Corrine Koslo, long-time friend of actor Janet Wright, has been cast as the voice of the series’ beloved character, Emma Leroy, for the upcoming Corner Gas animated reboot, executive producer and star Brent Butt and The Comedy Network confirmed Monday.
Wright, a Genie and Gemini award-winning Canadian actress and theatre director was best known for her role as Emma Leroy on the hit Canadian sitcom Corner Gas. Wright died on the morning of November 14, 2016, in Vancouver, at the age of 71.
Koslo joins original Corner Gascast members, Butt, Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Nancy Robertson in the voicing of their respective characters Brent, Lacey, Oscar, Hank, Davis, Karen and Wanda.
The new 13-episode, half-hour animated series is is expected to premiere on The Comedy Network in 2018. Voice recordings are currently underway with the animation process slated to begin in May.
“It goes without saying that Janet will be forever missed by all of us, and by all who enjoyed CORNER GAS. She can never be replaced,” said Butt in his announcement on his website. “But having a dear friend of hers step into Emma’s shoes, and do such an amazing job, is a bit of a soothing balm on the wound. And it feels good.”
Born in France, Corrine Koslo grew up in Halifax, Manitoba, and Edmonton and is a graduate of the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School. She has performed on stages across Canada for the last three decades and received two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for her roles in the Young People’s Theatre productions Seussical The Musical and Bunnicula in Toronto; Jessie Richardson Awards for in Love And Angels (Vancouver Playhouse) and Sweeney Todd (Arts Club) in Vancouver; and a Sterling Award for her portrayal of Madame Arcati in Blyth Spirit at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.
On television, Corrine is known for her memorable voice work as Lady Rataxes in the popular children’s series, Babar. Most recently, Corrine joined the cast of the series Anne where she plays the indomitable Rachel Lynde.
Image – The Comedy Network / Corner Gas
