Durham County

Premise

Dillon plays Mike Sweeney, a homicide detective from Toronto who moves his family to suburban Durham County to start over after his partner was killed and his wife Audrey (Hélène Joy) was diagnosed with breast cancer. However, he soon discovers that his neighbour and childhood nemesis Ray Prager (Justin Louis) may be a serial killer.

Airings

The series premiered on Movie Central and The Movie Network on May 7, 2007. After more than a year, the second season premiered on July 13, 2009. The third and final season debuted on October 25, 2010. The first season subsequently aired on Global in the 2007–2008 television season. In Canada, the first season was released on DVD on September 9, 2008, followed by the second season on July 27, 2010.

On September 7, 2009, the series began airing on Ion Television, which reaches more than 94 million US television households. The network secured all US television, digital media rights, Internet streaming and video-on-demand rights for the program. It is the first original series to air on the network since 2004.

Cast and characters

Main

Hugh Dillon as Mike Sweeney, a veteran homicide detective who quits his position after the murder of his professional partner, and relocates his family back to his hometown.

Hélène Joy as Audrey Sweeney is the wife of Mike Sweeney, trying to cope with her recent diagnosis of breast cancer.

Sonya Salomaa as Traci Prager (season 1)

Laurence Leboeuf as Sadie Sweeney

Greyston Holt as Ray Prager Jr., the self-conscious teenage son of Ray Prager Sr. He appears oblivious to his father's interests and is often silent about his personal aspirations.

Justin Louis as Ray Prager (season 1)

Patrick Labbé as Tom Bykovski (season 2; recurring season 1)

Michelle Forbes as Penelope Verrity (season 2)

Michael Nardone as Ivan Sujic (season 3)

Recurring

Jean-Nicolas Verreault as Jayson Graves Big Guy (season 1)

Kathleen Munroe as Nathalie Lacroix (season 1)

Joel Keller as Jake Sharpe (seasons 1–2)

Claudia Ferri as Roxy Calvert (seasons 1–2)

Cicely Austin as Maddie Sweeney

Michael Dopud as Glenn Stuckey (season 2)

Romano Orzari as Ray Prager (season 2)

Geordie Johnson as Jonathan Verrity (season 2)

Alex Cardillo as Mark Verrity (season 2)

Christine Ghawi as Elodie Belknap (season 2)

Krista Bridges as Sabina Leung (season 3)

Andreas Apergis as Miro Çercu (season 3)

Bénédicte Décary as Eva Arcady (season 3)

Shannon Kook-Chun as David Cho (season 3)

Gord Rand as Dr. Campbell Chin

Fayolle Jean as Joseph Louboutin (season 3)

Guest

Danny Blanco Hall as Caleb (season 1)

Episodes

Distribution

All three seasons of Durham County are distributed in Canada by Muse Distribution International and internationally by ITV Global.

All three seasons were filmed in and around Montreal, Quebec.

DVD releases

Anchor Bay Entertainment has released the first two seasons on DVD in Canada only. The third season will be released on February 21, 2012.

In addition to the DVD releases, all three seasons became available in Canada in the iTunes Store on August 1, 2011.

Well Go USA released the first season on DVD in the US. Season 2 was released on November 23, 2010.

Awards and nominations

Season 1

Gemini Awards

Best Writing in a Dramatic Series

Best Direction in a Dramatic Series

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role

Best Sound in a Dramatic Series

Gemini Nominations

Best Dramatic Series

Best Photography in a Dramatic Program

Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program

Best Costume Design

Best Achievement in Casting

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Series

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Role

Directors Guild of Canada

Nominations

Best Editing – Dramatic Series

Best Direction – Television Series

Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA)

Indie Award - Best Dramatic Series

2008 WorldFest – Houston International Film Festival

Season 2

Gemini Awards

Best Achievement in Main Title Design - Kevin Chandoo

Best Achievement in Make-Up - Eva Coudouloux and Adrien Morot

Gemini Nominations

Best Dramatic Series

Best Direction in a Dramatic Series - Adrienne Mitchell

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role - Helene Joy

Best Achievement in Casting - Andrea Kenyon, Wendy O'Brien, Marissa Richmond, and Randi Wells

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Winner of 2010 Golden Nymph Award

Outstanding Actress- Michelle Forbes (Drama TV Series)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival Nominations

Outstanding Actor – Hugh Dillon (Drama TV Series)

Outstanding International Producer – Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell, Laurie Finstad Knizhnik and Michael Prupas (Drama TV Series)

Directors Guild of Canada Award Winners

Best Direction- TV Series - Adrienne Mitchell

Best Production Design- TV Series - Donna Noonan

Directors Guild of Canada Award Nominee

Season 3

Gemini Award Wins

Best Achievement in Casting - Marissa Richmond, Libby Goldstein, Andrea Kenyon, Suzanne Smith, Randi Wells

Gemini Award Nominations

Best Direction in a Dramatic Series - Charles Biname

Best Sound in a Dramatic Series - Steve Moore, Alex Bullick, Yann Cleary, Christian Cooke, Andrea Higgins, Jill Purdy, Marilee Yorston

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Lead Dramatic Role - Hugh Dillon

Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series - Michael Nardone

Best Performance by an Actress in Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series - Benedicte Decary

Directors Guild of Canada Award Nominations

Best Direction - Television Series - Adrienne Mitchell

Best Sound Editing - Television Series - Jill Purdy, Alex Bullick, Rose Gregoris

2011 EMPixx Awards

Platinum Award - Entertainment Category - Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell, Michael Prupas and Laurie Finstad Knizhnik

Platinum Award - Writing - Laurie Finstad Knizhnik

Platinum Award - Art Direction and Set Design - Donna Noonan

Platinum Award - Cinematography - Eric Cayla