Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Lester B. Pearson(1897-1972)

IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Lester B. Pearson
Born in Newtonbrook, Ontario, Lester Bowles Pearson was the son of Annie Sarah Bowles and Edwin Arthur Pearson. Throughout World War I, Pearson volunteered for service and entered in it. He survived an aeroplane crash and Pearson went by the code name, "Mike".

After World War I, Pearson returned back to school and received his Bachelor of Arts in Toronto in 1919. In 1925, Pearson married Maryon Moody, who was from Winnipeg. Together, they had two children, Geoffrey and Patricia. In 1929, with the Stock Market Crash and Mackenzie King's defeat, Pearson entered his diplomatic career. During World War II, he served in the United Kingdom. After the war, Pearson served as the second Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations.

In 1957, Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Suez Canal Crisis. The following year, he became leader of the Liberal Party, after Louis St. Laurent retired. In 1963, Pearson defeated John Diefenbaker in the 1963 election. Pearson remained Prime Minister until April 20, 1968, when Pierre Trudeau defeated him.

Pearson remained active until he died from cancer on December 27, 1972. He was 75 years old.
BornApril 23, 1897
DiedDecember 27, 1972(75)
BornApril 23, 1897
DiedDecember 27, 1972(75)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 1 win total

Photos1

View Poster

Known for

The Office of the Prime Minister
  • Self
  • 1968
Front Page Challenge (1957)
Front Page Challenge
8.4
TV Series
  • Self - Mystery Guest
Fletcher Markle in Telescope (1963)
Telescope
7.6
TV Series
  • Self
Issues and Answers (1960)
Issues and Answers
6.5
TV Series
  • Self

Credits

IMDbPro

Self



  • Biography (1987)
    Biography
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Self
    • 1995
  • United Nations 25th Anniversary
    TV Special
    • Self (as The Rt Hon Lester Pearson)
    • 1970
  • A Matter of Survival
    TV Special
    • Self - Fotmer Prime Minister of Canada
    • 1970
  • Late Night Line-Up (1964)
    Late Night Line-Up
    6.0
    TV Series
    • Self (as Lester Pearson)
    • 1968
  • The Office of the Prime Minister
    • Self
    • 1968
  • NET Journal (1966)
    NET Journal
    TV Series
    • Self - Interviewee
    • 1968
  • Helicopter Canada (1966)
    Helicopter Canada
    6.8
    • Self (opens Toronto's new City Hall) (voice, uncredited)
    • 1966
  • Fletcher Markle in Telescope (1963)
    Telescope
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Self
    • 1963–1966
  • Issues and Answers (1960)
    Issues and Answers
    6.5
    TV Series
    • Self
    • 1963
  • Front Page Challenge (1957)
    Front Page Challenge
    8.4
    TV Series
    • Self - Mystery Guest
    • 1960
  • Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie in Today (1952)
    Today
    4.6
    TV Series
    • Self
    • 1960
  • The Mike Wallace Interview (1957)
    The Mike Wallace Interview
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Self - 1957 Nobel Prize for Peace Winner
    • 1958
  • René Lévesque in Carrefour (1955)
    Carrefour
    TV Series
    • Self
    • 1955
  • Canadian Headlines of 1952
    4.8
    Short
    • Self
    • 1952

Archive Footage



  • The 100 Days: That Defined Modern History (2022)
    The 100 Days: That Defined Modern History
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Self - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada (archive footage)
    • 2023
  • Expo 67 Mission Impossible (2017)
    Expo 67 Mission Impossible
    8.1
    • Self (archive footage)
    • 2017
  • Lyndon B. Johnson: Succeeding Kennedy (2013)
    Lyndon B. Johnson: Succeeding Kennedy
    6.2
    TV Movie
    • Self (archive footage)
    • 2013
  • Mystères d'archives (2009)
    Mystères d'archives
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Self - PM of Canada (archive footage)
    • 2010
  • Jimmy MacDonald's Canada (2005)
    Jimmy MacDonald's Canada
    8.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Self - Prime Minister of Canada (archive footage)
    • 2005
  • The Greatest Canadian (2004)
    The Greatest Canadian
    7.9
    TV Mini Series
    • Self (archive footage)
    • 2004
  • Canada: A People's History (2000)
    Canada: A People's History
    8.7
    TV Series
    • Self (archive footage, as Lester Bowlse Pearson)
    • 2001
  • The Making of a Leader (1919-1968)
    6.5
    TV Movie
    • Self (archive footage, uncredited)
    • 1994
  • The Canadian Federation
    • Self (archive footage, uncredited)
    • 1981
  • Has Anybody Here Seen Canada? A History of Canadian Movies 1939-1953 (1979)
    Has Anybody Here Seen Canada? A History of Canadian Movies 1939-1953
    6.2
    TV Movie
    • Self - Addresses Canada-Hollywood Dinner (archive footage, uncredited)
    • 1979
  • The Hecklers (1975)
    The Hecklers
    5.7
    • Self (archive footage, uncredited)
    • 1975
  • Grierson (1973)
    Grierson
    7.3
    • Self (archive footage)
    • 1973
  • The Clouded Dawn (1962)
    The Clouded Dawn
    7.1
    Short
    • Self - Standing Behind Truman (archive footage)
    • 1962

Personal details

  • Alternative names
    • Lester Bowlse Pearson
  • Height
    • 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
  • Born
    • April 23, 1897
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Died
    • December 27, 1972
    • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada(cancer)
  • Spouse
    • Maryon Elspeth MoodyAugust 22, 1925 - December 27, 1972 (his death, 2 children)
  • Relatives
    • Peter Pearson(Cousin)

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Prime minister of Canada (1963-1968).
  • Quotes
    The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants and for peace like retarded pygmies.
  • Trademark
    Known for always wearing bow ties in public
  • Nickname
    • Mike

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Recently viewed

You have no recently viewed pages
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.