Jacques Desrosiers (July 8, 1938 – June 11, 1996) was a Québécois Canadian singer and actor, best known for his role as the clown Patof in the Canadian television series Patofville. He was born in Montreal, Quebec.
Early life Jacques Desrosiers was the seventh child from a family of 15. He was the son of Pierre Desrosiers, a burlesque actor and pianist Lucienne Fleury. Jacques had two brothers who were singers, André Fontaine and Édouard Desrosiers.
Following his parent's footsteps, Jacuqeus took drama lessons with Sita Riddez but never completed them. As he performed with an amateur theatre troupe, he was approached by Nicolas Doclin, a worker from CBC/Radio-Canada which helped Jacques set foot in television. During this time, he also joined Paul Buissonneau's Théâtre de la Roulotte as supporting roles.
Television Jacques was involved in many projects including the musical Zéro de conduite (1963–64), where he met Dominique Michel, Denise Filiatrault, and Donald Lautrec. He was also in another musical alongside Clémence Desrochers, Le vol du flamant rose in 1964.
In 1972, he was asked to play the role of a clown for The Captain's Circus. While initially refusing, he finally made a single appearance that helped increased Patof's popularity and made him a main star in Télé-Métropole shows.
Cinema & theatre
Jacques Desrosiers appeared in several Canadian films, such as C'est pas la faute à Jacques Cartier (1967), Après ski (1970), Le Party (1990) directed by Pierre Falardeau and La Florida (1993) directed by George Mihalka.
Additionally, he performed in comedy theatre productions under the management of Gilles Latulippe.
Personal life Jacques was a homosexual but never disclosed the fact during his life due to his role in children entertainment and societal taboo at the time.
Jacques Desrosiers died on June 11, 1996, at the age of 57, due to bone and lung cancer following a brief illness.
Filmography
Cinema and TV series 1957 Domino (TV series) 1958 Cirque Boto (TV series) 1963 Ça va éclater (end-of-year special with Dominique Michel, Denise Filiatrault and Donald Lautrec) 1966 YUL 871 1967 Moi et l'autre (TV series) 1967 It Isn't Jacques Cartier's Fault (C'est pas la faute à Jacques Cartier) 1968 Le Paradis terrestre (TV series) 1968 Les trois cloches (TV series) 1969-1970 Entre nous (TV series) 1969-1970 Vaudeville (TV series) 1970 Bon appétit (TV series) 1971 Sex in the Snow (Après-ski) 1971 Finalement... 1972 Café Terrasse (TV series) 1972-1973 Le cirque du Capitaine (TV series) 1972 Les Indrogables 1972 The Rebels (Quelques arpents de neige) 1972-1973 Madame est servie (TV series) 1973-1976 Patofville (TV series) 1974 There's Nothing Wrong with Being Good to Yourself (C'est jeune et ça sait tout) 1975-1976 Patof raconte (TV series) 1976-1977 Patof voyage (TV series) 1976 Chère Isabelle (TV series) 1977-1978 Monsieur Tranquille (TV series) 1979 Chez Denise (TV series) 1990 Avec un grand A (TV series), episode called "Michel et François" 1990 The Party (Le Party) 1993 La Florida 1995 Scoop IV (TV series)
DVD 2007 Le Party (Maple pictures) 2007 C'est pas la faute à Jacques-Cartier (Carte Blanche collection, ONF) 2008 Après-Ski (Equinoxe Films) 2008 La Florida (Alliance) 2011 Bonjour Patof (Musicor Produits Spéciaux)
Discography Albums YearAlbumLabelQc ChartNotes1959Et voici : Jacques DesrosiersFleur de lys—1960Jacques Desrosiers au « Casa Loma »Apex—Live, reissued in 1966 under the name Monsieur citron (Lero)1964Comédie twistéeTrans-CanadaTop 50Reissued in 1966 (Franco-Élite)1968Jacques Desrosiers chante la pouleTrans-Canada—Reissued in 1968 under the name Sur la terrasse (Nouveau Montagnard)1968Jacques DesrosiersSoleil—1972Patof en RussieCampusN°5Patof Album1972Patof chez les esquimauxCampus—Patof Album1972Patof chez les coupeurs de têtesCampus—Patof Album1972Patof dans la baleineCampusTop 50Patof Album1972Patof chez les petits hommes vertsCampusTop 50Patof Album1972Patof chez les cowboysCampusTop 50Patof Album1973Patof chante 10 chansons pour tous les enfants du mondeCampusTop 50Patof Album1973Patofville – Patof chante pour toiCampusTop 50Patof Album1974Bienvenue dans ma bottineCampusTop 50Patof Album1975Patof RockCampus—Patof Album1975Noël Noël Noël avec PatofCampus—Patof Album1976Gare... à PatofCampus—Patof Album1976Super PatofCampus—Patof Album1977Eugène – Les chansons d'EugèneT.M./P.A.X.—Eugène Album
Singles YearSingleLabelQc ChartNotes1958Dans nos campagnes –La veuveApex——1958Je n'suis pas beau –Ça m'gêneSandryon——1958Le peddler –La java à LuminaFleur de lys—N°221959Hortense, t'es pas sexée –Ou trop vite ou pas assezFleur de lys——1959Et voici Jacques Desrosiers –Je prometFleur de lys——1959Alfonso –Y paraît queFleur de lys——1960La lune et les terriens –La java des mal mariésVariétés——With Les Bouts d'choux (acc. by Fernando Saint-Georges Ensemble)1961Tu t'laisses aller –Fais-moi hiApex——1963La machine à laver –Bossa nova MadeleineFrancoN°30—1965Je prends l'œuf –L'état du QuébecSuccès du jour—N°161965Splish Splash –C'est toi mon ciboleTélédiscTop 50—1965Y'a des bébittes –Je suis soldatTélédiscN°30—1966Un homme malade –Les cigarettesTélédisc——1966L'état du Québec '66 –Les élucubrations de JacquesTélédisc——1967Le téléfon –Message du présidentCasinoN°35—1967Mao et Moa –Monsieur ZCasino——1967Guantanamera –L'homme mécaniqueÉlysée——1967Mon cerf-volant –InstrumentalÉlysée——From the movie "C'est pas la faute à Jacques Cartier"1968Comme d'habitude –La pouleCanusa——1969La samba de la lune –Dis que tu m'aimesCanusa——1970Pollution de l'air –Le beau tempsR&B——1971Une job pour Noël –C'est pu pareilSpectrum——With Gilbert Chénier1972Patof Blou (children version) –Patof Blou (political version)CampusN°1—Patof Single1972Patof le roi des clowns –Ballade pour un clown (Dis Patof?)CampusN°2—Patof Single1973The King of Clowns –Dear PatofPolydor——Patof Single1973Oh! Les enfants –On m'applauditCampusN°14—Patof Single1973Patofville –L'éléphant Tic-TacCampusN°15—Patof Single1973L'éléphant Tic-Tac (mono version) –L'éléphant Tic-Tac (mono version)Campus——Patof Single, "D.J. Special" version1973Bonjour les enfants –La plus belle poupée du mondeCampusN°15—Patof Single1974Bienvenue dans ma bottine –Goodbye, au revoir, dasvidanie!CampusN°31—Patof Single1975Gros minou –Bonjour PatofCampus——Patof Single1975Y'a rien là –Y'a rien là (instrumental)Campus——1976Patof Blou –Patofville –Bonjour Patof –Gros minouCampus————Patof Single, Previously released material, Promo1976Faut pas me chercher (Patof and Monsieur Tranquille) –Mon ami PierrotJades——Patof Single, with Roger Giguère1980T'es pas sérieux –On fait le tour de la terreGirafe——Nestor & Patof Single, with Claude Blanchard
Compilations YearAlbumLabelQc ChartNotes1974Patof le roi des clownsPantinTop 50Patof Album197522 grands succès de PatofTrans-World—Patof Album
Collaborations and performances as guest star YearAlbumCollaboratorNotes1963 Les trois cloches Soleil1964 Le vol rose du Flamant Le vol rose du flamant (with the group) – Récitatif des arrivants (with the group) – Le gigueur de ville (with the group) – Au prix du gros – Last call (with Jean-Pierre Masson). (Others songs by various artists) (RCA Victor)1967 Initiation au karaté Soleil1975 C'est le départ/They're off! Horse racing game, 4 LP Box Set, special collaboration of Jacques Desrosiers (Arthur Sugarman)1976 Patofville – Patof et ses amis TeeVee, Compilation1977 20 grands succès de Patof, Fafouin, Itof Télé-Métropole Inc., Compilation1980 Nestor et Patof – Pour tous Girafe2006 Nestor – Les grands succès Featuring the B-side of the album Nestor et Patof – Pour tous (Disques Mérite, Compilation)
Complete discography Jacques Desrosiers French Discography Patof French Discography Monsieur Tranquille French Discography
Theatre 195? Altitude 3200, by Julien Luchaire. 1958 Les oiseaux de lune, by Marcel Aymé (Comédie Canadienne) 1963-1964 Zéro de conduite (musical review with Dominique Michel, Denise Filiatrault and Donald Lautrec) 1964 Le vol rose du Flamant, a musical by Clémence DesRochers and Pierre F. Brault 1989 La muselière, by Yvon Brochu (Théâtre Sainte-Adèle) 1995 Femme demandée (Théâtre des Variétés)
Bibliography Jacques Desrosiers, Millionnaire (autobiography), Boucherville, Les Éditions de Mortagne, 1981.
Awards and recognition 1972 Golden record (100,000 sales) for the single Patof Blou Jacques-Charles Gilliot, Panorama du disque – Dans les coulisses, Photo-Journal, 25 September 1972, p. 56 1973 Golden record (100,000 sales) for the single Patof le roi des clowns 1997 A street in Quebec (Blainville) was named in his honor
References
External links French Blog about Patof and Jacques Desrosiers