Kevin Vidal is a Canadian actor, comedian and improviser known for his television roles in Sunnyside, Workin' Moms, and in the limited series Culprits, as well as for his contributions to Canada's improv scene through Second City in Toronto and Blind Tiger Comedy in Vancouver.
Early life
Kevin Vidal was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where he developed an interest in comedy and acting from a young age. While specific details regarding his early education and personal background are limited in public records, Vidal's career began taking shape when he joined Toronto's Second City, a premier venue for Canadian improv and comedy training.
Career
A graduate of the actor training program at the Toronto company of The Second City, he subsequently appeared in several shows for the company including We Can Be Heroes, The Second City Guide to the Symphony and the Canadian Comedy Award-winning Sixteen Scandals.
He is known for his starring role in the comedy television series Sunnyside, for which he and the other core cast collectively won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016.
He later joined the cast of the popular Canadian television show Workin' Moms, which further expanded his audience and solidified his presence in Canadian television.
He has also had roles in the television series Kim's Convenience, and Strays, the web series But I'm Chris Jericho!, Gary and His Demons and Soul Decision, the films The Parting Glass and The Bet, and on stage in a production of Come from Away.
Released in 2023, Vidal was cast in the limited Disney+ series Culprits, as Jules, the supportive fiancé of Joe Petrus (played by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), a former criminal attempting to lead a quiet suburban life with Jules and their two children. Vidal's character contributes to a nuanced portrayal of a queer, Black relationship on screen, which is integrated into the narrative without focusing solely on their sexuality. The relationship between Jules and Joe is depicted as integral to the series, adding emotional depth as Joe confronts his criminal past to protect his family.
In addition to acting, Vidal has an active improvisation career dating back to his time with Second City. After moving to Vancouver in 2020 he joined the faculty of Blind Tiger Comedy, a well-known comedy school co-founded by members of The Sunday Service and Hip.Bang!.
Vidal has taken an active role in Blind Tiger's mission to foster a diverse and inclusive comedy community, teaching improv and introducing an "Improv for ADHD" workshop, inspired by his own journey with ADHD. This program emphasizes active listening and collaboration without the pressure to perform, allowing neurodivergent students to benefit from improv in a supportive environment.
Personal life
Vidal is of Guyanese and Filipino descent, and is bisexual. He lives in Vancouver with his husband. His personal experiences, including his ADHD diagnosis during the pandemic, have influenced his teaching philosophy at Blind Tiger Comedy. Vidal continues to balance his acting career with his work in the Canadian improv community.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Odd Squad: The Movie | Weird Colin |
| 2018 | The Parting Glass | Phillipe |
| 2020 | The Bet | Marvin Smith |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sunnyside | Various | 13 episodes |
| 2016 | Kim's Convenience | Roger | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2023 | Workin' Moms | Mo Daniels | 25 episodes |
| 2020 | The Boys | Cyrus | 1 episode |
| 2021 | American Gods | Greeter | 1 episode |
| 2021–2022 | Strays | Liam | 20 episodes |
| 2023 | Culprits | Jules | 8 episodes |
Awards and honors
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Canadian Screen Award | Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble) | Sunnyside | Won | "[2]". | |
| 2019 | Canadian Screen Award | Best Web Series | Soul Decision | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | Leo | Best Performance in a Music, Comedy or Variety Program or Series | Strays (Episode: Puppy Love) | Nominated |
References
- ^ "How Kevin Vidal made it to centre stage in Come From Away" Now or Never, January 11, 2018.
- Glenn Sumi, "We Can Be Heroes". Now, September 3, 2013.
- Richard Ouzonian, "Second City meets the TSO: 'the funniest two hours I spent in a theatre this year'". Toronto Star, December 1, 2014.
- J. Kelly Nestruck, "Sixteen Scandals: Why are women sketch comedians now funnier than men?". The Globe and Mail, March 12, 2014.
- Julianna Cummins, "Room cleans up at final night of 2016 Screenies". Playback, March 13, 2016.
- Quimberly Anne, "Disney+ Depicts Black Queer Love Story in the 'Culprits' Series', Instinct, November 9, 2023
- ^ Sally Michael White, "Yes, And: 10 Years In, Blind Tiger Comedy School Is Still Serious About Getting Laughs", Vancouver Magazine, April 19, 2024
- Kevin Vidal, IMDb
- Jeremy Willard, "The symphony gets silly with Second City". Xtra!, December 15, 2014.
External links
- Kevin Vidal at IMDb
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- 21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people
- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- Bisexual comedians
- Black Canadian LGBTQ people
- Black Canadian male actors
- Canadian bisexual male actors
- Canadian LGBTQ comedians
- Canadian male comedians
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian male musical theatre actors
- Canadian male stage actors
- Canadian male television actors
- Canadian male voice actors
- Canadian Screen Award winning actors
- Canadian sketch comedians
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