Denise Gagnon, an actress and playwright well known in the cultural community, died Wednesday in Quebec at the age of 87.
During his 60-year career, he was comfortable in the history of theatre, mainly in Quebec but also across the province, in addition to his numerous roles on TV and cinema, as well as avant-garde in the classics. works.
On television, she was seen in several soap operas and serials Braves Park, Cormorant, Black Dog Inn, With capital A, The scoop… In cinema, he filmed with Yves Simoneau (red eyes), Pierre Falardeau (October) and Bernard Emand (Novena)
A rich legacy
Trained in acting, he was in the first cohort of the Quebec Conservatoire in 1961. Subsequently, Denis Gagnon taught several generations of artists in one place for about twenty years.
The actress was a regular at Trident at the Grand Théâtre de Quebec; He was part of the company’s debut in 1971 with Paul Hebert, with whom he starred Pygmalion. He loved exploring works from Lorca to Chekhov, including Racine and the Greeks. But he also liked the works of Michel Marc Bouchard and Marie Laberge with their texts.Lay Night Cap Baron Periscope) or Michael Tremblay (Holy Mass for the Summer Full Moonin Duceppe).
Playwright Michel Tremblay also responded to the actress’ departure Wednesday evening: “The theater in Quebec is losing one of its most beautiful jewels. Because she was so passionate, Denise traveled from Quebec to Montreal every day to play. Hanging house In 1990 he continued to give lessons at the Conservatory, with Giuseppe. »
Photo courtesy of Francois Brunelle, DUCEPPE
Inside Denis Gagnon Charlotte is my sister With Micheline Bernard, in 2005
He also shone in several productions of the author of Rue Fabre: Marcel is chased by dogs, Albertine in five steps, Hello, there, hello, sFor years I forgot about the memorable Jermaine Lawson SistersUnder the direction of Serge Denoncourt at the Theater du Trident.
But Denis Gagnon can also take risks, as he did in Bozo Godot From Beckett to La Porte, or Revisited Trojan Women Her signature role in the early 2000s with Vajdi Mouwat remains that of Aurelie. Aurelie, my sisterA 1988 play written and directed by Marie Laberge with a young Guillain Tremblay. Great success! The play was revived the following year at the Cafe de la Place in Montreal and at the National Arts Center in Ottawa.
reactions
His friend Denis Bernard paid tribute to him on Facebook on Wednesday evening: “Rest in peace… Wherever you are, may the echo of your laughter be with us forever. »
“Denise Gagnon, the great actress and gifted teacher, has died. Thank you for giving me a taste of the language, its richness and beauty,” actor Thierry Dubey wrote on Facebook. Françoise L’Écuyer asserted that she was “a remarkable partner and accomplice, besides being an exceptional woman”.
Quebec actor Jonathan Gagnon was one of her former students at the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. “I graduated in 2003, and we were the first group to bear the name of a former graduate of the Conservatory. We were Denise Gagnon partners. Today I learned of her death. This actress, larger than life, was significant in my life,” he wrote.
All of these characters, skillfully defended by Denis Gagnon, remain etched in the memory of the public and his partners.
“Pop culture practitioner. Award-winning tv junkie. Creator. Devoted food geek. Twitter lover. Beer enthusiast.”
