Jean GasconCC (December 21, 1920 – April 13, 1988) was a Canadian opera director, actor, and administrator.
Career
Originally bent on a career in medicine, Gascon abandoned it for the stage after considerable work with amateur groups in Montreal. A scholarship in 1946 from the Government of France enabled him to study dramatic art in Paris. He studied with Ludmilla Pitoëff.[1]
Between 1960 and 1963, he was founding Administrative Director of the National Theatre School of Canada[1] and was awarded the Canadian Drama Award, the Prix Victor Dore.
Gascon's career in the Canadian theatre as a bilingual actor and director achieved an impressive reputation. He gained honorary degrees from McGill and Bishop's Universities. He was also awarded the Order of Canada (in 1975), the Prix du Québec and the Royal Bank Award.[1]
As an actor in both English and French languages, his credits include such noteworthy portrayals as Richard in Richard II, and the Captain in Dance of Death.[6]
He was the French/Indian Batise in the 1970 movie A Man Called Horse and was in a film in 1988 called À corps perdu (Straight for the Heart).[1]