Most recently, Luke Bilyk could be seen playing Wade in feature film Balestra with Cush Jumbo (Joanna Bathory), James Badge Dale (Raph) and Manny Jacinto (Elliot), and he played Calvin Franz in Series 2 of Reacher alongside Alan Ritchson as the lead role of Jack Reacher. In the hugely successful series The Porter, Luke played regular character Franklin Edwards, with the series having 19 nominations (12 wins) at the 2023 Canadian Screen Awards, and it was nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Luke worked with Jason Priestley and Molly Ringwald across both series of the Canadian sitcom Raising Expectations, when he played their on-screen son Adam Wayney, and in 2017, he appeared in feature films F*&% the Prom as TJ and Adam’s Testament as Adam. Further screen credits for Luke include playing John Servinis in Kiss and Cry – the biopic about the life of Carley Allison, for which he worked opposite Carley’s real-life friend Sarah Fisher, who he’d previously worked with when he played Drew Torres in the last five series of Degrassi for his first major regular role on screen, and he played Zack in Holiday Joy, Sean in Good Witch, Elvis and Jesse Presley in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and recurring character Mark in the fifth series of Lost Girl. We found out from Luke about his recent work in Balestra and Reacher, his regular role of Franklin Edwards in The Porter, filming for Canadian sitcom Raising Expectations and his further projects including Degrassi, Kiss and Cry, Kicking Blood and Meet Me at Christmas.
You have most recently been seen in the feature film Balestra as Wade, what was the film like to work on?
Balestra was an amazing film to work on. Wade was a very intriguing character to portray. The director, Nicole Dorsey, was a blast to work with. Her vision for the project was clear from beginning to end. She created such a safe space for actors to really sink into the character. Add working with incredibly talented actors like Cush Jumbo, James Badge Dale and Manny Jacinto and you’ve got a clear recipe for success.
Can you tell us about Balestra and your character, and who do you think the film will appeal to?
Balestra is a great project that I had the pleasure of working on about an aging Olympic athlete named Joanna, who is introduced to cutting edge technology which helps give her an advantage over her competition. Getting to portray a neuroscientist who is on the cutting end of scientific developments was intriguing to say the least. He is a crucial part in introducing Joanna to the technology that gives her an advantage.
This film is going to appeal to many groups of people, sports lovers, people who love psychological films and, to top it all off, it’s a great coming of age story.
How was it joining the cast of Reacher for Series 2 and how familiar were you with the Jack Reacher franchise before booking the role of Calvin Franz?
Like many people, I fell in love with the first season of Reacher. So when I found out I booked the job, I naturally had a tiny freakout. The cast was so welcoming for session two. Alan (Ritchson) is an absolute professional. Even with filming the insane schedule he had, working out and spending time with family, he still gave us 100% of his attention and dedication and made me feel like a part of the Reacher family.
How was it getting into character as Franz and what was it like filming your final scenes?
Franz was a great character to portray. He was complicated and devoted to his work and to the people he loved. Getting to see a glimpse into his life with flashbacks was incredible. We got to slowly reveal the layers of his life as the show went on. Filming the final scene was such a blast. Not very often do people get to be tortured by the real T-1000 (the great Robert Patrick). I love getting physical and doing my own stunts so getting thrown out of a helicopter and tortured was probably one of the best days of my life.
How did you find the experience playing the regular role of Franklin Edwards in The Porter, and how would you describe the character?
The Porter was a dream come true for me. A historically accurate period piece on top of getting to have an accent, it just doesn’t get any better than that. Franklin was a slightly emotionally confused character. Stuck between what he knows to be right and what his father, who he’s always urning for his approval, wants him to do. He’s a stand on his word kind of guy who is always willing to defend those that he loves.
Was there anything that drew you to The Porter, and how was it seeing the huge success to the series, which saw it be nominated for 19 awards (winning 12) at the 2023 Canadian Screen Awards and be nominated for a Primetime Emmy?
I was drawn to the project immediately by the script, as well as the directors Charles Officer and R.T. Thorne. Getting to be part of something that is historically accurate and has huge significance in today’s society just doesn’t come around often. When I did my first audition for this, I told my agents I need to book this job as this project is going to be incredible, and luckily enough for me, I was blessed to be a part of it. Every aspect of the project was incredible, from set and costume design to our uber talented DP Jordan Oram, and it deserves all its flowers.
How was your time filming as Robbie in the 2021 feature film Kicking Blood?
Kicking Blood was an amazing and cold experience. We filmed in Sudbury, Ontario in the middle of winter, with a bunch of outdoor scenes. But other than the weather, it was a joy.
My co-stars Alanna Bale and Vinessa Antoine were stand-outs and completely stole the show. They made being on set a blast. When you’re up doing long nights in the cold feeling like you’re freezing to death, it’s important to have people around you that you can lean on in scenes and be vulnerable with and they both provided that. Just such a great space to be creative.
Not to mention working with a great director like Blaine Thurier, who had such a clear vision for his project. He made such a safe space too and was really open to choices on set and playing with the scene while also being very true to his original idea, which I loved.
You played Liam in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie Meet Me at Christmas, how was it working on a Hallmark Christmas release?
Working on a Hallmark Christmas movie seems to be like a rite of passage for an actor’s career. It was nice to be a part of the family and getting to work with the amazing Catherine Bell was a delightful cherry on top of that Christmas cake. It was great to do something with a more light-hearted feel. Most of my work has been very dramatic. It was refreshing getting to come to work and focus on positivity and Christmas love. All that fake snow and Christmas cheer in September didn’t hurt either.
What did you enjoy most about playing regular character Adam Wayney in the Canadian sitcom Raising Expectations and how was it developing the role across both series?
Raising Expectations was a wild nine months of filming. We completed two seasons worth of work in one short time, so we were really moving at a fast pace. Working on a comedy series was so much fun. Getting to play around with my castmates really made the work not feel like work. The whole cast just really fit together. Not to mention all of my siblings were immensely talented, so it made my job a lot easier. And who doesn’t like coming to work every day with powerhouses like Molly Ringwald and Jason Priestley, it was a dream.
Did you have any stand-out favourite scenes to film in Raising Expectations and how was it filming alongside the rest of the cast, which included Jason Priestley and Molly Ringwald as your on-screen parents Wayne and Paige Wayney?
We had so many great days on this project. Shooting our big camping episode was a blast, it was early on in our shoot so getting out in the woods and actually camping as a family really helped make our family feel real. Two of my favourite scenes were getting all jacked up on chocolate with Matthew Tissi and getting my teeth removed with Katie Douglas, they genuinely made me laugh so hard while filming. Jason and Molly were also amazing to work with, so funny and creative in every scene and, on top of that, the model for professionalism.
In 2017, you were part of the feature films F*&% the Prom as TJ and Adam’s Testament as Adam, can you tell us about your time on set of both?
F the Prom ended up being one of the most formidable films for me personally and shaped the next five years of my life. The cast of that film really connected, all of us were around the same age and just really hit it off on our little over a month-long shoot. Me and two of my co-stars ended up being roommates for around three years, and five of us have matching tattoos, so we really spent a lot of time together. Such a great shoot and a source of a million memories for me.
Adam’s Testament was a great shoot. Getting to film in my home city Toronto in the summer was a dream. So many great actors in this project. They really called on the OGs of Canadian film. Me and Zoé De Grand Maison had a blast pretending to be rockers, getting all of our random tattoos put on every day, it was really easy to become another person.
You played John Servinis in Kiss and Cry – the biopic about the life of Carley Allison – opposite Carley’s real-life friend Sarah Fisher, what was it like telling the story?
Kiss and Cry is the project that’s the most dear to my heart and that I’m the most happy to have been a part of. The Allisons were so gracious to let us into their life and home and help us tell Carley’s amazing story. Getting to know John and spend time with him, I got to get a real insight into their beautiful relationship, and realised John and myself were very similar. Getting to act with my previous co-star and good friend from Degrassi, Sarah Fisher, made acting unnecessary. The two of us just got to live in the life that was outlined in Carley’s diary and truly tell her story.
How was it taking on the role of Zack in Holiday Joy and what do you remember most from filming this project?
During the filming of Holiday Joy, me and my co-star Bailee Madison had an absolute blast. Every day went by so fast. Getting to play two different versions of the same character was a great experience. It really gave me the opportunity to play around with a character. Which a lot of the time you don’t get to do.
What are some of your favourite memories from playing Drew Torres across the last five series of Degrassi early in your career and what do you feel you learnt from having Drew as your first major regular role on screen?
It’s impossible to nail down a favourite memory from my time on Degrassi.
I was blessed enough to get to be part of the cast for five years, so I was right in the middle of the old school and the new school, but our last day will always stand out. All of us, a group who spent at least four years together, all saying goodbye at the same time was super special.
Degrassi shaped my life and is still so important to me. The friendships more than anything I’ll take away from working on Degrassi. They gave me an extended family that I still care about 15 years later.
Degrassi really was the greatest way to learn how to be an actor. I always say it was like a paid acting class. Every episode was testing you in a new way. Constantly pushing you out of your comfort zones, which, as an actor, is the only way to grow. It really prepared me for working as an actor in the future, I would not be where I am today without it, so I’m for ever grateful.
Can you tell us about some of your further highlights from your acting career so far, which have included playing Sean in Series 7 of Good Witch, Elvis and Jesse Presley in an episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – Series 13 and recurring character Mark in the fifth series of Lost Girl?
Good Witch was a blast, getting to work with Catherine Bell again was great. Funny enough, I actually auditioned for Good Witch while on the set of Meet Me at Christmas, which maybe didn’t hurt.
Filming Legends of Tomorrow was a dream. Ghosts, guitars and getting to play Elvis. The team at The CW do a great job bringing all of these historical figures to life. It was fun to step into a time machine and be the King. It’s also what got me to learn how to play the guitar.
Lost Girl overlapped my last season of Degrassi so I was forever grateful to them for working with my busy schedule. Everyone on that show was so professional and talented, it was a great stepping stone for me as an actor. Getting to watch Kris Holden-Ried and Paul Amos do their thing on a daily basis really gives inspiration to want to get better.
Where does your love of acting come from and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
I’d say my love for acting comes from my love for movies and being able to pretend or play. Actors have the rare job that we get the opportunity to spend the day completely enthralled in a completely different reality. I get to pretend to go back in time or be a historical figure, and every day I get to play with some of the most talented people who also want to just have fun and play. I started in this business from childhood, so I kind of fell into it. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
My favourite movie is for sure The Lord of the Rings, which I’m completely obsessed with, along with Game of Thrones, which I probably know a bit too much about the lore of it. But I’m a huge Chris Nolan fan as well and a Stanley Kubrick fan. There really are too many incredible movies by awesome directors. I truly love to watch them all.
How do you like to spend your time away from your career?
I spend most of my days with my two-and-a-half-year-old son, trying to keep up with him as he runs away from me. Other than that, I’m usually keeping busy playing sports and going on hikes. I like to keep as active as possible. An active body is a calm mind.
What are you hoping the next few months bring for you, and do you have any upcoming projects that you can share?
I’m actually moving into a new home over the next few months, so nothing more than a smooth move into a new location would be amazing. Other than that, I’m up for a couple of projects that are up in the air that are quite interesting, just waiting on some news back.
Follow Luke on: