Christopher Plummer presents Gordon Pinsent with Stratford Festival Award

Oscar winner Christopher Plummer hailed Gordon Pinsent in a playful and praise-filled tribute as he presented a special honour celebrating the career of the Canadian acting legend.

Pinsent was recognized as this year’s recipient of the Stratford Festival’s Legacy Award at an elegant gala held Monday night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto.

It served as a reversal of roles for the two iconic homegrown actors and longtime friends, after Pinsent presented Plummer with the festival’s inaugural Legacy award in 2011.

The 86-year-old Pinsent first joined the festival company in 1962, appearing in productions of “Macbeth,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Tempest.” He also starred in the Stratford production of “Cyrano de Bergerac” alongside Plummer, which was filmed and broadcast on U.S. TV network NBC.

“I swear on a stack of Kindles that my friend must surely have invented the word ‘whimsy’ he exudes whimsy,” Plummer said to the audience as Pinsent looked on.

“He is quixotic, querulous, witty yet sensitive, passionate, yet reserved, and above all, deliciously wicked.”

Following Plummer’s tribute, Pinsent spoke at length about his career on stage and screen. In addition to his stints with Stratford, he also recalled time with the Manitoba Theatre Centre.

The acclaimed actor has nearly 150 film and TV credits, and is the subject of the new documentary “The River of My Dreams: A Portrait of Gordon Pinsent,” which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. But it was evident that the stage still holds a special meaning and symbolism for Pinsent.