Elvis Gratton actor Julien Poulin has died at 78

Actor Julien Poulin passed away at the age of 78 on Saturday.

His agent, Eugénie Gaillard, confirmed to The Canadian Press on Sunday afternoon the information first reported by Radio-Canada.

The deceased's family did not reveal the cause of death.

“I have no further details. The family would like their privacy to be respected at this time,” Gaillard said by telephone.

Born in Montreal on April 20, 1946, Poulin appeared in some 100 films. His most memorable role was certainly that of Bob Gratton in the cult classic trilogy “Elvis Gratton”, directed by his friend Pierre Falardeau.

“He left a major mark on Quebec culture in many ways,” said his agency in a news release. “An icon of Quebec cinema, Julien Poulin brought to the big screen one of the most famous characters in Quebec cinema.”

Poulin won two Jutra awards during his career: in 2000 for his supporting role in Richard Ciupka's “Le dernier souffle” and in 2013 for his lead role in Rafaël Ouellet's “Camion”.

In 2007, he won the Gémeau award for best supporting actor for his work in the series “Minuit, le soir”, directed by Podz.

Podz also directed him in the 2014 film Miraculum.

His film credits include 15 février 1839, Séraphin: Un homme et son péché, Monica la mitraille, Le crime d'Ovide Plouffe, Le Matou, Babine, Paul à Québec and Embrasse-moi comme tu m'aimes.

Many of his roles were socio-political.

“In general, people who have character or thoughts are not disconnected from reality,” he explained on Fax, a program on the now-defunct Musique Plus channel in 1997. “And reality is social, political and human. Humans are not independent of these things.”

His television credits include roles in Virginie, Les Bougon, Le Négociateur, Bob Gratton, ma vie, my life, Les Pays d'en haut, Unité 9 and, more recently, Léo and L'échappée.

Poulin began his prolific career as a stage actor in the 1960s with Paul Buissonneau. He then joined the La Veillée group in the mid-1970s.

“His association with Compagnie Omnibus and his work with Dominic Champagne are milestones in his theatrical career and the beginnings of his long career as an actor,” said his agency.

A staunch supporter of Quebec's independence cause, Poulin was invited to deliver the Patriotic Speech during the Fête Nationale show in 1998.

“The time has come to tell the citizens of this country and the rest of the world that we are here with the fire lit in our hands and that we will be here with our songs and our music until the end of the night, until the day when the great day must dawn,” he said to the thousands of spectators gathered.

Quebec Premier François Legault offered his condolences to Poulin's family and friends on the X social network.

“Julien Poulin: A great Quebec actor. I remember of course his role as Elvis Gratton, but also his exceptional performance in ‘Minuit, le soir’. My condolences to his family and friends,” he wrote.

A number of personalities also paid tribute to him.

“Quebec loses today a giant of its culture and a giant of activism for Quebec independence,” wrote Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on X. “Let us be sure that his work will also leave its mark on future generations of Quebecers.”

Quebec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal referred to Elvis Gratton.

“What sad news! Along with Pierre Falardeau, Julien Poulin produced a powerful work. When I was young and I watched Elvis Gratton, I laughed out loud. It was only later that I understood the charge behind this intelligent and deeply political social criticism,” she said on X.

Even within the federalist camp, the tributes were well received.

“What sad news that Julien Poulin has passed away, we are losing a great actor. He made us laugh and moved us,” commented Liberal Party interim leader Marc Tanguay.

Union des artistes posted on Facebook that “his exceptional contribution to Quebec's cultural landscape will be remembered for a long time to come.”

Singer-songwriter Dan Bigras, who composed the music for Falardeau's last film, recalled spending a couple of months with him.

“He's an enormous actor, a great guy and hyper-sensitive,” he wrote on Facebook.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 5, 2025.