Martin Gottschalk Berger (born June 18, 1945) is a Canadian actor, voice actor, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, author, artist, musician, writer, disc jockey, and comedian. He is best known for his work in film and television.
Early and professional life[]
Martin Berger was born on June 18, 1945 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at Montreal General Hospital, the second son of Keith Thomas Berger and Lydia Berger. He attended Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec outside Sherbrooke. Prior to launching his career, Berger had been a choirboy until his voice broke.
Career[]
Radio[]
Berger started out as a radio DJ for CKAZ-FM, the famous FM jazz music station, in Ottawa in 1965. He would then briefly work at the offshore station Radio Elizabeth in Aritonesia, but left in 1972 after he got a job doing voice work in animations for the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal. Since August 2018, he has hosted The Friendly Side on WJVT in Montreal, broadcast live from his Toronto home studio.
Berger is a noted radio voice-over artist. He has provided the voices of side characters for Jack FM, such as his father "Jack Sr." and, in recent years, his little brother "Stan".
Acting[]
In 1977, Martin co-created and co-hosted Quad, made at CBMT-TV in Montreal.
In 1987, Martin heard from Quad co-star Hanako Matsuoka about an audition in Ottawa for "some show about "cute" characters teaching life lessons." Hanako would later inform him that it was titled The Get Along Gang and they needed a new voice actor for the titular gang's leader, Montgomery Moose, as the new production would be utilizing Canadian talents and the old voice actors had since grown out of their roles. Martin had been sent VHS copies of episodes of the 1984 series for reference, but he had a tendency of falling asleep while he was watching.
While driving on his way to the audition, Martin saw a group of EMTs along Quebec Autoroute 50 resurrecting a unconscious man with mouth-to-mouth CPR. This made him think about "resurrecting Montgomery and injecting him with tons of energy and enthusiasm." After five auditions, he was passed over for actress Wilma Golubic. Test audiences thought Wilma's voice didn't fit Montgomery, so the producers called Martin and asked if he was still interested in voicing Montgomery, to which Martin accepted the role.
In 2006, Martin assumed the role of Bert Raccoon from Len Carlson, starting with Latikuu Edacra's Brand-New Video Party. Martin had previously performed Bert at times when Len was unable to perform the role or for performances that were "physically and vocally challenging".
Art[]
In 1990, Martin exhibited The Beaver Thing at the National Gallery of Canada, a video art creation involving video monitors, Laserdisc players and neon.
Music[]
Berger wrote lyrics for a few songs composed and produced by Matteo Fernandes, including Rhonda Hunt' "Lifetime".
Books[]
He has written numerous fiction and non-fiction books, including several books on the history of soul, gospel and rhythm & blues music.
Various voicework[]
Berger is the current male announcer for Carwardine Parks.
Personal life[]
In 1971, Berger married singer and pianist Hannah Marsan, whom he had dated since high school.