About Paul Sutherland
Lived 1930 – 2004 (aged 73). Paul Sutherland was a Canadian screenwriter and television producer.
Paul Sutherland (December 7, 1930 – May 15, 2004) was a Canadian producer and writer.
Sutherland was the co creator of "Tales of the Riverbank". He produced the first series with his partner David Ellison, in 1959. The series ran in 1959, in 1972 David Ellison made a second version, voiced for Canada by Paul. The last series was produced in Toronto for YTV (Canadian TV channel). The title "Once Upon a Hamster" was used for the latest version, 65 episodes were produced from 1995 to 1998. The series is still available for worldwide distribution through Echo Bridge, Boston.
He was also writer of a short film "The Scribe" featuring Buster Keaton. Keaton's last film appearance.
Sutherland graduated from the Ryerson Institute of Technology for Film and Television in 1953 after completing one year at the University of Toronto in Chemical Engineering. After a number of years editing with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and then producing the first series of Tales of the Riverbank, Paul worked as a copy writer/producer for Foster Advertising and then as video producer with the communications department of IBM Canada for 18 years, prior to his retirement in 1990.
He was heavily involved in the "Once Upon a Hamster" series; he served in the many capacities, including: Creator, Producer, Director, Script, Storyman (voice), Hammy (voice), Other animals (voice), Second Unit Operator, Supervising Editor and Wrangler
Sutherland died of a heart attack, at age 73.
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Important facts
People in Paul Sutherland's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Paul Sutherland's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Paul Sutherland?
Canadian television producer (1930–2004)
When was Paul Sutherland born?
Paul Sutherland was born on 7 December 1930 in Toronto.
When did Paul Sutherland die?
Paul Sutherland died on 15 May 2004 in Ontario, Toronto.
What was Paul Sutherland's occupation?
Paul Sutherland was a screenwriter and television producer.
What nationality was Paul Sutherland?
Paul Sutherland was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Paul Sutherland (TV producer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Paul Sutherland. https://biography.guide/paul-sutherland/
MLA: "Paul Sutherland." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/paul-sutherland/.
Chicago: "Paul Sutherland." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/paul-sutherland/.
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