Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1974-08-29
- Born Place: Kemptville, Ontario, Canada
Also Known As:
Nelson Carter-Leis
Nelson Leis
Nelson Heino Leis is a Canadian actor and writer, born in Kemptville, Ontario, to a French mother and Estonian father, and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. His passion for acting was sparked during his involvement in high school and community theater, which eventually led him to pursue formal training at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. After completing his studies, Leis returned to Vancouver, where he spent a year on an educational theater tour focused on raising awareness about youth sexual exploitation, a project he also helped write and which continues to run in British Columbia schools. As a writer, he co-created the web series "The Jim" (2010), which earned him a Best Actor award at the 2011 L.A. Web Fest and brought him to France for the inaugural Marseilles Web Fest, a significant personal experience as it marked his first visit to his mother's homeland. More recently, Leis co-wrote, produced, and starred in the award-winning comedy "A.T.A.C.K." (2022). Throughout his diverse acting career, he has appeared in numerous notable projects, including his role as "Waxed Mustache" in the critically acclaimed 2022 film "Prey," Josiah in HBO's "The Last of Us" (2023), and Hendrik in FX's "Shogun" (2024). He is also recognized for his recurring role as the Demon King Beelzebub in three seasons of "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and has worked alongside prominent actors like Kevin Bacon in "Story of a Girl." On stage, Leis has starred in various productions such as "Lobby Hero," "The Toyer," "Closer," and "Take Me Out," and is a founding member of ARTery Collective, a theatre company based in Vancouver.
