Biography
Daniel James Bristol is an actor who has quickly made an esteemed name for himself in the Global Acting Industry at large. His many prestigious accolades includes the internationally coveted "Einstein" actor award: Also known as The Talent Greencard reserved for the top 1% of extraordinary actors worldwide. His film debut being as Samuel Wright in the legendary 3-time Academy Award-Winner Steven Spielberg's Hollywood film The Uninvited (2009) directed by Charles Guard & Thomas Guard with Oscar Nominee David Strathairn, 3-time Primetime Emmy Nominated Elizabeth Banks, and Emily Browning, as well as at the Academy Award-Qualifying and accredited CIFF in Telefilm Canada's film High End Dying (2023). His talent was also reaffirmed in New York by The Juilliard School's faculty. UBCP/ACTRA awarded Daniel in 2022 with a national Best Actor and Top Young Emerging Actor Selection. Previously, Daniel played the titular role of Captain Coquitlam (2019) in CBC's Pilot produced by 2-time Academy Award Nominee William Nicholson's production team, was nominated for Best Young Actor and won for Best Monologue at the most prestigious awards for young actors in Canada & Europe, The Joey Awards, for another standout leading performance in His First Time (2016), was featured in Zack Snyder's acclaimed blockbuster film Sucker Punch (2011) with Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, and again with Emily Browning, and played Doctor Reid in Leo Award-Winning Joyce Kline's film Cancelled Stamp (2022), which won the coveted Canadian Screen Award-Accredited VFF Audience Favourite Best Short Award as well as a Leo Award nomination. He also earned roles in Slap Shot 3: The Junior League (2008) directed by Richard Martin; Under the Apple Box (2012) directed by Ellie Fox, which received Honourable Mention for Best Feature at the New Jersey International Film Festival; and Flash and Dash (2009) directed by James Corrigall. In 2020, Daniel represented Canada Globally in the World Monologue Games out of 3000 actors from 85 countries and placed 2nd, while revered actress and sister to 7-time Oscar Nominee & 2-time Winner Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth (1998) director Shekhar Kapur, actress Sohaila Kapur, placed 3rd, wished Daniel an illustrious career, and introduced him to Shekhar: Vancouver Presents highlighted this immense achievement in the piece "Daniel Bristol versus the World". Emmy Award-Winning actor Kim Estes also selected Daniel as an Official 2022 Monologue Selection and to be featured in his prestigious Los Angeles Film Festival. Daniel has carved a shining path in Film and Theatre, having trained formally at the highly competitive and prestigious national Studio 58 3-year conservatory as an actor under the direction of Canada's Hall of Famer Kathryn Shaw, Daniel also made his mark onstage in his starring role in Canada's $2.5 Million production Incognito Mode produced by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's iMPACTS, and CAEA's The Birds and the Bees in his nationally sought-after lead role of Ben, which raised $106,265 for Children's Charity. Daniel is regularly invited to work with the elite Acting Masters of the world such as Hollywood's Academy Award acting coach Nadia Venesse who has worked with A-Lister's such as Cate Blanchett, Viola Davis, and Jessica Chastain, and vouched for Daniel's extraordinary ability, Lee Strasberg's son David Lee Strasberg, and former Executive Head of Television Casting at MGM and host committee member of the Academy Awards, Paul Weber. During his transition to America, Richard Feldman affirmed his talent and invited him to meet the Juilliard faculty, and Sandra Seacat's (Hollywood's A-List acting master) husband Thurn Hoffman, as well as Julia Garner's acting mentor Pamela Scott recognized Daniel for his extraordinary ability and were influential in his work.
Leo Award-Winning Casting Director Jacqui Kaese is quoted saying: "I met Daniel Bristol as a young boy when he started taking acting classes at Spotlight Academy and instantly saw his natural gift and an undeniable maturity and passion for performing."
In 2016, Daniel auditioned nationally for and was accepted into the top internationally recognized premiere acting training program in the country notable for its reputation and prestige which auditions hundreds of actors and only selects 16: Studio 58, which is Canada's 3-year conservatory known for its high intensity and challenging training under the direction of Kathryn Shaw (BC's Entertainment Hall of Fame recipient and named in BC's 100 Most Influential Women). Some of Studio 58's other most renowned alumni includes: Christopher Heyerdahl (Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)), Laurence Olivier Award-winner Jonathon Young, BAFTA Award-winner Jane Perry (Phantom Thread (2017) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson), Gemini Award-winner Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998)), Gemini Award-winner Robert Moloney (The Revenant (2015)), Gemini Award-winner Garry Chalk (The Killing (2011)), Daniel Doheny (Alex Strangelove (2018)). 2016 was a particularly competitive year as Daniel Bristol was chosen based on his extraordinary talent out of hundreds of other actor auditions from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Toronto. Studio 58 was founded in 1965 by Order of Canada Member Antony Holland, named by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, for founding Studio 58 "to cultivate the next generation of Canadian performers". Originally from England, Holland was one of the last surviving veterans of the desert war in Egypt during WWII where he was soon called upon to entertain troops throughout the Middle East. Holland's fascinating career includes a decade as vice-principal at the legendary Bristol Old Vic Theatre School - founded by Academy Award-Winner Sir Laurence Olivier in 1946. Holland was also the oldest working actor at 95. At Studio 58 Daniel Bristol performed onstage in 6 of their Mainstage Productions. One of them being the world premiere of the Carol Bolt Award-Winning play Mortified (2018) by Amy Rutherford directed by Siminovitch Prize winner (Canada's largest and most prestigious theatre award) Anita Rochon; and Cabaret (2019) directed by Motion 58 Entertainment's Josh Epstein which won 3 Ovation Awards and is the highest grossing show in all of Studio 58's history. Daniel's starring roles in Incognito Mode (2018) the $2.5 Million project co-produced by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's iMPACTS, and Inhale (2019) were met with especially critical acclaim. Stuart R. Poyntz, PhD, wrote "Daniel Bristol made an invaluably significant contribution in dismantling sexual violence and shedding light on these themes worldwide within Canada's groundbreaking production of Incognito Mode. Daniel is a powerful and compelling actor whose abilities will find reception on stage and screen. He has offered an outstanding service to Canada in sharing his heart with all of us". Mark Robins at Vancouver Presents said this in his review for Inhale: "This touching drama is all about pulling at the heartstrings as two sisters must decide the fate of their injured brother. With its surprising ending and genuine performances from its cast, this one will give you the feels." Upon graduation Artistic Director Kathryn Shaw wrote "Daniel has shown himself to be a dedicated, versatile, passionate actor and student of the craft. He has an extraordinary ability to act from the heart and can connect emotionally with ease. He is gifted in believing in the story as well as having the skill and technique to carry a leading performance. Daniel is also extremely talented in playing characters vastly different than himself. His impressive range was especially apparent in his final performance as the lead in the hit play Inhale. He played Alexander, a 24 year old that had survived a car crash which left him with a serious brain injury affecting him mentally and physically. At a young age Daniel has proven himself to be a creative force to be reckoned with and is deserving of all the success he has achieved in film and theatre. I look forward to watching his career grow and am sure his talent will be enjoyed and appreciated far into the future." Kerry Sandomirsky, UBCP/ACTRA Nominee for Best Actress, has worked alongside Christopher Nolan and teaches Film Acting at Studio 58, wrote to Daniel that "You set the bar for this medium. You are terrific" and that "I almost couldn't express how terrific you were for fear of freaking out the rest of the class. Authentic, unique, masterful demonstration of playing opposites, WOW"
While still in school, Daniel starred in a Pilot for CBC Digital Shorts in the titular role of Captain Coquitlam (2019) directed by Arno Hazebroek who Executive Produced the film Hope Gap (2019), which was directed by 2-time Oscar Nominee William Nicholson.
He graduated June of 2019 from Studio 58 and, in only a few months, was cast after auditioning nationally and contracted in the starring role of Ben as his professional theatre debut for which he found great critical and popular acclaim in the hit Canadian Actors' Equity Association (CAEA) production of The Birds and the Bees (2020), which auditioned all across the country. The play's director Ted Price was quoted in an article saying: "for our production we made the extra investment of hiring from all across Canada to put together the strongest cast we could find." Daniel acted opposite distinguished actress Frances Flanagan. Due to popular demand, the show's run was extended twice and raised over $106,265 for Children's Charity. The production was worth the buzz a reviewer wrote: "It's hard to believe the actors who took to the stage during the opening night of Miracle Theatre's production of The Birds and The Bees by Canadian playwright Mark Crawford came together just for the performance. They look like a traveling troupe who have known each other forever. They know the play and all its nuances like they know their own faces and each brings their own sass, humour and panache to their performances. The actors are incredible to watch. Their timing, the ebb and flow, the give and take, the dance that takes place between all the characters during this fast-paced farcical yet poignant comedy can leave the audience with their jaws dropping one second and laughing out loud while elbowing their neighbour as the audience shares the inside joke. Daniel Bristol plays Ben, a Masters student who comes to study Gail's bees, their declining numbers and the reasons behind it. Ben is a fresh-faced, rather naive young man whose priority is health and knowledge and when his very human feelings come to the forefront, things don't go as planned. Bristol is a big-eyed young man whose casting call was spot on. He certainly brings everything he has to the role, enthusiastically snotty-nosed, exposing himself literally and figuratively during his shining performance."
Soon afterwards in 2020, Vancouver Presents featured Daniel in an article titled "Daniel Bristol versus the world", which read "Not only is Vancouver actor Daniel Bristol one of only 17 finalists competing in the professional category at this year's World Monologue Games, he is also the sole Canadian. Organized by Australia's The Monologue Project, the World Monologue Games attracted over 3,000 actors from 85 countries. From a series of regional finals that began in late August, the field has been whittled down with competitors in six global categories. Bristol chose a scene from David-Matthew Barnes' Better Places to Go, a play in which ten people reveal secrets during a storm at a rundown truck stop diner in Nebraska." Daniel earned the prestigious honour of being the first Canadian to reach the Global Finals, proudly represented his country, came in 2nd place globally out of the 3000, and won Silver for Best Monologue out of the whole world. Revered actress Sohaila Kapur, youngest sister to Cate Blanchett's Oscar-Winning Elizabeth (1998) director Shekhar Kapur, earned 3rd out of the 3000, wished Daniel an illustrious career, and introduced him to Shekhar.
Also in 2020, Daniel played the role of Doctor Reid in Leo Award-Winner Joyce Kline's critically acclaimed film Cancelled Stamp (2022), which premiered at the Victoria Film Festival and won the coveted Canadian Screen Award-Accredited VFF Audience Favourite Best Short Award as well as a Leo Award nomination. Daniel was also invited to adjudicate and speak about his acting process at a prestigious Spotlight Academy panel.
In 2021, Daniel worked with Lee Strasberg's son David Lee Strasberg in Los Angeles as well as with HBO's Game of Thrones (2011) dialect coach Sally Hague in Staffordshire, England. He also made a Guest Appearance at The Second City Chicago.
In 2022, the Union of British Columbia Performers and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (UBCP/ACTRA), the national organization of professional performers working in Canada, partnered with almost every Film & TV Casting Director in Canada: Maureen Webb, Heike Brandstatter, Annalese Tilling, Kris Woznesensky, Jennifer Page, Corinne Clark, Michelle Allen, Candice Elzinga, Sean Cossey, Errin Lally, Jackie Lind, Tiffany Mak, Coreen Mayrs, Colleen Bolton, Kara Eide, J.J. Ogilvy, recognized and awarded Daniel Bristol as an Official Top Young Emerging Actor and Best Actor Selection after being vetted and judged by a panel of respected industry professionals. Daniel won the opportunity to meet with any Film & TV Casting Director of his choosing. Daniel spoke with the Hollywood North Magazine saying "It's people like The UBCP/ACTRA President, Ellie Harvie and Karla Laird the Director of Member Services, and Kurt Evans at Artist2Artist who are the people that are giving back so I'm really thankful that the Canadian Film/TV industry is so selfless in that way ... it meant so much to get that stamp of recognition from UBCP/ACTRA" Senior Editor, Nick Mangersky, wrote "Daniel is well on his way with casting. This is a good sign for such a talented actor". One of Daniel's renowned and celebrated actor adjudicators within the 2022 UBCP/ACTRA competition Omari Newton said Daniel's performance was "An excellent display of craft, vulnerability and authenticity. I find Daniel highly watchable, believable, and compelling. I have no real notes". Hollywood's Academy Award acting coach Nadia Venesse reaffirmed his extraordinary talent by vouching for his "unique talent, effortless vulnerability, and unmissable gift as an actor" by also saying "I have an expert eye for the magical spark within actors present in American cinema's most powerful performances. I have no doubt that he will continue to rise to the top of his field in Hollywood given the chance, and any elite agent and manager will and should seriously consider allowing his talent to continue to flourish. His marvellous potential within the finest of Hollywood is too great to pass on."
Also in 2022, Emmy Award-Winning actor Kim Estes and other industry professionals within Hollywood selected Daniel Bristol to be featured in their prestigious monologue showcase in Los Angeles, and a New York acting institution contracted Daniel to join a panel of American industry experts and expert judges in adjudicating and bringing Konstantin Stanislavski proficiency to low income and marginalized actors worldwide. It was their ultimate goal to "mend the socioeconomic education disparity in the world, bringing world-class expertise to marginalized communities in a new, creative, and innovative approach". The Artistic Director stated that "The correlation between accessible quality acting proficiency and the emotional, physical, and overall well-being of individuals especially in low-income, marginalized communities is very strong. It is our pleasure to say that the positive and cultural impact that acting panelist Daniel Bristol's unparalleled expertise will have on America, and the World, for this very reason, is immeasurable".
In 2023, Daniel made his acting debut at the Academy Award-Qualifying and accredited CIFF in Helen Liu's film High End Dying (2023), which was produced by Telefilm Canada and won the First Prize for Best Film at the international Vortex Film Festival. CIFF curated and screened High End Dying (2023) alongside top Canadian actor Mena Massoud's film The Sacrifice Game (2023) as both films dealt with themes of personal sacrifice. Daniel was also chosen as one of the select few invited to train with the creative advisor and acting mentor for the Academy Award-Winning Jane Campion film The Power of the Dog (2021) who works with the top actors & creatives in the world.
In 2024, Daniel was one of four top candidates called back by Richard Feldman in New York for Juilliard's prestigious acting program who discovered Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, and Adam Driver. Daniel Bristol won again UBCP/ACTRA's 2024 Best Actor Award in their national showcase for his portrayal of a soldier with PTSD that's grieving the loss of his comrade and was discovered by the Casting Director of the 3-time Academy Award-Winning film The Revenant (2015) where his special talent and rare ability was undeniably reaffirmed once again.
In 2025, Daniel Bristol was awarded the internationally coveted enigmatic and prestigious "Einstein" actor award: Also known as The Talent Greencard reserved for the top 1% of extraordinary actors worldwide by the American Government. Other past recipients have included Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, and Charlize Theron. During his transition to America, Richard Feldman from The Juilliard School reaffirmed his talent and Sandra Seacat's (Hollywood's A-List acting master) husband Thurn Hoffman, as well as Julia Garner's acting mentor Pamela Scott recognized Daniel for his extraordinary ability.
Daniel Bristol is represented by the historic The Characters Talent Agency, which represents the most high profile and celebrated Canadian actors internationally. Other members have included actors like the legendary Donald Sutherland.
