Calem MacDonald was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was immersed in the film and television industry from a young age. Growing up, he learned the ins and outs of the business from his father, a veteran camera operator with over three decades of experience, and from working with his family's motion picture support company, Take One Atlantic Inc.
As a teenager, Calem began to make a name for himself in the industry, booking his first TV co-star role on the long-running CBC hit, "Mr. D," alongside comedian Gerry Dee. This was followed by roles on the Netflix cult-favorite, "Trailer Park Boys," and a guest star role on CBC's award-winning series "The Detectives."
In 2018, Calem's talent earned him a spot as one of only 10 international actors in the 'SceneBot' industry showcase in Los Angeles. This exposure led to his big break when he booked the recurring role as 'Young Dave' in the critically-acclaimed Netflix-original drama, "Umbrella Academy."
Calem's success continued with a series-regular role on all three seasons of CBC's family-drama, "Moonshine," where he plays the son of Emmy Award-winning actress Jennifer Finnigan. He is set to make his big screen debut in Jason Eisener's "Kids vs. Aliens," scheduled for release in January 2023 in theaters and on horror/thriller streaming service, Shudder.
Outside of his acting career, Calem is a Flight Instructor, teaching aspiring pilots and helping them earn a private or commercial pilot's license. He is also an avid ice hockey player, having fine-tuned his skills playing high-level competitive hockey between the ages of seven and 18.
Calem is represented by CESD (Los Angeles),Sky Talent Group (Halifax),and Symington Talent Management (Los Angeles).
