He’s worked as an extra on the Netflix sci-fi horror show Shadowhunters, but it was his day as a paid cheerleader for Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford that Chris Riddell calls “a little weird.”

The Toronto background actor was contacted by a casting agency looking for 20 people to play Ford supporters outside Monday night’s leaders’ debate at CityNews for the June 7 provincial election.

The Liberals, New Democrats, Conservatives and Greens all had placard-waving and chanting supporters outside the studio across from Yonge-Dundas Square, with NDP activists pounding on drums, lending a funky beat to the mix.

Enter Riddell and about 10 others rounded up for the job, which paid $75. They were given Ford Nation T-shirts, placards to wave and were tutored by bona fide Tories on taunts like “Four more weeks!” when Liberals chanted “Four more years!” as Premier Kathleen Wynne arrived.

“This seemed like a really odd gig and it seemed a little shady,” Riddell said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with the Star.

“I tried to swallow my moral misgivings and make a few bucks,” added the 36-year-old, who divides his time between acting jobs, freelance writing, playing guitar and writing songs for a band he is forming with friends.

Conservative officials confirmed that the casting agency was contacted by the campaign of Toronto Center PC hopeful Meredith Cartright, a human rights lawyer recently appointed a candidate by Ford, and described it as “a mistake.”

“We were very confused by this situation, because we are getting record numbers of supporters to every event across Ontario. This was done by a local candidate and it won’t be continuing,” Ford spokeswoman Melissa Lantsman said in an email.

Ford was taken by surprise when asked about the situation by the Star at a news conference Tuesday.

“You know something, that’s the first I’ve heard of that,” said Ford, whose party is leading in public opinion polls. “We don’t need that. I can assure you I’ll be calling Meredith to ask what’s going on.”

Ontario's three main party leaders squared off Monday in the first debate before June’s provincial election. Andrea Horwath, Kathleen Wynne and Doug Ford were asked after the debate how they plan to combat criticisms they face. (The Canadian Press)

Cartright did not reply to a request for comment made through her campaign office.

At Queen’s Park, rival parties said they do not hire actors to bolster their ranks at campaign events.

“We don’t have to pay people to come and support us,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, laughing.

“We have a very excited group of volunteers that are working on our campaign day in and day out,” she told reporters, describing the Conservative tactic as “kind of funny and in some ways kind of sad.”

Retiring Liberal MPP Deb Matthews compared the use of actors to the Ford campaign’s decision to have a staffer do news-style online videos about the leader, which has prompted the governing party to complain to Elections Ontario about a possible violation of election financing rules for advertising.

“I guess we’ve come to expect that everything about Ford is fake. The news is fake, the stories are fake, his facts are fake and now we know his supporters are fake,” claimed Matthews (London North Centre).

In an email obtained by the Star, casting firm CastMe Background Agency said it was seeking “20 people to play real people at a Ford nation rally (Doug Ford).”

“You will be wear (sic) T-shirts of the PC candidates (Ford and Cartwright),” the email continued. It offered $75 to actors who were expected to be present from the start of the afternoon rally at 2 p.m. to the end of the debate at 8 p.m.

The casting agency did not return a call from the Star.

One performer was “shocked” at the offer and turned it down.

“I find it offensive, even, to the Canadian democracy,” said Devanshu Narang, chair of the ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) Additional Background Performer Caucus.

Although the job paid the equivalent of $13.33 an hour — less than the legal $14 minimum wage — Riddell said he and the other actors worked less than the specified six hours and watched the debate at a nearby pub eating chicken wings provided by the Conservatives.

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“I did get a beer. I had to pay for that, though.”

Riddell said his role as a PC extra felt odd for other reasons — because he leans NDP, although he notes, “I don’t really like any of the candidates right now” when it comes to the party leaders.

“I guess it’s obvious I’m not a Ford supporter. I’m not that good an actor — yet.”

With files from Inori Roy and Victoria Gibson

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