Yvon Deschamps

Yvon Deschamps

Yvon Deschamps left school early and worked at Radio-Canada as a messenger before taking private drama lessons from Paul Buissonneau. Deschamps played his first roles at the Théâtre Universitaire Canadien with Paul Hébert in 1958 and 1959. In 1959 he made his first television appearance on Radio Canada. That same year Buissonneau hired him as an actor at the Roulotte. He played at La Poudrière and at L'Égrégore in 1960 and, beginning in 1961, appeared at Claude Leveillée concerts. Buissonneau hired him as an assistant in 1963 and, the following year, they founded Théâtre de Quat'Sous together with Claude Léveillée and Jean-Louis Millette.

Deschamps appeared in his first revues in 1963 and in his first film, Délivrez-nous du mal, in 1964. But above all he is known for his satirical, political monologues, which he began to perform in 1967 in restaurants and clubs such as the Boîte à Clémence. He became famous especially after his participation in L'Osstidcho, a revue that also brought Louise Forestier and Robert Charlebois in the limelight. Subsequently, he became increasingly famous for his monologues, performing to filled halls every night of the week. Throughout his career, he received several awards including being chosen as Personnalité artistique de l'année [Artistic Personality of the Year] by La Presse in 1994, and winning a Félix award from ADISQ in 1999.

Deschamps is also known for his community work. In particular, he has helped to finance Le Chaînon, a Montreal house for women in distress. In 1996, he acquired the Manoir Rouville-Campbell, where he built a performance hall.