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He's one of Canada's top theatre producers. His latest work, Evil Dead: the Musical, just won best musical comedy in South Korea. That's in addition to the Dora award for Toronto's favourite show in 2007.
Jeff Latimer has a long list of credits to his name, including the award-winning Forever Plaid and Closer Than Ever, as well as Defending the Caveman, Stomp, Grease and Cookin' At The Cookery.
The down-to-earth Torontonian is well-grounded, but his car captures his youthful, fun-loving side.
"I look at life as — every day when you get up — what fun are we going to have today? Life is difficult and there's lots of drama in the world and lots of issues," he says.
There’s lots of legroom in Jeff Latimer’s Mini Cooper, as long as no one jumps in the back seat. (Glenn Lowson For The Globe and Mail)
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"For 16 years, I produced theatre and shows and I always loved the feeling of being able to walk into a theatre and watch people laugh. I love that ability when life is kind of difficult and challenging to be able to laugh. I try to live my life that way.
"The Mini has a really fun personality — you can't really take it seriously. It's got a great personality. And I like to think of myself as having a fun personality, too."
Latimer's Mini is a 2007 Cooper S convertible. "For something like Evil Dead: the Musical, Mini is the perfect car, personality-wise.
"It's kind of sneaky and it's got a sense of humour about it. That's what I love about the Mini.
"It's got all the bells and whistles. It's interesting when you drive, people smile when they look at you. It's got a good personality."
Over the years, Latimer has shifted gears, moving from larger gas-guzzling trucks to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. "I had a Tahoe and a Yukon. I had trucks for years. And I love trucks — they're great. They're big. They're wonderful.
"I guess I'm following trends and we've gone to two smaller cars — a BMW [3-Series] and a Mini. They're both better on gas.
"And now when I get into a truck, it feels like you have too much. You feel powerful on the road. But I love how a little car drives around.
"As I was building my career, the [Chevrolet] Tahoe made me look better, made me feel like I was bigger and more successful. I think I'm at a place in my life where I feel stable and very comfortable and very confident. I think I don't need a big showy Tahoe to make me feel better about myself. Does that sound therapeutic? That's what my therapist said," he laughs.
"I'm in place where life is fun and the Mini is a fun car," says Latimer, who also runs the Diesel Playhouse in Toronto.
"I think it's very cool. It's certainly different than a truck. A truck is much more of a boy's car. I've always loved the convertible and it's great for the environment," says the 43-year-old, who supports several charities including One X One, African Children's Choir and Free the Children.
Another bonus the Mini gives the 6-foot-1 producer is the space. "The legroom is amazing.
"I've got more legroom in the Mini than I did in the Tahoe, which is such a strange thing to think about. I can stretch out fully my legs.
"But granted I can't put anybody in the back seat," says Latimer, who is also developing a musical based on the 1950s TV show, Queen for a Day.
On the downside, "there's a big blind spot. You have to use your mirrors well. That's the only thing with the Mini."
Latimer confesses he doesn't listen to music in his car — even though he also manages the music group, Canadian Tenors — because he's too busy with business.
"When I get into a car, I immediately get on the phone. I walk out of the car on the phone. I'll listen to 680 News if I need to know the traffic, but that's about it. The sound system is a good system in the Mini, but it's not something that's important to me.
"I've been fortunate, touch wood, not having accidents." Although he did hit a pothole that resulted in major tire damage on his 3-Series.
"The lesson I learned is when you get a Blackberry message you should not look at it," he laughs. "Wait until you're pulled over."
Latimer's first car was a Nissan 280ZX. "It was very flashy and fun and it spoke to you. It said your door is ajar. It had all those great words. I loved that it spoke. It was so cute. But I grew out of that," says Latimer, whose partner of 11 years, Larry Tobin, is a special education teacher.
Over the years, Latimer has also owned two Jeeps, several other BMWs, a few trucks and a Saab convertible. But his dream car is an older Mercedes-Benz 560SL.
"It's one of my favourite cars of all time," he says.
"It was my father's favourite car. And he always said he wanted to get one before he died. And he died of cancer about five years ago."
