John Hemphill

Comedian John Hemphill spent decades working in the shadows of comedy legends before gaining notice with his role as Bob Currie in "Schitt's Creek" (CBC, 2015-). A native of Canada, he rose through the ranks of Toronto's famed Second City, becoming a mainstay throughout the 1980s alongside of Mike Myers. He began appearing on "SCTV Network" (NBC/CBC, 1981-83), and then worked as a writer for "SCTV Channel" (Superchannel/Cinemax, 1983-84). The work brought him into contact with some of the biggest stars of Second City, including John Candy, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, and Eugene Levy. Hemphill's most notable on-screen contribution was Happy Marsden, the host of a children's show that broadcasts from a bar. He continued adding small roles throughout the '80s, including appearing with O'Hara in fellow "SCTV" alum Joe Flaherty's short-lived series "Really Weird Tales" (HBO, 1986). He ended up partnering again with Flaherty for the sitcom "Maniac Mansion" (Family Channel, 1990-93), loosely based on the popular '80s video game, both as a writer and as a cast member, playing Harry the Fly. Continuing the trend of working with Second City luminaries, he was part of the cast for Candy's directorial debut "Hostage For a Day" (1994). With Levy, he co-wrote the script of the Western comedy "Sodbusters" (Showtime, 1994), starring Kris Kristofferson. Apart from the "SCTV" crew, Hemphill provided voices for the the oddball animated series "RoboRoach" (Teletoon, 2002-04). He also continued making periodic appearance on television, guesting on Canadian sitcoms "The Jane Show" (Global, 2006-07) and "Little Mosque on the Prairie" (CBC, 2007-12). Another partnership with Second City alums brought the comedian his most recognizable role. He portrayed the recurring character of Bob Currie the owner of Bob's Garage on "Schitt's Creek," Levy's hit comedy which also co-starred O'Hara. The role earned Hemphill a Canadian Screen Awards nomination in 2017.