Brentwood Bay actor Daniel Diemer lands leading role in ‘Heated Rivalry’

A Vancouver Island actor is about to take centre ice in one of Canada’s most talked-about television series.

Brentwood Bay’s Daniel Diemer has joined the cast of the Crave Original Heated Rivalry, landing a leading role in the show’s upcoming second season.

Diemer will portray Ryan Price, a former professional hockey enforcer and defenceman for the fictional Toronto Guardians. Welsh actor Shaheen Jafargholi will star opposite him as Fabian Salah, an indie musician and Ryan’s boyfriend.

The characters are at the centre of Tough Guy, the third novel in Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers series, on which Heated Rivalry is based. Their story is expected to intersect with returning leads Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

For Vancouver Island viewers, Diemer’s casting brings a distinctly local connection to the hit Canadian production.

Born and raised in Brentwood Bay, Diemer initially had his sights set on becoming a professional athlete. He began playing soccer at the age of five before later turning to tennis, but back injuries eventually brought those ambitions to an end.

His path into acting came somewhat unexpectedly. Diemer previously told Teen Vogue that he first became involved in entertainment after modelling for an art class while trying to get out of English class.

“The first time I ever stepped foot on set, it was like I fell in love,” Diemer said of discovering acting.

That unexpected start eventually led to a growing list of film and television credits.

Diemer gained widespread attention for playing Paul Munsky in the 2020 Netflix coming-of-age film The Half of It. More recently, he portrayed Tyson in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and appeared alongside Liam Neeson in the 2024 crime thriller Absolution.

His newest role places him among an expanding ensemble cast that also includes Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie, Emily Hampshire, Edvin Ryding, Robert Naylor, Sabrina Jalees and Priyanka.

Series creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady said Diemer and Jafargholi were able to capture the complexity of their characters.

“Daniel and Shaheen bring such confidence and emotional honesty to the roles,” the pair said in the casting announcement.

The series has earned several major honours, including a Peabody Award, a GLAAD Media Award and 16 Canadian Screen Awards. It is currently available in more than 130 countries.

Season two is now in production and is scheduled to premiere on Crave in spring 2027.