Gerry Dee
A former phys-ed teacher turned comic, he mined the absurdities of the classroom for a hit sitcom that defined Canadian comedy for a decade.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Canadian actor and stand-up comedian·Birthday: December 31·Generation X
Biography
Gerry Dee's path to comedy was anything but a straight shot. He spent years as a physical education teacher in Toronto, a day job that became the unexpected motherlode for his entire career. His observational stand-up, honed at night, zeroed in on the hilarious frustrations of teaching and everyday life with a dry, everyman wit. His big break came with a third-place finish on 'Last Comic Standing,' but his true legacy was built on CBC's 'Mr. D,' a sitcom he created, wrote, and starred in for eight seasons. The show, loosely based on his teaching misadventures, became a staple of Canadian television. Dee later stepped into the iconic role of host for 'Family Feud Canada,' proving his relatable charm could helm a national institution.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gerry was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gerry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Gerry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created, wrote, and starred in the long-running CBC sitcom 'Mr. D,' which aired for eight seasons from 2012 to 2018.
- Placed third in the fifth season of the NBC reality competition 'Last Comic Standing' in 2007.
- Became the host of 'Family Feud Canada' in 2019, reviving the classic game show for a new generation.
- Won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program for 'The Gerry Dee Show' in 2014.
Did You Know?
He was a nationally ranked junior golfer in Canada before becoming a comedian.
He worked as a physical education teacher for seven years at North Toronto Christian School.
He released a comedy special titled 'Gerry Dee: I'm a Teacher' based on his classroom experiences.
He is a frequent guest and contributor to TSN's 'The Reporters' sports panel show.
“I was a terrible teacher. I'm a much better comedian.”
