Mark Meer
{{Short description|Canadian actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark Meer
| image = Mark Meer (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Meer at the 50-Hour London Improvathon in 2011.
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|07|22}}
| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Actor, writer, improvisor
| known_for =
| spouse = Belinda Cornish
}}
Mark Meer is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is known for his role in the Mass Effect trilogy, in which he stars as the voice of the player character, Commander Shepard. His voice is featured in a number of other games from BioWare Corp., notably the Baldur's Gate and Dragon Age series. Meer stars as the voice of the player character William Mackenzie in The Long Dark from Hinterland Studio. He also works in animation, providing the voice for several characters in a series of cartoon shorts produced by Rantdog Animation Studios, and the voice of Horse in the Captain Canuck web series starring Kris Holden-Ried and Tatiana Maslany.
Career
Meer starred as the male voice of the main player character, Commander Shepard, in the Mass Effect trilogy. His voice is featured in a number of other games from BioWare Corp., notably the Baldur's Gate and Dragon Age series.{{Cite web|title=The Faces Behind the Voices of Mass Effect 3|url=https://kotaku.com/the-faces-behind-the-voices-of-mass-effect-3-5892977|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Kotaku|date=15 March 2012 |language=en-us}} Meer starred as the voice of the player character William Mackenzie in The Long Dark from Hinterland Studio, which also features his Mass Effect counterpart, Jennifer Hale.{{Cite web|last=Farokhmanesh|first=Megan|date=2013-09-17|title=Mass Effect voice actor Mark Meer joins The Long Dark, gameplay detailed|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/17/4742050/mass-effect-voice-actor-mark-meer-joins-the-long-dark-cast|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Polygon|language=en}}
Meer is a core company member of the Canadian Comedy Award-winning live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty, and was the first performer to complete the annual 53-hour long Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon without sleep.{{cite news
|last = Ward
|first = Dave
|title = Mark Meer Interview
|work = RPG Site
|publisher = RPG Site
|date = 2010-01-11
|url = http://pc.rpgsite.net/interviews/189-mark-meer-interview/
|accessdate = 2011-07-19
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110904092714/http://pc.rpgsite.net/interviews/189-mark-meer-interview
|archivedate = 2011-09-04
}}
He is a longtime member of Rapid Fire Theatre, a founder of the sketch comedy/improv troupe Gordon's Big Bald Head, and performs regularly at Edmonton's Varscona Theatre. He is a performer and writer on CBC Radio's sketch comedy program The Irrelevant Show and APTN's Caution: May Contain Nuts, and is a co-creator, writer and star of Super Channel's Tiny Plastic Men.{{cite news
| author = Staff| title =Edmonton Dominates Canadian Comedy Awards
| work =Gig City
| publisher =Gig City: Edmonton's Daily Entertainment Source
| date =2011-06-09
| url =http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/06/09/edmonton-dominates-canadian-comedy-awards//
| accessdate =2011-07-19 }}
In 2005, Meer was nominated for an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for co-writing the surreal sketch comedy show, Lobster Telephone (in which he also played Salvador Dalí), with the ladies of Panties Productions. In 2006, he was honored with the Sterling Award for Outstanding Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role for playing multiple roles in Helen's Necklace, produced by Shadow Theatre. In 2011, he was nominated for five Canadian Comedy Awards, including Best Male Improvisor, for which he was also nominated in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.{{cite news
| last =Nichols
| first =Liz
| title =Mark Meer: The Country's Best Improv Guy?
| work =The Edmonton Journal
| publisher =CanWest
| date =2012-06-07
| url =http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/06/07/mark-meer-the-countrys-best-improv-guy///
| accessdate =2012-07-14
| archive-date =2012-06-11
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120611035042/http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/06/07/mark-meer-the-countrys-best-improv-guy/
| url-status =dead
| last =Ross
| first =Mike
| title =Mark Meer tops list of Canadian Comedy Awards nominations
| work =Gig City
| publisher =Gig City: Edmonton's Daily Entertainment Source
| date =2013-06-13
| url =http://www.gigcity.ca/2013/06/13/mark-meer-tops-list-of-canadian-comedy-award-nominations///
| accessdate =2013-06-14 }} In December 2012, Mark Meer was voted Edmontonian of the Year in an online poll held by Gig City, an Edmonton arts and entertainment website.{{cite news
| last =Ross
| first =Mike
| title =Mark Meer elected Edmontonian of the Year in landslide victory
| work =Gig City
| publisher =Gig City: Edmonton's Daily Entertainment Source
| date =2012-12-31
| url =http://www.gigcity.ca/2012/12/31/mark-meer-elected-edmontonian-of-the-year-in-landslide-victory///
| accessdate =2013-01-05 }}{{cite news
| last =Nichols
| first =Liz
| title =Mark Meer: Edmonton's leaders of laughter snag nominations in annual Canadian Comedy Awards
| work =The Edmonton Journal
| publisher =CanWest
| date =2014-06-18
| url =https://edmontonjournal.com/Edmonton+leaders+laughter+snag+nominations+annual+Canadian+Comedy+Awards/9951822/story.html///
| accessdate =2014-06-25 }} Tiny Plastic Men, which Meer co-created and writes for Canada's Super Channel, has been nominated at the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Comedy Series in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and Meer himself was nominated for the CSA for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role in 2015 for his work on the show.
| last =Simon
| first =Houpt
| title =Mommy, Maps to the Stars set for showdown at Canadian Screen Awards
| work =The Globe and Mail
| publisher =CanWest
| date =2015-01-15
| url =https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/mommy-maps-to-the-stars-set-for-showdown-at-canadian-screen-awards/article22424703///
| accessdate =2015-01-15 }}
In 2016, Meer won the AMPIA Award for Best Performance by an Actor for the Tiny Plastic Men episode "Crisis on Infinite Octobers".
| last =Griwkowsky
| first =Fish
| title =Edmonton filmmakers celebrate Rosie wins
| work =The Edmonton Journal
| publisher =Postmedia Network
| date =2016-05-07
| url =https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/edmonton-filmmakers-celebrate-rosie-wins///
| accessdate =2016-05-08 }}
| last =Volmers
| first =Eric
| title =Diablo, Hell on Wheels and Fargo win big at the Alberta Film and Television Awards
| work =The Calgary Herald
| publisher =Postmedia Network
| date =2016-05-08
| url =https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/diablo-hell-on-wheels-and-fargo-win-big-at-the-alberta-film-and-television-awards///
| accessdate =2016-05-08 }}
Meer appeared at Dragon*Con 2012 cosplaying as Commander Shepard, his most famous character. Though his attendance was not publicly advertised, some fans immediately recognized him.{{cite news
| last =Narcisse
| first =Evan
| title =That's Not A Cosplayer, That's Actually Commander Shepard!
| work =kotaku.com
| publisher =Kodak
| date =2012-09-04
| url =http://kotaku.com/5940328/thats-not-a-cosplayer-thats-actually-commander-shepard///
| accessdate =2012-11-24 }}
In 2021, Meer became a player in The Black Dice Society, a Ravenloft themed Dungeons & Dragons actual play show on the official Wizards of the Coast channels.
Personal life
Meer is married to Belinda Cornish, an actress who has done work in BioWare games as well, most notably voicing Rana Thanoptis in the Mass Effect series, and Goldanna and The Baroness in the Dragon Age series. Cornish also co-stars with Meer in Tiny Plastic Men, and been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for her work on the show.{{cite news
| last =Furdyk
| first =Brent
| title =Canadian Screen Awards Nominees Announced
| work =ET Canada
| publisher =Global
| date =2016-01-09
| url =http://www.etcanada.com/blogs/etc_175992/2016-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-announced/awards///
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160123055707/http://www.etcanada.com/blogs/etc_175992/2016-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-announced/awards
| url-status =dead
| archive-date =January 23, 2016
| accessdate =2016-05-09 }}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2003
|Turnbuckle |The Electrocutioner | |
| 2010
|Car Salesman | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2010-2018
|Moonrod Mastertrick, Leonard the Vulcan, various |48 episodes |
| 2012–2015
|October, various |32 episodes |
| 2015
|A Frosty Affair |Brad |Television film |
| 2017
|Legendary Myths: Raven Adventures | rowspan="2" |Raven (voice) |5 episodes |
=Video games=
All roles listed are voice roles and for the English versions where applicable.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;" | |||
| Title | Year | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
|2000 | Bhaal Cleric | | |||
| Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
|2001 | Cyric, additional roles | | |||
| Neverwinter Nights
|2002 | Orc Shaman, Balor Demon, additional roles | | |||
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
| rowspan="2"|2003 | Carth (demo only) | | |||
| Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
| Durnan, additional roles | | |||
| Jade Empire | 2005 | Zhong the Ox-Carrier, The Watcher, Lotus Assassin, additional roles | |
| Mass Effect | 2007-2009 | Commander Shepard (male), additional roles | |
| Dragon Age: Origins | 2009 | Athras, Gatekeeper, Werewolf, Unscrupulous Merchant, Pearl Dwarf Companion, additional roles | |
| Mass Effect 2 | 2010-2011 | Commander Shepard (male), Niftu Cal, Vorcha, Prazza, additional roles | |
| Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening | 2010 | The Withered, The Lost, The First, The Herald, additional roles | |
| Dragon Age II | 2011 | Jethann, Hybris, additional roles | |
| Mass Effect 3 | 2012-2013 | Commander Shepard (male), Blasto, Vorcha, additional roles | |
| Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition | 2012 | Rassad yn Bashir, Baeloth, Elan Garaq, Ghlouralk, Adoy, Goblin, additional roles | |
| Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition | 2013 | Rassad yn Bashir, Baeloth, additional roles | |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition | 2014 | Cabot, Lyrium Merchant, Red Templar, additional voices | |
| The Long Dark | 2015 | William Mackenzie | |
| Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear
| rowspan="2"|2016 | Rassad yn Bashir, Baeloth, Volghiln, Adoy, Einar, Bertram, additional roles | | |||
| Slayaway Camp
| Skullface | | |||
| The Long Dark: Wintermute | 2017 | William Mackenzie | |
| Arcade Spirits
| rowspan="2"|2019 | Deco Nami | | |||
| Jupiter Hell
| The Protagonist | | |||
| Hyper-galactic Psychic Table Tennis 3000
| rowspan="2"|2020 |Paddles | | |||
| Raid Land
| Warrior/Bersker/Hunter/General Voice Effects | | |||
| Gotham Knights
|2022 | | |||
| Mythforce
|2023 |Deadalus | |
= Web shows and series =
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=1035752|name=Mark Meer}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meer, Mark}}
Category:Actual play performers
Category:Canadian male comedians
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male video game actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:Male actors from Edmonton
Category:20th-century Canadian male actors
Category:20th-century Canadian comedians
Category:21st-century Canadian male actors
Category:21st-century Canadian comedians