Viv is also back for season 2 of BBC America’s ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’, and currently filming his role as Fincher Garland on Hallmark Channel’s new ‘Hailey Dean Mystery’
With over a hundred roles in film and television productions to his name, spanning an impressive 20-year career in acting, Viv Leacock is busier than ever. We’re just starting 2017, and already this year Viv has roles in four TV shows, including: ABC’s Epic Mini-Series ‘When We Rise’, the second season of BBC America’s ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’, Hallmark Channel’s new ‘Hailey Dean Mystery’, and AT&T Audience’s new series ‘Loudermilk’.
First up on the small screen, Viv is part of an ensemble cast in the epic mini-series on ABC TV, ‘When We Rise’, premiering on February 27th. The series, written and created by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, follows the struggles of LGBT men and women pioneering one of the final legs of the U.S. civil rights movement. Viv plays a father whose daughter writes a poignant letter to President Obama in the Friday, March 3rd episode. ‘When We Rise’ stars Guy Pearce, Mary-Louise Parker, Rachel Griffiths, Michael K. Williams and Ivory Aquino.
Now in production, Viv is back in his role of ‘Fincher Garland’, an investigator for Atlanta’s D. A., as well as a work husband and sometimes bodyguard for Hailey Dean (Kellie Martin) in Hallmark Channel’s “Hailey Dean Mystery”. The movie follows former prosecutor-turned-therapist Hailey Dean, who is a powerhouse, Mensa bright, and acutely observant.
The overwhelming success of ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ has the series back in production this spring for season two. Created by Max Landis and airing on BBC America and Netflix, Viv’s role of ‘Gripps’ is the most fun he has ever on screen. Gripps is part of a group of supernatural beings called ‘The Rowdy 3’ – all four of them – composed of the aloof Martin (Michael Eklund), the manic Vogel (Osric Chau), the ever-stoic Gripps, and the deranged Cross (Zak Santiago), as vampires. Not the night walking bloodsucking kind, but rather something much stranger…if that’s possible. They feed on emotion and the electrical energy of the human mind, which they extract in blasts of crackling electricity. Ex-test subjects, the Rowdy 3 have tried to make a life for themselves out in the real world, forever hunting Dirk Gently; deliberately entering his life in moments where it will cause him the most emotional terror. The Rowdy 3 has garnered their own fan club, as viewers love the combination of the four talented actors.
In the early 90’s, Viv’s first love was stand-up comedy. Viv credits being an actor to his brother Richard Leacock (Doc, Lake Placid, Saving God) as the reason he is in the entertainment industry. Acting came to him in 1997 just after his mother passed away. Although Viv hasn’t had any formal training, in addition to his brother, he also credits Mark Brandon, Jeff Seymour and Ben Ratner for being instrumental in helping him find his way as an actor.
It is his role as T. J. in the feature film ‘I Spy’ (2002) with Eddie Murphy that paved his way. Eddie Murphy had to approve Viv in his role of T. J., one of Kelly Robinson’s (Murphy) entourage. Eddie’s first words to Viv were “You’re really funny man!” Something that Viv still treasures today. Growing up, Eddie Murphy was his idol, so working along side him was an amazing experience.
Other memorable roles in feature films include the comedy ‘Intern Academy’ (2004) starring Dave Thomas of SCTV fame, Dan Aykroyd, and Dave Foley. In 2010, he was nominated for a Leo Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘The Thaw’, starring Val Kilmer. In 2013, Viv appeared in the award-winning feature ‘Becoming Redwood’ and the film festival gem ‘Dark Harvest’ (2016), starring Cheech Marie, James Hutson and Hugh Dillon. Another TV Role that had great impact on Viv was his role in ‘On The Farm’ (2016).
Although he has built a successful acting career, it is his family life with his wife Divina, and their three children, Vienna, 10, Lennox, 9 and Elias, 6, that Viv cherishes the most. Viv currently resides with his family in Vancouver.
For more information and interviews please contact:
Lesley Diana | Lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca | 604-726-5575
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IMDb: Viv Leacock, Frequency, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, When We Rise
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