Dominique Michel
Encyclopedia
Dominique Michel, OC
, CQ
(born September 24, 1932 in Sorel-Tracy
, Quebec
as Aimée Sylvestre) is a Quebec
comedian, actress, singer and artist.
s performing songs written by Raymond Lévesque and subsequently sang with Jean Coutu
.
She made her television debut co-hosting a variety show then widened her audience with her first sitcom Moi et l'autre in which she co-starred with Denise Filiatrault
. The show was an enormous success during its run from 1966 to 1972 and made Michel a household name in Quebec.
She has been married only once in 1958 to New York Rangers
all star Camille Henry
but later divorced.
From 1977 to 1982, she had numerous leading roles in television programs such as Dominique, Chère Isabelle and Métro-boulot-dodo.
Michel's first film role was in Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa with Yvon Deschamps
in 1971. She played for cineast Denys Arcand
in two movies well-known outside of Quebec: Le Déclin de l'empire américain
and its sequel Les Invasions barbares
.
She is also a comedian. She notably co-starred with Daniel Lemire and has hosted the Festival Juste pour rire
multiple times. Michel also showed her multiple comedic talents in the year-end review show Bye Bye from Radio-Canada
in which she would do multiple impressions on top of hosting the 90 minute special.
In 1994, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
"for her encouragement of humour and her contribution to the cultural life of the country." In 2002, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
.
In 1995, she received, jointly with Denise Filiatrault, the Grand Prix Gémeau from l'Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision for lifetime achievements.
In 2010, at 77, it was announced she had colon cancer.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, CQ
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(born September 24, 1932 in Sorel-Tracy
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Sorel-Tracy is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada and the geographical end point of the Lake Champlain Valley at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, on the western edge of Lac Saint-Pierre downstream and east of nearby Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
as Aimée Sylvestre) is a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
comedian, actress, singer and artist.
Biography
She began her career in cabaretCabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
s performing songs written by Raymond Lévesque and subsequently sang with Jean Coutu
Jean Coutu (actor)
Jean Coutu was a Canadian actor. Born in Montreal, his career included many movies and TV series in Quebec, including episodes of La famille Plouffe in 1953. He also played in a Disney production Niki The Wild Dog of the North, becoming one of the few Quebeckers of his era to have appeared in...
.
She made her television debut co-hosting a variety show then widened her audience with her first sitcom Moi et l'autre in which she co-starred with Denise Filiatrault
Denise Filiatrault
Denise Filiatrault, OC, OQ is a Canadian actress and director.In 1982, she won a "Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role" Genie Award for her performance in Les Plouffe...
. The show was an enormous success during its run from 1966 to 1972 and made Michel a household name in Quebec.
She has been married only once in 1958 to New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
all star Camille Henry
Camille Henry
Camille Joseph Wilfred "The Eel" Henry was a professional ice hockey left winger who played for the New York Rangers, the Chicago Black Hawks and the St...
but later divorced.
From 1977 to 1982, she had numerous leading roles in television programs such as Dominique, Chère Isabelle and Métro-boulot-dodo.
Michel's first film role was in Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa with Yvon Deschamps
Yvon Deschamps
Yvon Deschamps, CQ is a Quebec author, actor, comedian and producer best known for his monologues. His social-commentary-tinged humour propelled him to prominence in Quebec popular culture in the 1970s and 1980s...
in 1971. She played for cineast Denys Arcand
Denys Arcand
Georges-Henri Denys Arcand, is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He has won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2004 for The Barbarian Invasions...
in two movies well-known outside of Quebec: Le Déclin de l'empire américain
Le Déclin de l'empire américain
The Decline of the American Empire is a 1986 Québécois comedy/drama film directed by Denys Arcand. It was followed by a sequel, The Barbarian Invasions in 2003.-Synopsis:...
and its sequel Les Invasions barbares
Les Invasions barbares
The Barbarian Invasions is a 2003 French Canadian comedy-drama film directed by Denys Arcand. It is the sequel to Arcand's earlier film The Decline of the American Empire and is followed by Days of Darkness. The film was produced by companies from both Canada and France, including Telefilm Canada,...
.
She is also a comedian. She notably co-starred with Daniel Lemire and has hosted the Festival Juste pour rire
Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1983. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world.- Information :...
multiple times. Michel also showed her multiple comedic talents in the year-end review show Bye Bye from Radio-Canada
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in which she would do multiple impressions on top of hosting the 90 minute special.
In 1994, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"for her encouragement of humour and her contribution to the cultural life of the country." In 2002, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
.
In 1995, she received, jointly with Denise Filiatrault, the Grand Prix Gémeau from l'Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision for lifetime achievements.
In 2010, at 77, it was announced she had colon cancer.
Movies
- Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa (1971)
- J'ai mon voyage! (1973)
- Les aventures d'une jeune veuve (1974)
- Je suis loin de toi mignonne (1976)
- le Crime d'Ovide Plouffe (1984)
- Le Déclin de l'empire américainLe Déclin de l'empire américainThe Decline of the American Empire is a 1986 Québécois comedy/drama film directed by Denys Arcand. It was followed by a sequel, The Barbarian Invasions in 2003.-Synopsis:...
(1986) - Un zoo la nuit (1987)
- Louis 19, le roi des ondesLouis 19, le roi des ondesLouis 19, le roi des ondes is a Canadian comedy film, released in 1994.The film stars Martin Drainville as Louis Jobin, a television fanatic who wins a contest to be on TV...
(1994) - Laura Cadieux... la suite (1999)
- Les Invasions barbaresLes Invasions barbaresThe Barbarian Invasions is a 2003 French Canadian comedy-drama film directed by Denys Arcand. It is the sequel to Arcand's earlier film The Decline of the American Empire and is followed by Days of Darkness. The film was produced by companies from both Canada and France, including Telefilm Canada,...
(2003)
Television
- Moi et l'autre (from 1966 to 1972)
- Dominique (from 1977 to 1979)
- Chère Isabelle (1976)
- Métro-boulot-dodo (1982)
- Montréal, ville ouverte (1992)
- CatherineCatherine (TV series)Catherine was a Quebec sitcom that aired on Radio-Canada from 1999 to 2003. It tells the story of Catherine , a sexy, epicurean, man-crazy Montrealer in her thirties working at the advertising agency Mirage-Image, as well as the story of her best friend and orderly flatmate Sophie , her landlord...
(from 2000 to 2002)