Biography

Charlie Rhindress (born May 9, 1966) is an actor, writer, director and producer living in his hometown of Amherst, Nova Scotia. He was educated at Mount Allison University and is a co-founder and former Artistic Director of Live Bait Theatre, based in Sackville, New Brunswick. To date Rhindress has had eighteen of his plays produced, including The Maritime Way of Life, which was nominated for a Canadian Comedy award as best new play, and Flying On Her Own, based on the life of the late Canadian singer/songwriter, Rita MacNeil. The latter was published by Playwrights Canada Press in 2008. Three of Rhindress's plays have been produced at Ship's Company Theatre in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia: Ivor Johnson's Neighbours (2009), The Maritime Way of Life (2012) and Making Contact (2013). Charlie has also written or co-written more than 30 dinner theatre scripts. The Canadian Encyclopedia says that Rhindress's work "suggests that New Brunswick is fertile ground for popular comedy. Of particular note is Rhindress's The Maritime Way of Life (1999), a dark satire on traditional East Coast lifestyles and personalities. Despite its vicious sarcasm, extensive cross-dressing, and absurd humour, The Maritime Way of Life is very popular with Atlantic audiences." His first book, I'm Not What I Seem - The Many Stories of Rita MacNeil's Life, was published by Formac Publishing in 2016. It was a bestseller in the Maritimes and was short listed for the Best First Book Award from the Atlantic Books Awards. His second book, Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Myth and the Man, was released in September of 2019 and has also appeared on multiple bestseller lists. Rhindress has acted in over fifty productions at theatres across Canada. His film and television credits include Red Rover, Trailer Park Boys, Haven, Mr. D, Chapelwaite, and Moonshine. He also starred in a very popular television commercial for Pro-Line which aired for over two years.