Charlie Kerr

Charlie Kerr is a Canadian actor, musician and playwright. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia to Tim, an investments specialist, and Sylvia, a hotelier - Kerr comes from a multi-ethnic background that includes Cree, French, Hungarian, German, Swiss, and Spanish. He is known for his role as Jory in Lost Solace (2016), and as the Rebel Commander in An American Dream: The Education of William Bowman (2016). Kerr is also known as the lead singer for the alternative rock band Hotel Mira, previously known between 2010 and 2017 as JPNSGRLS. He went to secondary school at Point Grey Secondary in Vancouver. As a child, he was always attracted to film - especially the original Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) films, which he says he has seen over 300 times each. He next found inspiration in the Mr. Pink character played by Steve Buscemi in Reservoir Dogs (1992) - he could see himself doing what that character did. Kerr credits seeing the film The Departed (2006) in his teens as a life-changing experience that led him to acting - to the point that he saw the film at least 5 times at the time, and wanted to be Leonardo DiCaprio so badly that he walked around in a Red Sox hat, speaking in a Boston accent for at least a couple of months. He went on to train in theatre with both independent teachers such as Lori Triolo, and with well-known theatre teachers and programs such as Lola Cohen and Ted Zurkowski at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City, and the Acting for Stage and Screen program at Capilano College in Vancouver - as well as with John Cassini and Kate Twa at the Railtown Actor's Studio in Vancouver. Kerr's first role in acting school was as the character of Bobby in the David Mamet play American Buffalo. Kerr is also the co-founder - along with Bryce Hodgson, Libby Osler and Bri Proke - of the Blood Pact Theatre Company, which mounted its first major production, 'Kill Your Parents in Viking, Alberta' at The Storefront Theatre in Toronto in 2016, to critical acclaim. This was followed in 2018 by 'After Wrestling' at the Factory Theatre, also in Toronto, which he once again co-wrote with Hodgson and played one of the leads. He started performing as a musician early, with his first club gig being in a Beatles cover band at the age of 11. Prior to becoming Hotel Mira, JPNSGRLS released three albums and toured the world. Kerr also has a solo music project known as Matt and Sam's Brother. He has been recognized as a 'Star To Watch' for 2016 by the Whistler Film Festival.