Dave Broadfoot: Funny you should say that

Dave Broadfoot is a Canadian comedian from North Vancouver. He served in the merchant navy from 1943-1947.

Broadfoot gained experience in community theatre and eventually began gravitating towards comedy. He moved to Toronto in 1952 on the day after CBC Television began broadcasting. Within weeks of his arrival he made his television debut on the variety show The Big Revue. He spent 10 years as a writer and performer in the stage revue Spring Thaw.

In 1955, Broadfoot made a breakthrough appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in the U.S. In those days, appearing on the show was considered the final step in securing ones status as a great entertainer in North America.

Back in Canada, Broadfoot continued to build his career as an internationally recognized humorist, writer, performer, director and producer. At CBC, he appeared on Wayne & Shuster and children's programming. In the 1960s, he performed on CBC Radio's Montreal-based comedy show Funny You Should Say That and CBC Television's Comedy Cafe. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Farce in 1973. He stuck with the radio version of the show until 1993. He continued to appear as a guest star on the show when it moved to television. He has since made three television specials featuring his comedy.

Broadfoot has received numerous awards, including ACTRA and Juno awards and a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He is an officer of the Order of Canada and an honorary sergeant major of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

After touring around the world - including on makeshift stages at Canadian military establishments - and being regularly featured at galas in Canada for visiting heads of state, Broadfoot retired in 2005.

Posted on Jul 4, 2011 6:00:00 AM