Guy Provost

Guy Provost

Guy Provost, actor (b at Hull, Qué 19 May 1925, d at Montréal 11 Feb 2004). Guy Provost was raised in theatrical circles thanks to his father, the founder of L'Ècole dramatique de Hull. In 1946 he joined the Compagnons de Saint-Laurent, and in 1948 he won the Prix Jean-Lallemand at the Festival d'art dramatique. This prize came with a Québec government scholarship that enabled him to study in France, where he was admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris. Not long afterward, he joined Jean Vilar's Théâtre National Populaire, where he would make his debut alongside Gérard Philippe and Philippe Noiret.

Provost returned to Quebec permanently in 1955 and began what would prove to be a most prolific television and theatre career. From 1956 to 1965 he was the host of a very popular educational program for youth: La vie qui bat. His calm, self-assured demeanour, his deep voice and strong presence, quickly made him indispensable; he appeared in all the productions.

Provost distinguished himself in the role of Révérend Père Alexandre in La Famille Plouffe (1953-57) or, in English, The Plouffe Family (1954-57). The TV series was adapted from Roger Lemelin's novel (1948) and was Radio-Canada's first huge success (1953-57). The show was based on the everyday life of a working-class family in Old Québec in the years following the Second World War, and was of immense cultural importance in Quebec.

He was next seen in the role of the handsome Alexis Labranche in the TV series Les belles histoires des pays d'en haut (1956-70). Based on Claude-Henri Grignon's Un homme et son péché (1933), the story depicts life in the village of Saint-Adèle in the Upper Laurentians in 1889. With the unfolding of Alexis's unrequited love for Donalda, Provost established himself as one of Québec's most talented and acclaimed actors.

Throughout his long and productive career, Provost was seen in more than 50 television series, includingMont-Joye (1970-75), Terre humaine (1978-84) and Sous un ciel variable (1992-97). At the same time, his theatre career was at its height. With more than 125 plays to his credit at the THÉÂTRE DU NOUVEAU MONDE, the THÉÂTRE DU RIDEAU VERT and La Compagnie Jean Duceppe, he also appeared in more than 10 films, including Michel BRAULT's masterpiece Les Ordres (1974), which won 4 Genie Awards and the prize for best director at Cannes.

Widely acclaimed and appreciated, Provost always presented solid, mythical, respectable and respected characters - somewhat a reflection of himself. His warm, distinctive voice and his presence and charisma made him a memorable actor.

For two years running (1996, -1997), Provost won the Prix Gémaux for best male performer for playing Léon in the TV series Sous un ciel variable. In 2003 he was named an officer of the ORDER OF CANADA, and chevalier of the NATIONAL ORDER OF QUÉBEC.