David Cubitt

David Cubitt (born 18 March 1965) is an English-born Canadian actor renowned for his extensive work in television, including lead and recurring roles in series such as Traders, Medium, and Virgin River.^[1][2] Born in Ilford, Essex, England, to a Dutch mother and a British father, Cubitt relocated with his family to Vancouver, British Columbia, at the age of six months, where he was raised and later pursued acting studies at Studio 58 theatre school.^[3][2] His professional career began in 1987 with a guest appearance on the American series 21 Jump Street, followed by early film roles in productions like K2 (1991) and Alive (1993), which helped establish his presence in both Canadian and international projects.^[3][4] Cubitt achieved breakthrough recognition in the mid-1990s with his portrayal of ambitious stockbroker Jack Larkin in the Canadian financial drama Traders (1996–2000), a role that earned him the 1997 Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.^[2] He transitioned to American television with recurring appearances on shows including Lonesome Dove: The Series and a guest role in The X-Files in the 1990s, and later secured a prominent role as FBI agent Detective Lee Scanlon in the supernatural procedural Medium (2005–2009), appearing in 121 episodes alongside Patricia Arquette.^[3][4] His film credits include supporting parts in Ali (2001), where he played journalist Robert Lipsyte, and more recently The Wall Street Boy (2023) as Colin Bentley.^[3][4][5] He also had television roles in Bates Motel (2017), Ray Donovan (2018), and Travelers (2018). In recent years, Cubitt has continued to build his profile with villainous turns, notably as drug lord Calvin Radcliff in Netflix's Virgin River (2019–2023), appearing in 16 episodes before the character was recast in season 6 due to reported scheduling conflicts.^[4][6] Other contemporary roles encompass Ted Pownall in Siren (2018–2020), John Driscoll in Van Helsing (2016–2021), appearances in Altered Carbon (2020) and The Good Doctor (2020), and more recently Superintendent Eli Bolton in Allegiance (2024) and a role in Family Law (2025).^[7][8] His accolades also include a 2017 Leo Award for Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama for the short film Black Chicks, alongside nominations for a 1998 Gemini Award and a 2001 Genie Award for leading roles.^[2]

Early life

Birth and family background

David Cubitt was born on March 18, 1965, in Ilford, Essex, England.^[7] He is the son of a Dutch mother and an English father.^[9] When Cubitt was six months old, his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.^[10] He spent the majority of his childhood in Vancouver.^[11]

Education and early interests

Cubitt pursued studies in international relations at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, where he initially focused on academic endeavors before discovering a passion for the performing arts.^[11] While attending UBC, Cubitt began exploring acting through workshops and informal training with local performers, eventually realizing the need for dedicated study in the field. He transitioned to full-time acting education by enrolling in the professional theatre program at Studio 58, a renowned training school affiliated with Langara College in Vancouver, which provided his foundational skills in the craft.^[12][2] Throughout his university years, Cubitt balanced his pursuits with avocational interests in soccer, tennis, and squash, using these sports as physical and mental outlets to complement his rigorous academic and emerging artistic commitments.^[11]

Acting career

Beginnings and breakthrough

After attending the University of British Columbia, David Cubitt pursued formal acting training at Studio 58, a professional theatre program at Langara College in Vancouver, before committing fully to an acting career.^[12] Despite facing early setbacks, including being expelled from the program, Cubitt quickly secured professional opportunities that marked his entry into the industry.^[13] Cubitt's television career began in 1987 with a guest appearance on 21 Jump Street, followed by a recurring lead role as photojournalist Bruce Foreman on the Canadian newsroom drama E.N.G. from 1993 to 1994, appearing in 18 episodes.^[9] These roles honed his skills in ensemble-driven storytelling and built his reputation in Canadian television. His film debut came in 1991 with the role of Peter in K2, a survival drama directed by Franc Roddam and starring Michael Biehn.^[14] He followed with the role of Adolfo "Fito" Strauch in Alive (1993), a survival drama directed by Frank Marshall and based on the 1972 Andes flight disaster, co-starring Ethan Hawke as Nando Parrado.^[15] The film, which depicted the harrowing true story of Uruguayan rugby players stranded in the mountains, provided Cubitt with significant exposure and helped launch his career in feature films.^[9] Cubitt's breakthrough arrived with the lead role of ambitious investment banker Jack Larkin on the financial drama series Traders, which aired on CBC from 1996 to 2000 and spanned four seasons.^[16] Portraying a street-smart junior partner navigating high-stakes deals at a fictional Toronto investment firm, the series showcased Cubitt's ability to blend intensity and charisma, establishing him as a prominent figure in Canadian primetime television.^[17]

Television roles

Cubitt gained prominence in television through his portrayal of Detective Sam Gale in the short-lived CBS series Robbery Homicide Division (2002), where he played a dedicated Los Angeles Police Department detective navigating high-stakes robbery and homicide investigations alongside his partner. The series, created by Barry Schindel, featured Cubitt in all 13 episodes, showcasing his ability to embody a stoic yet empathetic law enforcement officer in a gritty procedural format. Cubitt's most extended television engagement was as Detective Lee Scanlon in the NBC/CBS supernatural drama Medium (2005–2011), where he appeared in 121 episodes across all seven seasons, evolving from a recurring character in season 1 to a series regular thereafter. As the tough, no-nonsense Phoenix police detective, Scanlon served as both a professional ally and romantic interest to the protagonist Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette), assisting in solving crimes through her psychic visions while grappling with personal losses, including the murder of his family members that intertwined with the show's overarching mysteries. His character's arc emphasized themes of grief, redemption, and partnership, contributing significantly to the series' blend of procedural drama and supernatural intrigue. In a guest capacity, Cubitt portrayed Robert, the father of Prince Charming and grandfather of Emma Swan, in the fantasy series Once Upon a Time (2014), appearing in the season 6 episode "Murder Most Foul." This flashback role delved into the Enchanted Forest's lore, exploring family secrets and paternal sacrifice as Robert confronted threats to his son's future, adding depth to the show's expansive mythology of fairy-tale characters. More recently, Cubitt took on the recurring antagonist role of Calvin in Netflix's Virgin River from 2021 to 2023 (seasons 3–5), debuting in season 3 as a ruthless marijuana drug lord whose operations threaten the idyllic small-town community. Portrayed as a charismatic yet menacing figure with a complex backstory involving betrayal and power struggles, Calvin's arc spans multiple seasons, driving conflicts related to crime, loyalty, and redemption among the ensemble cast, and solidifying Cubitt's reputation for intense villainous turns in serialized dramas. The role was recast with Josh Blacker in season 6 (2024) due to scheduling conflicts.^[18][19] In 2024, Cubitt starred as Superintendent Eli Bolton in the Canadian police drama Allegiance, appearing in 10 episodes as a no-nonsense cop leading a diverse team. He has continued with guest roles, including Ozzie in Fire Country (2025) and a lawyer in Family Law (2025).

Film roles

Cubitt's early film work included a supporting role as David, a gay waiter navigating complex urban relationships, in the 1993 indie drama Love and Human Remains, directed by Denys Arcand and adapted from Brad Fraser's play about modern love and sexuality in Toronto.^[20] In Michael Mann's biographical epic Ali (2001), Cubitt took on the supporting role of Robert Lipsyte, a journalist covering Muhammad Ali's rise, contributing to the film's depiction of the boxer's personal and political battles amid a star-studded cast led by Will Smith.^[21] Later, Cubitt appeared as Coach Winters in Roland Emmerich's Stonewall (2015), a dramatization of the 1969 riots that sparked the gay rights movement, portraying a stern paternal figure whose rejection of his son underscores themes of homophobia and awakening.^[22] Cubitt earned significant recognition for his lead performance in the 2017 short film Black Chicks, written and directed by Neil LaBute, where he played a white man confronting racial biases during an awkward office party invitation from his Black colleague. The intense, dialogue-driven piece addressed stereotypes and interpersonal tension, winning Cubitt the 2017 Leo Award for Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama.^[23][24]

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

David Cubitt was previously married to Julia Molnar, which resulted in the birth of his daughter, Arabella Cubitt, in 2003.^[25] Details regarding this marriage or separation have not been publicly disclosed, reflecting Cubitt's preference for privacy in his personal matters.^[13] In January 2022, Cubitt married photographer and aspiring actress Karolina Turek.^[13] The couple has publicly celebrated their anniversaries by sharing photos that highlight their partnership.^[13]

Family and hobbies

David Cubitt is the father of one daughter, Arabella Cubitt, born in 2003 from his previous marriage to Julia Molnar.^[13][25] He has publicly shared moments with Arabella, such as attending a cancer care gala together in Vancouver in 2017.^[25] Cubitt maintains a residence in Vancouver, British Columbia, where his family is based, enabling him to balance professional commitments in television and film with family responsibilities.^[26][7] In his leisure time, Cubitt pursues sports for fitness and relaxation, including regular participation in soccer, tennis, and squash.^[11][27]

Filmography

Film

David Cubitt has appeared in numerous feature films and short films throughout his career. Below is a chronological list of his cinematic credits, including character names where applicable.^[7]

• K2 (1991) as Jack^[7]
• Run (1991) as Patrick^[7]
• Alive (1993) as Fito Strauch^[7]
• Love and Human Remains (1993) as Paul^[7]
• The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995) as Homer^[7]
• Toe Tags (1996, short)^[7]
• The Sweet Hereafter (1997) as Billy Ansel^[7]
• Ali (2001) as Robert Lipsyte^[7]
• No Clue (2013) as Horn^[7]
• Seventh Son (2014) as Radu^[7]
• Bad City (2014) as Dominic Kincaid^[7]
• The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship (2015) as Richard Avery^[7]
• Rehearsal (2015, short) as Clive^[7]
• Stonewall (2015) as Coach Winters^[7]
• Shut In (2016) as Doug^[7]
• Black Chicks (2016, short)^[7]
• Juggernaut (2017) as Dean Gamble^[7]
• American Woman (2019) as Agent John Spivey^[7]
• The Wall Street Boy (2023) as Colin Bentley^[7]
• Field Sketches (2025) as Bruce^[7]

Television

David Cubitt began his television career in the late 1980s and has since amassed a diverse portfolio of roles in both series and miniseries, often portraying law enforcement officers, detectives, and complex antagonists.^[28][7]

Awards and nominations

Gemini Awards

The Gemini Awards, established in 1986 by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, served as the premier recognition for excellence in Canadian television programming until their integration into the broader Canadian Screen Awards in 2013.^[29] David Cubitt earned honors from the Geminis for his performance as the ambitious investment banker Jack Larkin in the financial drama series Traders. In 1997, at the 12th Gemini Awards, he won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, celebrated for his nuanced portrayal of Larkin's ethical dilemmas in the high-stakes world of Bay Street finance.^[30] The following year, at the 13th Gemini Awards, Cubitt received a nomination in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series category for the Traders episode "Major Crime," which highlighted his character's involvement in a corporate scandal investigation.^[31] He later received another nomination at the 20th Gemini Awards in 2005 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for the episode "The Miracle Worker" of The Eleventh Hour.^[32] These accolades underscored Cubitt's impact in Canadian television during the Gemini era.

Other recognitions

In 2017, Cubitt received the Leo Award for Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama for his role in the short film Black Chicks, directed by Neil LaBute, recognizing his portrayal of a character navigating racial tensions in a workplace setting.^[32] Earlier in his career, he earned a nomination for the Genie Award in 2001 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his work in the film The Perfect Son, where he played the troubled brother Theo Taylor, who reunites with his successful older brother and grapples with the latter's hidden life as a gay man with AIDS.^[33] Beyond formal accolades, Cubitt's career advanced through a development deal with CBS in the early 2000s, which facilitated his transition to U.S. television and led to prominent roles in series like Medium.