Dan Levy (Canadian actor)
He co-created a beloved sitcom that became a cultural touchstone, using humor and heart to champion LGBTQ+ representation and win an Emmy sweep.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Canadian actor and filmmaker·Birthday: August 9·Millennials
Biography
Dan Levy began his career in the glossy world of MTV Canada, but his true impact was forged in collaboration with his father. Together, they conceived Schitt's Creek, a sitcom that started as a gentle fish-out-of-water comedy and evolved into a profound statement on love, acceptance, and family. Levy was its multifaceted engine: co-creator, writer, producer, director, and star, playing the vain yet vulnerable David Rose. His vision for the show was specific and generous, crafting a world where homophobia simply didn't exist, allowing David's pansexuality and his relationship with Patrick to be celebrated without trauma. This deliberate optimism resonated globally, especially as the show found its audience on Netflix. In its final season, Levy engineered a historic sweep of all seven major comedy categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards, a first for any show. He has since pivoted to film, writing and directing the warm-hearted dramedy 'Good Grief,' proving his storytelling voice extends far beyond the town of Schitt's Creek.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Dan was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Dan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created, co-starred in, and served as showrunner for the CBC/Netflix series Schitt's Creek, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2020.
- Personally won four Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020 for acting, writing, directing, and producing Schitt's Creek.
- Made his feature film writing and directing debut with the 2023 Netflix film 'Good Grief,' which he also starred in and produced.
Did You Know?
He initially pitched the concept for Schitt's Creek to his father, Eugene Levy, over lunch as a potential TV vehicle for them both.
He is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has worked with organizations like The Trevor Project.
He hosted the Canadian edition of 'The Great Canadian Baking Show' for its first two seasons.
“The best and worst thing that ever happened to me was Schitt's Creek.”
