Thomson was born 1947 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, Ontario, the National Theatre School and in England. He is now one of the Canada's leading film, television and stage actors. R.H. Thomson has played lead roles in many of the country's major venues including Manitoba Theatre Centre (Death and the Maiden), Canadian Stage (Oleanna, Inexpressible Island), Theatre Passe Muraille (The Little Years), Tarragon Theatre (Daylight Saving), Toronto Free Theatre (Hamlet), Toronto Workshop Productions (The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs), Stratford Festival (Julius Caesar, Merry Wives of Windsor, Mary Stuart), Theatre New Brunswick (Waiting for Godot) and Bastion Theatre (Comedians). More recently he appeared in David Young's Clout at the National Arts Centre (January, 2001). Mr. Thomson has also directed at Neptune Theatre, Theatre Plus, for Bard on the Beach, Ship's Company (recently, autumn/summer 1999, David French's Salt-Water Moon) and Theatre in the Park. Also, his own play, The Lost Boys, (a solo in which he performs) was presented at Great Canadian Theatre Company in March, 2000 and at Canadian Stage in February, 2002.