Dominique Michel
Born: 1932-09-24 in Sorel-Tracy, Québec, Canada
Known For: Acting
Biography
Dominique Michel (born Aimée Sylvestre; September 24, 1932) is a retired Québec comedian, actress, singer and artist. She began her career in cabarets 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 in 1960. 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: The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain) and its sequel The Barbarian Invasions (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 minutes special. In 1992, Michel received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in broadcasting. 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."[1] 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 that she had colon cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy treatments, she declared in April 2011 that she was cancer-free.
Filmography
2023
- Janette Bertrand : à l'aube d'être centenaire as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2020
- La semaine des 4 Julie as Self
- Jukebox as Self (archive footage)
2019
- Bonsoir bonsoir! as Self
- Valérie et moi as Self
2018
- Cette année-là as Self
2017
- Le beau dimanche as Self
- MTL as Self
- Conversation secrète as Self
- Juste pour rire - 35 ans d'ovations as Self (archive footage)
2016
- Les échangistes as Self
- Vox pop as Self
2014
- Viens-tu faire un tour? as Self
- Marina as Self
2013
- Qui êtes-vous? as Self
2010
- Les Enfants de la télé as Self
2008
2007
- Le moment de vérité as Self
2004
- Tout le monde en parle as Self
- C'est dans l'air! as Self
2003
- The Barbarian Invasions as Dominique St. Arnaud
2002
- Viens voir les comédiens as Self
1999
- Catherine as Rachel Salvail
- Laura Cadieux II as Mother-in-law
1994
- Louis the 19th, King of the Airwaves as Aline Jobin
1988
- Les Tisserands du pouvoir as Henriette Fontaine
1987
- Night Zoo as Receptionist at peep-show
1986
- The Decline of the American Empire as Dominique
1984
- The Crime of Ovide Plouffe as L'agente de voyage
- Le 101, ouest, avenue des Pins as Sonia
- The Crime of Ovide Plouffe
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
1976
- Far Away From You, Darling as Rita
1974
- Les aventures d'une jeune veuve as Hélène
1973
- There's Always a Way to Find a Way as Mother Superior
- I've Had It as Danielle Cartier
1971
- Hold on to Daddy's Ears as Suzanne David
1968
1966
- Moi... et l'autre as Dominique André
1956
- Let's sing now as Self