Bruce Greenwood as Caleb Stokes

Bruce Greenwood in his Gemini-winning performance as Caleb Stokes

"I've been two years out of prison. I have yet to run across a man or woman who didn't send me packing when they found out out who I was and what I'd done." Caleb Stokes to Alec and Janet King.

Season six brought several strangers to Avonlea including actor Bruce Greenwood as itinerant farmhand Caleb Stokes. After taking shelter from a rainstorm in the King barn, Caleb is hired for farm work by Uncle Alec, until his scandalous past is revealed. With Alec's support, Caleb finds the courage to start over in the U.S.

"The interesting thing," Greenwood says, "is that by the end of the episode, the character didn't really find himself, although he gained some self-respect. I saw him as a bit maudlin. He was a man who was running from himself and his past."

Greenwood was originally approached to be a recurring character on the show but was only available for one episode. Greenwood created his character slowly and tried several different interpretations. "Because the show feels so Canadian, I had wanted to do the character with a bit of an East Coast brogue because I enjoy doing accents. But that didn't go over too well," he laughs.

In addition to his long list of television credits, fans can see Greenwood regularly on his UPM series Nowhere Man. As well, he recently completed work on a new film shot in Toronto, called The Sweet Hereafter, co-starring Sarah Polley.