"Wind at My Back" Cast: Where Are They Now?

Wind at My Back Was a Treasure

Discovering the television show Wind at My Back was like finding a hidden treasure. This gem of a show was set in the 1930s during the Depression in the fictional town of New Bedford, Ontario. The show aired from 1996 to 2001, but I did not find it until 2010, almost a decade after it stopped shooting.

After watching all of the seasons, I became curious about what the stars, such as Dylan Provencher and Shirley Douglas, had been doing in the years since the show ended. Were they still acting? Where else, if anywhere, could I catch their work? I did some research and managed to track down some of the actors from this show to see what they are doing now.

Where Are the Wind at My Back Actors Today?

• Shirley Douglas (May Bailey)
• Kathryn Greenwood (Grace Bailey)
• Dylan Provencher (Hub Bailey)
• Tyrone Savage (Fat Bailey)
• James Carroll (Max Sutton)

Shirley Douglas (May Bailey)

At the centre of the town of New Bedford is a stubborn and independent woman, May Bailey, who took over her husband's mine after he passed away. She never lets someone else's feelings get in the way of saying what she believes. May is the grand matriarch, and almost everyone else is a bit intimidated by her overbearing ways. May was portrayed by Shirley Douglas.

Where Is Shirley Douglas Today?

Sadly, Douglas passed away in 2020 at the age of 86. Her final acting credit was in 2008, and she used a wheelchair from 2009 onwards due to a degenerative condition in her spine. Her death was due to complications from pneumonia.

Biography of Douglas

Shirley Douglas was a very well-known Canadian actress and activist. She was a powerhouse recognised for both her strong acting skills and her strong voice in politics. The daughter of famous Canadian Tommy Douglas, known as the "father of Canadian Healthcare," she was also famous for once being married to Donald Sutherland and being the mother of Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland.

Douglas got her start as an actress on the stage, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, and alternated between television and the theatre throughout her career. In 1997, she appeared in a Canadian production of The Glass Menagerie, with her son, Kiefer Sutherland, and she even did a narration part in the children's series Franklin in 2000.

After leaving Wind at My Back at the age of 65, she acted in several television episodes, including individual episodes of Corner Gas, Robson Arms, and Degrassi: The Next Generation. Her 2008 Degrassi role was her last acting credit. She also portrayed Madeline Albright in the TV movie Road to 9/11 in 2006 and starred in another TV movie, The Christmas Shoes, in 2002.

Like her father, Shirley was an outspoken advocate for publicly funded healthcare. She did numerous media interviews about the issue, and she was knowledgeable and articulate in her arguments. Like her father, she was passionate about politics and about Canada.

Yes, Ms. Douglas did seem quite a bit like her character May Bailey. She was ambitious and full of energy and passion, and she seemed to never give up. She will be lovingly remembered and much-missed.

Kathryn Greenwood (Grace Bailey)

Grace Bailey was one of the only single (although very briefly married) characters on Wind at My Back, and she seemed to add some glamour to the show. Infatuated with female celebrities and always reading fluffy women's magazines that her mother despised, Grace was beautiful and funny, but she was never quite lucky in love. The actress who played Grace is named Kathryn Greenwood.

Where Is Kathryn Greenwood Today?

Greenwood (who generally goes by the name "Kathy") continues to act in films, TV shows, and theatre. She is part of a stage act called Women Fully Clothed, which is an all-woman sketch comedy troupe featuring comedians from the legendary Second City troupe. The group tours around the world, and Eugene Levy once called them the "funniest women in Canada."

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Biography of Greenwood

Kathy Greenwood was born in Scarborough, Ontario, trained as an actor at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and then got her first gig working for Second City, which produced such legends as John Candy, Eugene Levy, and James Belushi. She stayed in the troupe for five years.

Greenwood appeared in the Canadian sketch comedy series The Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, as well as the hilarious improv show Whose Line Is It Anyways? Some of her film roles include Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, The Exchange, and the drama Unless.

In Wind at My Back, Grace Bailey is a character who is spontaneous, fun, and willing to take risks. It seems that Kathy Greenwood in real life is also a risk-taker, tackling the most difficult form of comedy—improvisation—and taking on the challenge of a four-woman show that goes worldwide.

Dylan Provencher (Hub Bailey)

Hub Bailey is the handsome grandson of May Bailey. On the show, we get to watch him grow from a preteen boy into a mature young man. Hub was played by Dylan Provencher.

Where Is Dylan Provencher Today?

Although he was a prolific child actor, acting in several television series and TV movies, Provencher did not do much acting after his stint on Wind at My Back.

Instead, Dylan started a real estate business with his brother, Sean, in the Toronto area. Their website gives some insight as to how Dylan made the switch from the entertainment industry to real estate. Family members advised him and his brother to invest in properties, and the two were so good at choosing properties that they decided to pursue real estate as a career.

Biography of Provencher

Provencher was born in Montréal in 1983. His acting credits range from 1996 to 2002. He won a shared Young Artist Award in 1999 for his performance in The Sweetest Gift along with his two co-stars.

Tyrone Savage (Fat Bailey)

Fat Bailey, Hub's younger brother, was always getting into trouble, and he never seemed to be able to conform to his family's expectations. He was jealous of Hub, who seemed to be good at everything. In one memorable episode, he actually duked it out with his brother. Actor Tyrone Savage played Fat on the show.

Where Is Tyrone Savage Today?

Savage continues to act today. He has done a lot of voiceover work and theatre work over the years, as well as some film roles. He has also done some crew work and even directing. He was part of the theatre troupe Red One Theatre Collective.

Biography of Savage

Savage is from Toronto and was born in 1985. As a child actor, Savage performed on some kids' television shows, such as Goosebumps. He was nominated for a 1998 YoungStar award for his role in Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs.

He was a voice actor for Redwall, Franklin, Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series, and The Dragon Prince, among other parts. (Interestingly, Shirley Douglas did some narration for Franklin!) His stage acting includes roles in Romeo and Juliet, Arcadia, and A Musical Called Robin Hood.

James Carroll (Max Sutton)

Max Sutton was the lead male role in the series, providing a steady source of strength and encouragement to the Bailey family by marrying Honey and becoming a stepdad to the boys. He was also a teacher, a writer, and the leader of all the sports activities in New Bedford.

Max was the picture of cool, and he always seemed to do the right thing in spite of his rather sketchy past, which the show alluded to once in a while. Max was portrayed by James Carroll.

Where Is James Carroll Today?

Sadly, Carroll passed away in 2016 at the age of 60. He died of small cell lung cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2015. Prior to his death, he had stopped acting around 2010 and became a radio personality in Muskoka cottage country in Ontario. He was beloved for his radio shows.

Biography of Carroll

James Carroll was born in Pennsylvania. He studied acting at La Salle University and worked as an actor both in theatre and television before joining Wind at My Back. His jobs varied from Shakespearean roles to a part on Magnum P.I..

After Wind at my Back ended in 2001, Carroll did some television movies, including Deacons for Defense and The Gathering in 2007. He also appeared in numerous episodes of TV shows, including Wonder Falls and True Crime Scene. His final acting credit before leaving show business for small-town radio was voiceover work in the video game Red Dead Redemption.

Where Can You Watch Wind at My Back?

It's hard to find episodes of the show airing today, and it's not currently available through the major streaming services. However, GazeboTV carries Wind at My Back, along with other Sullivan Entertainment series. Although it's free to sign up for GazeboTV, you do have to purchase the show before you can stream it.