Perry Chafe Explained

Perry Chafe
Birth Name:Perry Lawrence Chafe
Birth Date:9 February 1969
Birth Place:Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Nationality:Canadian
Alma Mater:Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Notable Works:Republic of Doyle, Caught, Son of a Critch, Closer By Sea
Known For:Film and television producer, screenwriter, author, songwriter
Partner:Maureen Ennis

Perry Lawrence Chafe (born February 9, 1969) is a Canadian television writer, producer and bestselling author most noted as a creator of the television series Republic of Doyle.[1]

Early life

Perry Chafe was born and raised in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. He received a bachelor of arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1992.

Career

In 2009, Chafe co-founded Take the Shot Productions, a film and television-based production company. Chafe was the co-showrunner and head writer for the TV series Republic of Doyle, a show he created with writing partner Allan Hawco and Malcolm MacRury.[2]

Chafe was also an executive producer and writer for the Netflix and Discovery Canada series Frontier, starring Jason Momoa.[3] In addition, Chafe was an executive producer and writer for Caught, a CBC limited series based on Lisa Moore’s award-winning novel of the same name.[4]

In 2021, Chafe began working as a writer and producer on the CBC series Son of a Critch, based on the best-selling memoir from Mark Critch. The show stars Malcolm McDowell, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Claire Rankin and Mark Critch.[5]

Chafe is the partner of Maureen Ennis of the JUNO and SOCAN award winning musical group The Ennis Sisters,[6] with whom he has cowritten songs including "Shine Your Light" which was part of a campaign to promote mental health and wellness for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.[7] The duo was also commissioned to write the song "Dream On" for the internationally acclaimed Lady Cove Women's Choir in 2021, as well as the song "Forever Far From Home" for a special Come Home Year Remembrance Day ceremony in 2022.

In 2023, Chafe released his debut novel, Closer By Sea,[8] which was published by Scribner Canada and Simon & Schuster.[9] It became an instant national bestseller.[10]

On May 23, 2024, CBC announced a 10-episode order of Saint-Pierre, an hour-long procedural series that Chafe co-created[11] . It will be part of CBC’s 2025 winter lineup.  Chafe will serve as the show’s executive producer and senior writer.

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes
2010-2014 Republic of Doyle Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Writer
2016-2018 Frontier Executive Producer, Writer
2018 Caught Executive Producer, Writer
2022- Son of a Critch Executive Producer, Writer
2024Saint-PierreCo-Creator, Executive Producer, Writer

Awards

Award Year Category Film/TV Show Result Ref
Caught Nominated [12]
Canadian Screen Awards2023Cogeco Audience Choice AwardSon of A CritchNominated[13]
Canadian Screen Awards2024Best ComedySon of A CritchNominated[14]
Canadian Screen Awards2024Cogeco Audience Choice AwardSon of A CritchWinner[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Perry Chafe's debut novel blends storytelling skill with family history and fairy lore. July 14, 2023 . . Emily Donaldson . en-US.
  2. Etan Vlessing, "McGuinley takes lead in Doyle". Playback, July 8, 2009.
  3. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/republic-of-doyle-creators-to-film-new-show-on-avalon-western-newfoundland-1.3035393 "Republic of Doyle creators to film new show on Avalon, western Newfoundland"
  4. Web site: Caught: Allan Hawco's adaptation of Lisa Moore's novel was worth the wait . February 22, 2018 . TV, eh?.
  5. Web site: July 14, 2022 . Victoria. Ahearn . St. John's-set Son of a Critch starts rolling on season two . Playback.
  6. Tara Bradbury, "'Son of a Critch' screenwriter and novelist Perry Chafe answers 20 Questions". SaltWire Network, May 29, 2023.
  7. Web site: Cook . Alex . February 18, 2018 . Music Video: The Ennis Sisters Promote Mental Wellness With 'Shine Your Light' . The East . en-US.
  8. Web site: Perry Chafe . 2024-06-03 . en-US.
  9. Web site: 'Closer By Sea' is a mystery, a coming-of-age story and an elegy on grief set in a small Newfoundland island community on the brink of the cod collapse . Joan Sullivan . May 31, 2023 . . en.
  10. Book: Closer by Sea . 2023-05-23 . 978-1-9821-8525-1 . en.
  11. Web site: Smith . Charlie . 2024-05-24 . Allan Hawco and Joséphine Jobert star in CBC series set in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon . 2024-06-03 . Pancouver . en-US.
  12. Brent Furdyk, "The Winners: Canadian Screen Awards Presented For Creative Fiction Storytelling". ET Canada, March 27, 2019.
  13. Web site: Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award Trivia Day 2023 . 2024-06-02 . Academy.ca . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-03-06 . Son of a Critch . 2024-06-02 . Academy.ca . en-US.
  15. Web site: Posted . The Canadian Press . 2024-05-31 . Here are the winners in the top categories of this year's Canadian Screen Awards . 2024-06-02 . Winnipeg Free Press . en-US.