John Tench
Known for: Acting
John Tench (born October 7, 1965, in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American-Canadian actor, director, writer, and poet, 6′ 0″ (183 cm) tall, who grew up in Canada and began working in theatre and film in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. He started his career at the legendary Factory Theatre Lab with Ken Gass, then studied and worked in New York City, London, Paris, and across Continental Europe before returning to Toronto, where he founded the influential theatre company Theatre Kathartic in 1980, touring internationally with works by Sam Shepard, Dario Fo, and Bertolt Brecht. He is a master of accents and dialects, has been nominated for numerous Best Actor awards, and currently teaches directing and scene study at the Toronto Film School and Yorkville University. His most notable film credits include a Knot Top Gang Member in Watchmen (2009, directed by Zack Snyder), Roughneck #2 in Brokeback Mountain (2005, directed by Ang Lee), a Motel Owner in Shooter (2007, directed by Antoine Fuqua), Viktor in The Colony (2013), Hondo in Angel and the Badman (2009), and a Cowboy Pimp in Dead Hooker in a Trunk (2009). On television he is best known as Alexander Graham Bell in Murdoch Mysteries (2012, 5 episodes), with additional credits in American Gods (2017), Schitt's Creek (2019), Alias Grace (2017, 4 episodes), Designated Survivor (2016), Fringe (2009), Stargate SG-1 (2007), The X-Files (1995), Friday the 13th: The Series (1989), and Ginny & Georgia (2021). In video games he voiced T-Bone Grady in Watch Dogs 2 (2016) and Dutch Roosevelt in Far Cry 5 (2018).
Filmography
Series
Supernatural
Ellsworth
2005
Series
The X-Files
Steve
1993
Series
Stargate SG-1
Lizan
1997
Series
Fringe
Hickey
2008
Series
Murdoch Mysteries
Alexander Graham Bell
2008
Series
Psych
Tripsy
2006
Series
Hudson & Rex
Kenny Constantine
2019
Series
Schitt's Creek
Hank
2015
Series
Highlander: The Series
Reese
1992
Series
Highlander: The Series
Max Jupe
1992
Series
Andromeda
Gerentex
2000
Series
The Outer Limits
Collins
1995
Series
The Outer Limits
Alex
1995
Series
The Outer Limits
Scarred Man
1995
Series
Private Eyes
Colin
2016
Series
Lost Girl
Pharmacist / Sheriff
2010
Series
Relic Hunter
Kane
1999
Series
Designated Survivor
Owner
2016
Series
The Sentinel
Jack
1996
Series
The Dead Zone
Mort
2002
Series
Degrassi: Next Class
Keith
2016
Series
Sanctuary
Warehouse Worker Garvin
2008
Series
American Gods
Viking Leader
2017
Series
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Dave
1993
Series
Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal
Ludac
1996
Series
Killjoys
Mole Foreman
2015
Series
First Wave
Jim
1998
Series
The Commish
Video Vigilante
1991
Series
The Commish
Artie Krause
1991
Series
Missing
Mal Oswald
2003
Series
Da Vinci's Inquest
Leon
1998
Series
Viper
Harris
1994
Series
Viper
Al King
1994
Series
Friday the 13th: The Series
Gunsel 1
1987
Series
Friday the 13th: The Series
Romeo Koslow
1987
Series
War of the Worlds
Worker
1988
Series
War of the Worlds
Gambler
1988
Series
Cold Squad
Mike Morrison
1998
Series
Cold Squad
Andre
1998
Series
Heritage Minutes
Cochrane
1991
Series
Frankie Drake Mysteries
Lyle Walsh
2017
Series
Night Heat
Wicks
1985
Film
Brokeback Mountain
Roughneck #2
2005
Film
Shooter
Motel Owner
2007
Series
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven
T-Bird
1998
Film
Watchmen
Knot Top Gang Member
2009
Series
Imposters
Nate
2017
Series
Happy Face
Ziggy
2025
Series
The Collector
Duke
2004
Series
Blade: The Series
Lord Verdelet (uncredited)
2006
Series
Tropical Heat
Ricky Menzies
1991
Series
Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation
Monkey Thief
1997
Series
True Justice
Domion
2011
Series
The Campbells
Clarence
1986
Series
Dead Man's Gun
Joe Rule
1997
Series
Street Justice
Thurman
1991
Series
Street Justice
Smith
1991
Series
Copper
Michael Ward
2012
Series
Intelligence
Winston
2006
Series
Cracked
PTSD Support Group Member
2013
Series
T and T
1988
Series
T and T
George
1988
Series
Alias Grace
Keeper #1
2017
Series
Titanic
Fireman (uncredited)
1996
Series
UC: Undercover
Double-Down
2001
Series
SisterS
Lenny
2023
Series
Strange Frequency
Mondo Baines
2001
Series
MythQuest
Eliaures
2001
Series
Code Name: Eternity
Skerrit
2000
Series
Lonesome Dove: The Series
1994
Film
Tooth Fairy
Inmate
2010
Series
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh
Greg
2024
Series
Two
Red Sammie
1996
Series
Godiva's
Stew
2005
Series
Blackstone
Ed
2011
Series
Palace Guard
Manfredi
1991
Series
Hard Rock Medical
Wolf
2013
Series
Gangland Undercover
Green
2015
Series
Legend of Earthsea
General Doar
2004
Series
Endgame
Kelly
2011
Series
Beyond Reality
Stan Ortega
1991
Film
The Colony
Viktor
2013
Series
Bones of Crows
Trueman Quinn
2023
Series
One More Time
The Hawk
2024
Film
Air Buddies
Biker #1
2006
Series
Stone Protectors
Max (voice)
1993
Film
Love Notes
The Manager
2007
Film
In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds
Dark One Lord
2011
Film
Alien Agent
C.C.
2007
Series
Call of the Wild
Straker
2000
Series
Welcome to Paradox
Director
1998
Film
BloodRayne II: Deliverance
Moffat
2007
Film
Icarus
Sergei
2010
Series
Secret Service
Michael Kennedy
1992
Film
Christmas Inheritance
Baxter
2017
Film
Blonde and Blonder
Ed Gates
2008
Film
Within
Travis
2005
Film
If Looks Could Kill
Cell Guard
1991
Film
Standoff
Roger
2016
Film
Virtual Lies
Walker
2012
Film
Die in a Gunfight
Echo
2021
Film
Hero Dog: The Journey Home
Captain Walker
2021
Film
The Stranger
Bartender
2010
Film
Against the Wild
Captain Walker
2013
Film
Heritage Minutes: Nitro
Cochrane
1993
Film
Gaybasher
Merrick
2014
Series
This Space for Rent
Major Tom
2006
Film
Repeaters
Mr. Weeks
2011
Film
Outcast
Henry
1990
Film
88
Roy
2015
Film
Carpool
Jerry
1996
Film
Backroads
Guy Lachaud
2000
Film
Cyberjack
Shreck
1995
Film
Christmas on Division Street
Grimes
1991
Film
Home for Christmas
Mugger
1990
Film
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
Leon
1996
Film
Cascade
Grizz
2023
Film
Premonition
Goran
2005
Film
Lunar Sway
2026
Film
Bones of Crows
Trueman Quinn
2023
Film
Angel and the Badman
Hondo
2009
Film
Grizzly Falls
Wes
1999
Film
Augusta, Gone
Ted
2006
Film
The Haunting in Wicker Park
Ben
Film
Deadly Vows
Prisoner #1
1994
Film
Goodnight for Justice
Bartender
2011
Film
The Secrets of Comfort House
Carl
2006
Film
The Camp Host
Frank
2024
Film
Christmas with Tucker
Tom Turner
2013
Film
The Suspect
Doug Zwick
2006
Film
Dead Hooker in a Trunk
Cowboy Pimp
2009
Film
Power of Attorney
Carlos
1995
Film
Presumed Dead
Tyson
2006
Film
Comforting Skin
Tattoo Artist
2011
Film
Black Point
Kevin
2002
Film
The Understudy: Graveyard Shift II
Transit
1988
Film
Beyond Suspicion
Sal
1994
Film
The Life
Man
2004
Film
Let's Rap
Franco St. Clair
2015
Film
The Darkside
Sully
1987
Film
The Winning Season
Cap Clarke
2004
Film
Here for Blood
Dusty
2022
Film
Robbery
Jim
2018
Film
Dead Ahead
Anthony
1996
Film
Dead Certain
MacLaughin
1991
Film
Kitty Mammas
Mark
2020
Film
A Bluegrass Christmas
Billy Ribbons
2024
Film
Joseph and Mary
Surly Publican
2016
Film
Landslide
Dr. Susskind
1992
Film
The Operative
Norvid
2001
Film
The Ticket
Chuck
1997
Film
The Perfect Suspect
Curry
2006
Film
The Zero Sum
Robert
2009
Film
Matty Hanson and the Invisibility Ray
Eddie Skinner
2011
Film
Straight Line
George
1989
The Bounce
Casper
Film
City in Panic
Tony
1987
Johnny Shortwave
The Photographer
1996
Film
Dreams
Det. Jack Richards
2019
Film
Niagara Strip
Larabee
1987
Film
Race to Midnight
1986
Virgin Paradise
Norbett
1987