Jean-Louis Roux

Jean-Louis Roux, CC CQ (May 18, 1923 – November 28, 2013) was a Canadian politician, entertainer and playwright who was briefly the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.^[1][2]

Biography

Born in Montreal, Quebec, he originally studied medicine at the Université de Montréal, but gave it up to pursue acting. After travelling and performing in New York and Paris he returned to Montreal and helped create the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and became a frequent actor in and director of its productions for the next several years. He also turned to writing and wrote successful plays, radio dramas, and television shows.

His greatest fame comes from his role on La famille Plouffe, a very successful Quebec situation comedy. Roux served as President of the Canadian Conference of the Arts from 1968 through 1970. In 1994 he was appointed to the Senate and remained there until resigning in 1996.^[2] A fierce federalist, great controversy arose when he compared Quebec separatists to Nazis.

Upon leaving the Senate he was, at age 73, the oldest person ever appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec on August 8, 1996. Controversy reemerged when pictures were found showing Roux wearing a swastika on his lab coat in protest of the proposal to invoke conscription for service in World War II. Roux served (training) in the Canadian Army from 1942 to 1946. Roux thus resigned his position on November 5, 1996. On May 31, 1997 Roux returned to public life when the federal government appointed him to be chair of the Canada Council.

In 1971 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1987. In 1989, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. Roux received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his lifetime contributions to Canadian theatre in 2004.^[3]

He died in Montreal on November 28, 2013.^[4]

Coat of arms

Arms of Jean-Louis Roux

Notes The arms of Jean-Louis Roux consist of:[5] Crest A secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) proper holding in its dexter claw an open book Argent bound Gules, standing on a rock set with grass proper. Escutcheon Gules in chief the masks of comedy and tragedy, in base a neutral mask Argent. Supporters Two grey wolves howling. Compartment A grassy compartment set with snow-capped mountains and pine trees proper. Motto Aider Autrui (To Help Others)

See also

• List of Lieutenant Governors of Quebec
• Timeline of Quebec history

References

External links

IMDB Profile

Lieutenant-Governors of Quebec Post-Confederation (1867–present) Belleau Caron Saint-Just Robitaille Masson Angers Chapleau Jetté Pelletier Langelier Leblanc Fitzpatrick Brodeur Pérodeau Gouin Carroll Patenaude Fiset Fauteux Gagnon Comtois Lapointe Côté Lamontagne Asselin Roux Thibault Duchesne Province of Canada (1841–1866)* Clitherow Jackson Bagot Fernhill Cathcart Elgin Head Monck Lower Canada (1791–1841) Carleton (con't from 1791) Prescott Milnes Dunn Craig Prévost Drummond Wilson Sherbrooke Richmond Dalhousie Aylmer Gosford Colborne Durham Sydenham British Province of Quebec (1759–1791)* Amherst Murray Carleton Haldimand Carleton (2nd Time) The Crown's representative from 1759 to 1791, and from 1841 to 1866 held the office and rank of Governor-General