Nice Boy of the Week: Paul Gross

When I saw the screening of the Eastwick pilot at Comic Con, I knew we would be in for a treat. But when Canadian actor, Paul Gross, appeared on the screen as Darryl Van Horne, I knew I had found my new TV boyfriend. Then I got to talk with him in the press room and I immediately wrote in my notebook, in big, fat capitol letter, NICE BOY. It was kismet. He was funny, he was sweet, he was humble, he was gushing over his leading ladies from the show, he’s dark-haired and blue-eyed; I was enchanted.

Most people knew Paul from his role on Due South, as Constable Benton Fraser. In fact he won two Gemini Awards for Best Actor and one for his writing on the series. Paul has won numerous awards for his acting and writing skills, and his list of film and television credits is extensive. They include television movies such as Murder Most Likely, Getting Married in Buffalo Jump, Buried on Sunday, the miniseries Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City and Chasing Rainbows, and feature films, such as “Wilby Wonderful,” “Aspen Extreme,” “Cold Comfort,” “Paint Cans,” “Whale Music” and “Married to It.”

Paul is the honorary chair of the National Screen Institute and a spokesperson for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He recently received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

He’s charming, he’s handsome (did I mention his blue eyes?), he’s this week’s choice for our Nice Boys Wall of Fame.