# Yannick Bisson
**Yannick Bisson** (born 1969 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian actor, director, and producer best known for playing Detective William Murdoch on the long-running period mystery series *Murdoch Mysteries*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/) He has worked in television and film since childhood, beginning with the CBC television movie *Hockey Night* in 1984, and his other roles include FBI Agent Jack Hudson on *[Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye](https://www.edgepedia.org/sue-thomas-f-b-eye)* and Joey Barrett on *High Tide*.[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969, Montreal, Quebec, Canada[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/) |
| Signature role | Detective William Murdoch on *Murdoch Mysteries* (2008–present); the show is sold into 110 countries[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson) |
| First break | Lead in the CBC television movie *Hockey Night* (1984)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/yannick-bisson/) |
| Awards | 2015 Canadian Screen Award for Best Host (*The Adventures of Napkin Man*); 2016 CSA Fan Choice Award; 2017 ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence[4](https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yannick-bisson) • [5](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/yannick-bisson-named-actra-torontos-2017-award-of-excellence-recipient-604041106.html) |
| Directing | Five episodes of *Murdoch Mysteries*; feature directorial debut with *The 12 Treats of Christmas* (2021)[6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson) |
| Family | Married Chantal Craig since May 26, 1990; three daughters, Brianna, Dominique, and Mikaela[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/) |
## Early life and start in acting
Bisson was born in Montreal to French-Canadian parents; his father worked in bridge construction, and the family moved frequently before settling in Toronto.[7](https://pourparlerprofession.oeeo.ca/publications/professionally_speaking/march_2017/ENG_PS01_2017_AODA_FINAL.pdf) • [7a](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/yannick-bisson/13525/) He began auditioning in Toronto at age 13 and made his professional debut in the CBC television movie *Hockey Night* (1984), starring alongside [Megan Follows](https://www.edgepedia.org/megan-follows) and [Rick Moranis](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-moranis).[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson) • [7a](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/yannick-bisson/13525/) The movie was followed by his first feature-film lead, *Toby McTeague*.[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson)
Through the late 1980s and 1990s he worked almost exclusively in Canada. His first series was *Learning the Ropes* (CTV, 1988–89), and in 1995 he starred in the TV movie *Young at Heart* opposite Academy Award winner [Olympia Dukakis](https://www.edgepedia.org/olympia-dukakis); the film also featured [Frank Sinatra](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-sinatra)'s final screen appearance.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/yannick-bisson/) He spent a year in New Zealand shooting the first season of the adventure series *High Tide*, in which he played Joey Barrett opposite [Rick Springfield](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-springfield), and several more years in the United States for its second and third seasons.[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson) Back in Canada, he took the lead role of Richmond Hobson in the CBC series *Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy* and played attorney Brian Tedrow in Showtime's *Soul Food*.[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson)
## Murdoch Mysteries
By his mid-30s, married with three young daughters, Bisson was seriously considering leaving acting for house restoration and flipping. He instead accepted the lead role of Detective William Murdoch in the whodunit series *Murdoch Mysteries*, which debuted in Canada in 2008, taking over the character from [Peter Outerbridge](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-outerbridge), who had played Murdoch in the original films.[8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/national-treasure) • [6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson) Bisson recalled in 2018 that he did not expect more than two or three years from a Victorian-era show filmed in post-SARS Canada, where period dramas were then unknown.[8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/national-treasure)
The series, based on Maureen Jennings's novels, follows Murdoch, a police detective in 1890s Toronto who uses improvised forensic techniques to solve crimes.[7a](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/yannick-bisson/13525/) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/yannick-bisson/) Citytv dropped the series after five seasons; CBC picked it up, and the show became a CBC staple.[7a](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/yannick-bisson/13525/) ACTRA Toronto reported at the show's tenth season that it drew about 1.4 million Canadian viewers per episode and was sold into 110 countries.[5](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/yannick-bisson-named-actra-torontos-2017-award-of-excellence-recipient-604041106.html) Bisson has appeared in every episode, and by 2025 the series was shooting its nineteenth season.[6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson) • [4](https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yannick-bisson) He also serves as an executive producer on the series and related projects including *Macy Murdoch* and the podcast *The Secret Diaries of Detective Murdoch*.[6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson)
## Other roles
Between Murdoch seasons, Bisson has taken on film and television work that contrasts with the detective role. He had a supporting role in *Casino Jack* (2010), starring [Kevin Spacey](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-spacey), which premiered at the 2010 [Toronto International Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-international-film-festival), and later appeared in *Year by the Sea* (2016) with [Karen Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/karen-allen).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/yannick-bisson/) • [4](https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yannick-bisson) In the horror film *Anything for Jackson* (2020) he played Rory, a role that remains his highest-rated film credit on aggregate-rating compilations.[9](https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/person/yannick-bisson)
On television he played Jon in four *Roxy Hunter* family movies and Martin Bartell in several *Aurora Teagarden* mystery movies opposite [Candace Cameron Bure](https://www.edgepedia.org/candace-cameron-bure), leaving that series in 2018 when scheduling with *Murdoch Mysteries* became untenable; [Niall Matter](https://www.edgepedia.org/niall-matter) replaced his character.[7a](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/yannick-bisson/13525/) • [6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson) He also hosted the CBC preschool series *The Adventures of Napkin Man*, playing a teacher.[7](https://pourparlerprofession.oeeo.ca/publications/professionally_speaking/march_2017/ENG_PS01_2017_AODA_FINAL.pdf)
## Directing and producing
Bisson has directed five episodes of *Murdoch Mysteries*, including "Buffalo Shuffle," "Murdoch at the Opera," "Murdoch and the Cloud of Doom," "Murdoch of the Living Dead," and "Glory Days."[6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson) • [2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson) His first feature film as director was *The 12 Treats of Christmas* (2021), filmed in Hamilton and featuring [Colin Mochrie](https://www.edgepedia.org/colin-mochrie); he followed it with the Lifetime movie *Baking All the Way* (2022), in which he also acted.[6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/yannick-bisson/)
## Awards
Bisson won the 2015 Canadian Screen Award for Best Host in a Pre-School, Children's or Youth Program or Series for *The Adventures of Napkin Man*, and the inaugural CSA Fan Choice Award in 2016.[4](https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yannick-bisson) In 2017 ACTRA Toronto presented him its Award of Excellence for an exceptional body of work and advocacy on behalf of performers.[5](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/yannick-bisson-named-actra-torontos-2017-award-of-excellence-recipient-604041106.html) He has since received Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series for *Murdoch Mysteries* in 2019 and 2022, and in 2018 he shared the Golden Screen Award for TV Drama, given to the series' production team.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/awards/)
## Personal life and philanthropy
Bisson married Chantal (Shantelle) Craig on May 26, 1990; sources spell her first name differently, and the [National Arts Centre](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-arts-centre) biography describes her as an author and podcaster.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/) • [4](https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yannick-bisson) They have three daughters, all of whom have appeared in *Murdoch Mysteries* episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/) He and his wife volunteer with and support Sheena's Place, a support center for people affected by eating disorders, Camp Ooch, a camp for children with cancer, Childhood Cancer Canada, and Boost for Kids; the couple received the Canadian Changemaker Award in 2021 for this philanthropic work.[2](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson) • [6](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson)
## References
1. [Yannick Bisson, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/)
2. [Yannick Bisson cast bio, Hallmark Channel](https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/murdoch-mysteries/cast/yannick-bisson)
3. [Yannick Bisson, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/yannick-bisson/)
4. [Yannick Bisson biography, National Arts Centre](https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yannick-bisson)
5. [Yannick Bisson Named ACTRA Toronto's 2017 Award of Excellence Recipient, CNW/ACTRA](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/yannick-bisson-named-actra-torontos-2017-award-of-excellence-recipient-604041106.html)
6. [Yannick Bisson, Murdoch Mysteries Wiki](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Yannick_Bisson)
7. [Final Exam: Yannick Bisson, Professionally Speaking (Ontario College of Teachers), March 2017](https://pourparlerprofession.oeeo.ca/publications/professionally_speaking/march_2017/ENG_PS01_2017_AODA_FINAL.pdf)
8. [National Treasure: Yannick Bisson, Television Academy, In The Mix, May 7, 2018](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/national-treasure)
9. [Yannick Bisson: Movies & Box Office, What's After the Movie](https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/person/yannick-bisson)
10. [Yannick Bisson Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084370/awards/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Canadian actors › Surnames A to Co*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license