Actor Eric McCormack asks Canadians to wear plaid for dad

Emmy Award-winning actor Eric McCormack is in Vancouver filming a new Sci-Fi series, preparing for a stage show, and promoting the Plaid for Dad prostate cancer event.

The Toronto born, Vancouver-based actor famous for the sitcom Will and Grace visited the CBC's The Early Edition to discuss his many projects.

I lost him 8 years ago, and I don't want my son or your kids to say the same thing.- Eric McCormack

Plaid for Dad

June 17 two days before Father's Day marksPlaid for Dad day, a campaign asking people to wear plaid to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer in Canada.

According to Prostate Cancer Canada, 1 in 8 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes.

The cause is close to the actor's heart as he lost his father to prostate cancer in 2008.

"I lost him 8 years ago, and I don't want my son or your kids to say the same thing," McCormack told the CBC's The Early Edition.

McCormack is an ambassador for the event, joining other Canadian celebrities like Don Cherry and Marcel Dionne, who are also championing the cause.

Stage show to benefit cancer research

McCormack is preparing for the Vancouver premier of his stage show, The concert I never gave...(except for, like, 2000 times in my bedroom).

It's a mix of storytelling and rock show, with all of the funds going to Prostate Cancer Canada and research into early detection and new drugs, said McCormack.

"There are ways better and better ways all the time to find it early, and to cure it."

"We certainly need awareness, a lot of men just don't think they're candidates," said McCormack.

Two performances are scheduled for August 5 and 6 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance stage.

New TV show

A new Sci-Fi drama rounds out the list of projects for McCormack.

Travelers, a Vancouver-based production set to air on Showcase, is about a group of time travellers from the future trying to save humanity from a chain of events set in place in 2016.

"They've located this year as the year that needs to get fixed in order for the rest of the future not to completely fall apart," said McCormack.