Richard Vincent "Rick" Mercer was born on October 17,1969 and is a Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and author.
33 Facts About Rick Mercer
2.
Rick Mercer is best known for his work on the CBC Television comedy shows This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Rick Mercer Report.
3.
Rick Mercer is the author of four books based on content from the shows and a memoir, Talking to Canadians, published on November 2,2021.
4.
Rick Mercer first came to national attention in 1990 when he created and presented his one-man stage show Show Me the Button, I'll Push It, or Charles Lynch Must Die at the National Arts Centre's Atelier in Ottawa.
5.
Rick Mercer hand delivered these to the troops in a December 2000 special.
6.
In November 2010, Rick Mercer contributed a rant he had previously recorded in 2007 on the subject of the bullying of gay and lesbian teens in high schools to Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project.
7.
One famous example saw Rick Mercer asking Americans' opinion on whether Canada should change its "20 Hour Clock" to the 24-hour one used by the United States.
8.
Rick Mercer received approval from citizens and from the Governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack.
9.
Rick Mercer successfully got Bush to answer questions about non-existent Canadian Prime Minister "Jean Poutine".
10.
Rick Mercer co-created the series Made in Canada, which ran for five seasons on CBC Television from 1998 to 2003.
11.
Also in 2003, Rick Mercer went to Afghanistan to visit the Canadian troops stationed there, resulting in the television special Christmas in Kabul.
12.
When Rick Mercer hosted a relief benefit concert for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, musical guests Barenaked Ladies appeared in a segment Rick Mercer shot backstage completely naked.
13.
Rick Mercer has hosted It Seems Like Yesterday, which examines pop-culture from the 1950s to the 1980s.
14.
Rick Mercer has appeared in a few films, including Secret Nation, Understanding Bliss and Bon Cop, Bad Cop.
15.
Rick Mercer has received more than 25 Gemini Awards for his television work.
16.
Rick Mercer has won the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award, presented to him at the 2003 Banff Television Festival.
17.
In 2004, Rick Mercer was presented with the National Arts Centre Award, a companion award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.
18.
Rick Mercer donated his $15,000 cash prize to the LSPU hall, the theatre in Newfoundland where Mercer performed his early work.
19.
Rick Mercer was awarded the 30th Annual Bob Edwards Award in Calgary.
20.
On June 30,2014, Rick Mercer was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, for "his ability to inspire and challenge Canadians through humour" and his work with charitable causes.
21.
Rick Mercer was formally invested into the Order in a ceremony at Rideau Hall on September 23,2015.
22.
In 2019, Rick Mercer received the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award as part of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.
23.
Rick Mercer's memoir Talking to Canadians was the winner of the 2022 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.
24.
Rick Mercer is co-chair, along with Belinda Stronach, in the Spread the Net campaign, partnered through UNICEF, which kicked off at Brock University on September 10,2008.
25.
In December 2004, Rick Mercer appeared on the commercials advertising the One-Tonne Challenge for the Government of Canada.
26.
Rick Mercer appeared as a model in a national ad for men's clothing store, Harry Rosen, wearing a Canali suit.
27.
In September 2005, Rick Mercer became the national spokesperson for the 2005 Walk For Life, a series of 132 fund-raising walks across Canada that raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS.
28.
Rick Mercer has narrated an animated science video on climate change for Science North in Sudbury.
29.
In November 2010, Rick Mercer joined the It Gets Better campaign, a series of videos that aim to help gay and lesbian youth overcome bullying.
30.
Since 2011, Rick Mercer has been honorary patron of Hope Air, a charity that provides free non-emergency medical flights for people in financial need.
31.
Rick Mercer was born in St John's, Newfoundland and raised in Middle Cove.
32.
Rick Mercer's mother, Patricia Cook, is a nurse and his father, Kenneth Mercer, is an executive in the fisheries ministry.
33.
Rick Mercer was a member of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets during his teen years.