René Simard

René Claude Simard, CM, (born February 28, 1961) is a pop singer from Quebec.[1] He is the older brother of Nathalie Simard.

For the Canadian health professional, see René Simard (health professional).

Early life

Simard was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec.[1]

Career

In 1974, René Simard was awarded the Grand Prix by Frank Sinatra at the annual Tokyo Music Festival.[2] In Canada, he hosted the CBC Television series, The René Simard Show, from 1977 to 1979.[3]

Simard was also an occasional actor. He played the henchman Stu in the 1995 film Kids of the Round Table.[4][5]

Between 2006 and 2008, he hosted the television series L'heure de gloire on Radio-Canada.[6]

Simard was formerly managed by Guy Cloutier as well as his sister Nathalie. In 2004, Cloutier was convicted of sexually assaulting Nathalie when she was a child.[7] Michel Vastel's 2005 book on the case, Briser le silence (Breaking the Silence), alleged that René co-operated with Cloutier in trying to hide the assaults.[8] In 2005, Simard made a public statement in which he denied this.[9]

In 1999 he briefly played the role of The Phantom in the Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera (April to May 23, 1999). He was succeeded by Paul Stanley.[10]

Simard has been married to TV hostess Marie-Josée Taillefer since 1987.[11]

In 2014, Simard was named a Member of the Order of Canada "[f]or his contributions to the development of Quebec culture as a performer, host and director."[12]

References
  1. Menard, Denise; Grills, Barry; L'herbier, Benoit. "Rene Simard". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  2. Rene Simard with Frank Sinatra. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 29 January 1977. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. "Rene Simard, April 20, Salle Pierre-Mercure". The Montrealer. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  4. Kelly, Brendan (May 18, 1995). "Kids of the Round Table – Variety". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  5. Umland, Rebecca A.; Umland, Samuel J. (1996). The Use of Arthurian Legend in Hollywood Film: From Connecticut Yankees to Fisher Kings. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 72. ISBN 0-313-29798-3. ISSN 0198-9871 – via Google Books.
  6. "De sacrés artistes à Sacré talent!". Le Devoir. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  7. Paquet, Daniel. "1975 - Du rêve au cauchemar". Le Journal De Quebec. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  8. "René Simard réplique à Michel Vastel". Radio-Canada. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  9. "Simard challenges book on sister". CBC. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  10. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/livent-s-phantom-to-leave-toronto-1.180153. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "30 ans de mariage pour René Simard et Marie-Josée Taillefer". Radio-Canada. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  12. "Order of Canada Appointments". June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.


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