Kenneth Welsh was a Canadian film and television actor. He was known to Twin Peaks fans as the multi-faced villain Windom Earle and played the father of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator. In 1984, he was nominated for a Geni Award as Best Actor for his portrayal of Reno Colt in the film Reno and the Doc, written and directed by Charles Dennis. In 1997, Welsh directed Dennis in Soho Duo at the West Bank Theatre in New York City. Welsh portrayed historical figures, including Thomas E. Dewey, Colin Thatcher, Harry S. Truman (twice), Thomas Edison, James “Scotty” Reston, General Harry Crerar, and James Baker. He made guest appearances on the acclaimed TV series Due South and Slings and Arrows. In 2003, he made a Member of the Order of Canada. His role as the Vice-President of the United States in the 2004 environmental disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow, sparked some controversy due to his physical resemblance to Dick Cheney, who at the time was the real Vice President. Director Roland Emmerich later confirmed that he deliberately chose Welsh for that very reason. Emmerich stated that the character of the Vice President in the film was intended to be a not-so-subtle criticism of the environmental policies of the Presidency of George W. Bush.