANomineesFinal_.pdf|website=agamdarshi.com|access-date=1 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101231654/http://www.agamdarshi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2010CCANomineesFinal_.pdf|archive-date=January 1, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Nominated – Canadian Comedy Award for Best Performance by a Male – TV (2011){{cite web|last1=Mooney|first1=Sam|title=Canadian Comedy Awards Nominees Announced|url=http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2011/06/10/canadian-comedy-awards-nominees-announced/|website=Mooney on Theatre|access-date=1 December 2016|date=10 June 2011}} |
| 2010 | Baxter | Mr. Harlow | Episode: "Trust Games" |
| 2010–2011 | Covert Affairs | CIA Polygrapher / Interrogator | Recurring; 4 episodes |
| 2010, 2022 | Murdoch Mysteries | Marcus Evans / Edwin Scantage | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2011 | Wipeout Canada | Himself | Co-host |
| Good Dog | George's Agent | Episode: "I Never Met a Phor I Didn't Use" | |
| 2012 | data-sort-value="L.A. Complex, The" | The L.A. Complex | Eddie Demir | Recurring, 16 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2013 | Transporter: The Series | André | Episode: "12 Hours" |
| Nikita | Guler | Episode: "High-Value Target" | |
| Republic of Doyle | Pete Donnelly | Episode: "Hook, Line and Sinker" | |
| 2014–2017 | Red Oaks | Nash | Series regular; 25 episodes 7th Canadian Screen Awards |
| rowspan="2"|2015 | Man Seeking Woman | Leo | 5 episodes |
| Lost Girl | Philip | Episode: "Judgement Fae" | |
| 2015–2017 | Dark Matter | Wexler | Recurring; 5 episodes |
| 2015–2020 | Blindspot | Gord Enver / Rich Dotcom | Recurring (seasons 1–3), 14 episodes Series regular (season 4–5), 33 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2016 | Brace for Impact | Moe | TV movie Nominated – Best Supporting Actor in a Television Film or Series – Canadian Screen Awards (2018)[https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/bell-media-congratulates-film-and-television-production-partners-on-203-nominations-for-the-2018-canadian-screen-awards-669603483.html 'Bell Media Congratulates Film and Television Production Partners on 203 Nominations for the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards'], Cision Newswire website, January 16, 2018, Retrieved August 8, 2021 |
| Baroness von Sketch Show | Mike | Episode: "Stay for a Drink" | |
| Shoot the Messenger | Bobby Ferguson | Episode: "There Will Be Blood" | |
| 2016–2020 | You Me Her | Dave Amari | Recurring; 36 episodes |
| 2016–2021 | Private Eyes | Kurtis Mazhari | Recurring, 30 episodes |
| 2018 | Little Big Awesome | Various characters (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2019 | Schitt's Creek | Emir Kaplan | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="5"|2021 | Frankie Drake Mysteries | Count Grigore | Episode: "Prince in Exile" |
| Wynonna Earp | Kuru / Doug Warner | Episode: "Crazy" | |
| Nine Films About Technology | Rashid | Lead in stand-alone episode: "Story of a Phone" | |
| Roast Battle Canada | Himself | Host | |
| Hudson & Rex | Richie Lugo | Episode: "Oops I Bit It Again" | |
| 2021–2022 | data-sort-value="Flash, The" | The Flash | Psych / Bashir Malik, Negative Psych | Recurring; 6 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | Children Ruin Everything | Ennis | Series regular; 24 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2024 | Sight Unseen | Kye | Recurring; 8 episodes |
| Ghosts | Brett | Episode: "The Work Retreat" | |
| TBA | Plan B |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Ennis Esmer}}
- {{IMDb name|1338828}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esmer, Ennis}}
Category:Canadian male comedians
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:Canadian television variety show hosts
Category:Comedians from Toronto
Category:Male actors from Ankara
Category:Male actors from Toronto
Category:Turkish emigrants to Canada
Category:21st-century Canadian male actors
Category:Canadian Comedy Award winners
Category:Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series Canadian Screen Award winners