Meet Dean Armstrong

Founder and Director of Armstrong Acting Studios. For twelve years, the school has served to successfully bridge the gap between education and the industry. Boasting over 4000 of Toronto's regular working film and television actors as graduates and ongoing students of personal and studio training. The school continues to gain rapid momentum with the support of some of Toronto's leading industry professionals including Jeremy Podeswa (The Pacific, Fugitive Pieces, The Riches,Six Feet Under), Annmarie Morais (How She Move, Da Kink in My Hair), Gail Harvey (Best Years, ReGenesis, This is Wonderland), Don McCutcheon (Corner Gas, 'Til Death Do Us Part, Darcy's Wild Life), Ron Murphy (Heartland, Billable Hours, ReGenesis), Shelagh O'Brien (ER, Triple Sensation, Test Nation), Miles Dale (Traveling, Talk to Me, Hollywoodland, 'Til Death Do Us Part, Ponty Pool), David Wellington (Of Murder and Memory, Would Be Kings, The 11th Hour), Steve Dimarco (Heartland, G-Spot, Best Years, Jeff Limited), Mike Mabbott (Citizen Duane, The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico), Ken Girotti (24,  Rescue Me, Doc), Kelly Makin (The Altar Boy Gang, The Border, Brain Candy), Bradley Walsh (Billable Hours, Darcy's Wild Life, Instant Star), Don Shebib (Director/Writer, The Adams Family, Police Academy, The Zack Files, Bart Fargo), Jason Knight (John Buchan Casting: Jumper, Splice, Adoration), Marissa Richmond (Flashpoint, Only, Durham County), Marjorie Lecker (F2: Forensic Factor, Paradise Lost), Millie Tom (Talk to Me, Degrassi: The Next Generation), Norbert Abrams (The Noble Caplan Abrams Agency), Joanne Boreham (The Latest Buzz, Naturally Sadie), Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay (Lewis Kay Casting: Heyday, High Life, This Beautiful City, Falcon Beach), and Ross Clydesdale (Clydesdale Casting: Ice Princess, X Men, K 19, Queer as Folk) among others!

Dean has collaborated with actors, directors, producers, casting directors and students of all ages in various educational forums and industry settings in both Canada and The United States.  With an Honors degree in Dramatic Art and a degree in Education from Queen's University, Dean has extended his passion for teaching and performance into the Arts Community by designing and implementing workshops and techniques that have inspired, motivated and literally changed the lives of actors at all levels!

As an instructor, Dean brings 12 years of television and stage experience including 5 seasons in his critically acclaimed portrayal of Blake on Showtime's QUEER AS FOLK, as well 1 1/2 years on BROADWAY in Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical RENT.  Other film and T.V. credits include:  REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA (TWISTED PICTURES), LOVE YOU TO DEATH (AKA 'TIL DEATH DO US PART) (GLOBAL/COURT TV), the role of Scotty Redfield on the PAX/PEBBLEHUT network's production DOC opposite Billy Ray Cyrus as well as appearances on RECIPE FOR A PERFECT CHRISTMAS, MISSING, 72 HOURS, THE NEW'S ROOM, EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT and TWICE IN A LIFETIME.  Selected stage credits include starring roles in the Canadian Premiere of Jonathan Larson's TICK, TICK, BOOM!, KALEDOSCOPE (The Blank Theatre Los Angeles), A TRIBUTE TO BROADWAY (The West Hampton Beach Performing Arts Centre), THE GLACE BAY MINERS' MUSEUM, TWELFTH NIGHT (Magnus Theatre), THE SHOOTING STAGE (The Shaw Festival/Buddies in Badtimes), THE LAST TASMANIAN (Theatre New Brunswick), SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (Theatre Aquarius), TREASURE ISLAND (Young Peoples' Theatre), DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS (The Georgian Theatre Festival) and performances at The Rhubarb Festival and at The Second City.

As an extension of the school, Dean also serves as an ongoing acting coach for over 500 working actors in the city of Toronto, as well as a pre-production and on set acting coach for television and feature films.  Recent ventures include:  BEAT THE WORLD, ICE CASTLES (SONY PICTURES), THE BEST YEARS (The N Network), PURE DESIGN (HGTV), MEDIUM RAW (BLACKWALK ENTERTAINMENT), CUPID'S CAFE (CBC), MR. FRIDAY (TEMPLE STREET PRODUCTIONS), BREAKING POINT, NATURAL WONDERS and 10 WAYS TO SAVE THE PLANET (DISCOVERY CHANNEL US/IMPOSSIBLE PICTURES UK), DA KINK IN MY HAIR (GLOBAL), the CBC pilot STUMP, HOW SHE MOVE (PARAMOUNT PICTURES), FUGITIVE PIECES (SERENDIPITY POINT FILMS),  DARCY'S WILD LIFE (NBC), SAINT RALPH (ALLIANCE/ATLANTIS/AMAZE FILM + TV), THE LIFE AND HARD TIMES OF GUY TERRIFICO (DARIUS FILMS) and Showtime's QUEER AS FOLK.   

In 2009 Dean continued his work as an actor in the world of arts and education as the Host of CBC'S TRIPLE SENSATION II + the spin-off series Great Performances created and produced by Garth Drabinsky.   2009 also marked the official launch of Dean's Film Production Company APPULSE FILMS.  Currently in production is the companies first feature VERONA, directed by Laurie Lynd (Breakfast with Scot, Murdoch Mysteries).

Click below to visit Dean's official website!