Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor
The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television presents an annual award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role to the best performance by a lead actor in a Canadian film. The award was first presented in 1968 by the Canadian Film Awards, and was presented annually until 1978 with the exception of 1974 due to the cancellation of the awards that year.
From 1980 until 2012, the award was presented as part of the Genie Awards ceremony; since 2013, it has been presented as part of the new Canadian Screen Awards.
From 1980 to 1983, only Canadian actors were eligible for the award; non-Canadian actors appearing in Canadian films were instead considered for the separate Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor. After 1983, the latter award was discontinued, and both Canadian and foreign actors were eligible for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
1960s
| Year | Nominee | Film |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | ||
| Gerard Parkes | Isabel | |
| 1969 | ||
| Chris Wiggins | The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar | |
| John Colicos | Dulcima | |
| Eric House | The Night Nothing Happened |
1970s
| Year | Nominee | Film |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ||
| Paul Bradley | Goin' Down the Road | |
| Doug McGrath | ||
| 1971 | ||
| Jean Duceppe | Mon oncle Antoine | |
| 1972 | ||
| Gordon Pinsent | The Rowdyman | |
| 1973 | ||
| Jacques Godin | O.K. ... Laliberté | |
| 1974 | ||
| No award presented | ||
| 1975 | ||
| Stuart Gillard | Why Rock the Boat? | |
| 1976 | ||
| André Melançon | Partis pour la gloire | |
| 1977 | ||
| Len Cariou | One Man | |
| David Petersen | Skip Tracer | |
| Craig Russell | Outrageous! | |
| Marcel Sabourin | J.A. Martin Photographer (J.A. Martin photographe) | |
| 1978 29th Canadian Film Awards | ||
| Richard Gabourie | Three Card Monte | |
| John Juliani | Marie-Anne | |
| Frank Moore | The Third Walker | |
| Christopher Plummer | The Silent Partner | |