Luc Picard

Luc Picard (born 24 September 1961) is a French-Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter celebrated for his versatile performances in Quebecois theatre, film, and television, often portraying complex, introspective characters drawn from historical and contemporary narratives.^[1] Born in Lachine, Quebec, Picard grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Montreal before his family relocated to Laval at age 12; after initially studying administration, he trained at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal from 1985 to 1988, launching a career that spans stage, screen, and behind-the-camera work.^[1] His early theatre roles included Signer (1988) and a critically acclaimed portrayal of Alceste in Molière's Le Misanthrope (1998), while his breakthrough in film came with the role of Lévesque in Octobre (1994), a depiction of the 1970 October Crisis.^[1] On television, he earned acclaim for his performance as the mob boss in the crime series Omerta (1996) and as labor leader Michel Chartrand in the historical drama Chartrand et Simonne (2000).^[1] Picard's directorial debut, L’audition (2005), in which he also starred, won the Iris d’or at the Festival international du film de Montréal and multiple international awards, solidifying his reputation as a multifaceted artist.^[1][2] He has received numerous accolades, including multiple Gémeaux Awards for best actor (1997, 1999, 2000, 2004), a Jutra Award for best actor in 15 février 1839 (2002), a Genie Award for Savage Messiah (2002), and a 2023 Prix Iris nomination for best actor at the Quebec Cinema Awards.^[1][3] In 2005, he was named an Artiste pour la paix by the organization Artistes pour la paix.^[1] Picard's recent projects highlight his ongoing influence in Quebec cinema, including directing and starring in Confessions (2022), a role in French Girl (2024), and appearances in the series Société distincte (2024) and Le dernier des monstres (2025).^[4][5]

Biography

Early life and education

Luc Picard was born on September 24, 1961, in Lachine, a working-class neighborhood in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.^[6] He grew up as the youngest of four boys in a modest family, where his father worked for Northern Electric, a telecommunications company.^[6] Raised in this environment, Picard has expressed fond memories of his childhood in the vibrant, community-oriented neighborhood, which was steeped in Quebec's French-speaking cultural traditions.^[6] When he was 12 years old, the family relocated to Laval, a suburb north of Montreal, following his father's promotion, which elevated their socioeconomic status.^[6] From an early age, Picard showed an attraction to movies and writing, reflecting the influences of Quebec's rich theatrical and cinematic heritage.^[6] These early interests connected him to Montreal's burgeoning artistic scene, where French-Canadian storytelling traditions played a formative role in his development.^[7] Initially pursuing a practical path, Picard studied administration, as he considered acting an unattainable aspiration.^[6] However, he shifted focus and enrolled at the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montréal in 1985, a prestigious institution for training in the dramatic arts.^[6] He completed the three-year program in 1988, acquiring foundational skills in interpretation, voice, movement, and stagecraft essential for professional theater.^[6]

Personal life

Luc Picard met actress Isabel Richer on the set of the television series L'ombre de l'épervier in 1997, and the two began a relationship that led to their marriage.^[8] They welcomed their son, Henri Picard, in July 2001.^[8] The family experienced a separation in early 2006 but reconciled the following year, with Picard publicly referring to Richer as his partner during the premiere of his film Les trois petits cochons in August 2007.^[8] Picard and Richer announced their final split in March 2013 after nearly 16 years together, maintaining an amicable relationship focused on co-parenting.^[8] Their son Henri has followed in his parents' footsteps as an actor, appearing in Quebec productions such as Le plongeur (2023) and Cerebrum (2019), while carving out his own path in the industry.^[9] Following the divorce, Picard has resided in Quebec, maintaining a low public profile regarding his private life. He has channeled personal interests into community engagement, serving as spokesperson for the Regroupement des maisons de jeunes du Québec since around 2019 and directing the short film La déforme (2023) based on teen-written screenplays to empower youth voices in the arts.^[10]

Career

Acting career

Luc Picard made his professional acting debut in the 1991 short film Les Sauf-conduits, directed by Manon Briand, where he portrayed one of three characters entangled in a love triangle, earning the Prix Luce-Guilbault for his performance.^[6] Following his training at the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montréal, Picard initially built his career in theater, appearing in productions such as Elvire Jouvet 40 at Théâtre de Quat'Sous and Caligula with Nouvelle Compagnie Théâtrale, before transitioning to screen roles in the early 1990s.^[11] In the 1990s and 2000s, Picard achieved breakthrough success through his portrayal of historical figures rooted in Quebec's labor and sovereignty movements, notably as Michel Chartrand in the biographical miniseries Chartrand et Simonne (2000) and Simonne et Chartrand (2003), roles that earned him Gémeaux Awards and multiple MetroStar nominations for best actor.^[6] He further solidified his reputation with the lead role of Chevalier de Lorimier in Pierre Falardeau's 15 février 1839 (2001), a depiction of the 1838 Lower Canada Rebellion, for which he won the Jutra Award for Best Actor in 2002.^[6] These performances highlighted Picard's ability to embody complex, Quebecois characters driven by social justice and national identity, often drawing from his own working-class upbringing in Lachine, Montreal.^[6] Picard's notable film roles in the early 2000s included the cult leader Roch Thériault in Savage Messiah (2002), a English-language Canadian production that earned him a Genie Award for Best Actor, and the serial killer Michel in The Collector (2002), directed by Jean Beaudin.^[6][12] He continued with the journalist Bernard Valcourt in A Sunday in Kigali (2006), a film set during the Rwandan genocide that addressed themes of humanitarian crisis and personal loss.^[6] On television, he took a leading role as investigator Geoffroy Morin in the long-running police drama District 31 (2016–2022), appearing in over 130 episodes and contributing to the series' focus on urban crime in Montreal.^[13] Picard's career evolved from supporting theater and television parts to prominent lead roles in Quebec cinema, where he frequently collaborated with directors like Falardeau to explore themes of Quebecois cultural and political identity, as seen in his double-agent character in the crime series Omerta (1996).^[6] This progression allowed him to infuse his performances with authenticity drawn from regional history and social issues, transitioning seamlessly between French-language Quebec productions and occasional international ventures.^[6] His move into English-language projects marked a subtle expansion, including minor roles in Canadian co-productions like Savage Messiah, broadening his appeal beyond Quebec audiences while maintaining a focus on character-driven narratives.^[14] In recent years, Picard has sustained his momentum with diverse roles, including the widower Antoine in the horror short Saint-Sacrifice (2023), the father Alphonse Tremblay in the bilingual comedy French Girl (2024), and Michel in the sci-fi drama series Société distincte (2024).^[15][16][17] He starred as Sergeant-Detective David Savard in the 2025 thriller series Le dernier des monstres, continuing his tradition of portraying introspective, morally complex figures in Quebec media.^[18]

Directing career

Luc Picard made his directorial debut with the 2005 film Audition, a drama in which he also starred as a repo man harboring dreams of acting stardom.^[19] The film marked his transition from acting to behind-the-camera work, earning him a Genie Award nomination for Best Direction.^[20] His first feature as a solo director, Babine (2008), adapted tales from Quebec storyteller Fred Pellerin and incorporated elements of magical realism, such as a flying bull and supernatural village folklore, while critiquing the historical influence of the Catholic Church in Quebec society.^[21] Produced independently within Quebec's film industry, the film became a surprise commercial success, grossing over C$2.4 million and ranking as one of the top-grossing Quebecois productions of the year.^[21] Picard's direction emphasized character-driven narratives rooted in regional myths, blending whimsy with social commentary to highlight community dynamics in rural Quebec.^[21] Picard continued exploring Quebec folklore in Ésimésac (2012), an unofficial sequel to Babine that follows a strongman uniting villagers through a community garden amid economic hardship, infused with magical realist flourishes and themes of collective resilience and political idealism.^[22] The film's independent production navigated the challenges of Quebec's modest funding landscape for non-mainstream projects, focusing on intimate, folklore-inspired storytelling rather than high-budget spectacle.^[22] It received praise for its distinct Quebecois lens on family and social bonds, though critics noted its transparent optimism.^[22] In 2016, Picard directed a segment for the anthology film 9, contributing to a collaborative exploration of human experiences through nine interconnected stories, further showcasing his interest in ensemble-driven, thematic depth within Quebec cinema.^[23] His 2017 feature Cross My Heart (original title Les Rois mongols) shifted toward family drama, depicting a 12-year-old girl's desperate bid to keep her siblings together amid parental neglect and the 1970 October Crisis in Montreal, emphasizing themes of childhood vulnerability and social upheaval.^[24] The independent production highlighted Picard's skill in crafting emotionally resonant, character-focused narratives that reflect Quebec's historical tensions.^[24] Picard's most recent directorial effort, Confessions of a Hitman (2022), is a crime drama based on the true confessions of Quebec contract killer Gerald Gallant, whom Picard portrays; the film delves into themes of moral decay and biker gang violence in 1970s-1980s Quebec.^[25] Directed with a focus on psychological introspection and gritty realism, it underscores the challenges of independent filmmaking in Quebec by relying on regional talent and limited resources to recreate historical events.^[25] The project received acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of a dark chapter in provincial history, solidifying Picard's reputation for blending personal vision with culturally specific stories.^[25] In 2025, he directed Violences, an ensemble drama exploring interconnected lives amid themes of violence, starring Gérard Lanvin and Kelly Depeault, with production wrapping in April 2025.^[26]

Recognition

Awards

Luc Picard's breakthrough in Quebec and Canadian cinema was marked by a double win in 2003, receiving the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of the charismatic cult leader Moïse in Savage Messiah (2002), directed by Mario Azzopardi.^[27] This accolade highlighted his ability to embody complex, intense characters, contributing to the film's recognition at the 23rd Genie Awards.^[28] Concurrently, he earned the Prix Jutra for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a detective in The Collector (Le collectionneur, 2002), directed by Jean Beaudin, at the 5th Jutra Awards, underscoring his versatility in thriller genres.^[29] Earlier that year, at the 4th Jutra Awards, Picard had already secured the Best Actor prize for his performance in the historical drama 15 février 1839 (2001), directed by Pierre Falardeau, which depicted the Lower Canada Rebellion and solidified his reputation for historical roles.^[30] Picard has also received multiple Gémeaux Awards for his television performances, including Best Actor wins in 1997 for Omerta: La loi du silence, 1999 for L'Ombre de l'épervier, 2000 and 2004 for Chartrand et Simonne.^[31] In 2009, Picard's directorial debut Babine (2008), a surrealist fantasy adapted from Fred Pellerin's tales, led to five wins at the 11th Jutra Awards for the production, including Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, and Best Sound, though Picard himself was nominated but did not win an acting award.^[32] His earlier directorial effort, Audition (L'audition, 2005), garnered international acclaim, winning the Christera d'Or for Best Director at the Festival international du film de comédie de l'Alpe d'Huez in France, among eight national and international prizes.^[6] For Cross My Heart (Les rois mongols, 2017), which he directed and in which he acted, Picard received the Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation Kplus section at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, awarded by the Youth Jury for its poignant exploration of family and resilience during Quebec's October Crisis.^[33] Picard continued to receive Quebec cinema honors, including the Prix Iris for Best Supporting Performance (Male) in 2017 for The Bad Herbs (Les mauvaises herbes, 2016), directed by Louis Bélanger, recognizing his nuanced depiction of personal redemption.^[20] In 2022, he won the Gémeaux Award for Best Male Lead in a Drama Series for Aller Simple.^[34] For A Sunday in Kigali (Un dimanche à Kigali, 2006), he won Best Actor at the Jutra Awards (9th Jutra Awards, 2007). These awards, spanning acting and directing from the early 2000s to the 2020s, established Picard as a cornerstone of Quebec's film and television industry, enhancing his influence through collaborations on culturally resonant projects and mentoring emerging talent up to 2023.^[6]

Nominations

Throughout his career, Luc Picard has garnered numerous nominations from Quebec's premier awards bodies, reflecting his sustained influence in both film and television. In 2023, he received a Prix Iris nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of serial killer Gérald Gallant in Confessions of a Hitman, which he also directed; this marked his eleventh such nomination at the Gala Québec Cinéma, underscoring his competitive standing against peers including his son Henri Picard.^[31][35][36] Earlier nominations highlight his versatility in dramatic roles. At the 2009 Jutra Awards, Picard was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Babine, a film he directed that led the ceremony with nine nods overall.^[31] In 2006, he earned a Genie Award nomination for Best Actor for A Sunday in Kigali. On television, he received a 2011 Gémeaux nomination for Best Male Lead in Malenfant and a 2014 Gala Artis nomination for Best Male Role in a Quebec TV Series for Les jeunes loups.^[31] These nominations illustrate a pattern of consistent peer recognition within Quebec's cultural institutions, particularly for acting in socially resonant narratives, with over a dozen such honors across the Jutra/Prix Iris, Gémeaux, and related galas since the late 1990s. No major nominations have been announced as of November 2025 for his 2024 role in French Girl.^[31]

Filmography

Film

• 1989: Comment faire l'amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer – Actor (small role).^[37]
• 1991: Les Sauf-conduits (Letters of Transit) – Marc (actor).^[38]
• 1993: Cap Tourmente – Actor.^[39]
• 1994: Octobre – Actor.^[39]
• 1995: Le Confessional – Actor.^[40]
• 1998: The Red Violin – Actor.^[40]
• 1999: Le dernier souffle – Actor.^[39]
• 1999: Post Mortem – Actor.^[40]
• 2000: La femme qui boit – Frank (actor).^[6]
• 2001: 15 février 1839 – François-Marie-Thomas Delorimier (actor).^[39]
• 2002: Séraphin: Heart of Stone – Actor.^[40]
• 2002: The Sum of All Fears – Henri Savard (actor; international co-production).^[40]
• 2002: Savage Messiah – Roch "Moïse" Thériault (lead actor).^[39]
• 2003: 8:17 p.m. Darling Street – Gérard (actor).^[39]
• 2005: L'audition – Louis Tremblay (lead actor and director).^[39]
• 2006: Un dimanche à Kigali – Bernard Valcourt (actor).^[39]
• 2008: Babine – Toussaint Brodeur (actor and director).^[39]
• 2009: Détour – Léo Huff (actor).^[39]
• 2009: Les doigts croches (Father and Guns) – Actor.^[40]
• 2010: Route 132 – Actor.^[40]
• 2011: Starbuck – Actor.^[40]
• 2011: Marécages – Actor.^[39]
• 2012: Omertà – Actor and director.^[40]
• 2012: Ésimésac – Toussaint Brodeur (actor and director).^[39]
• 2013: Louis Cyr: L'homme le plus fort du monde – Actor.^[40]
• 2014: La vente (The Auction) – Actor.^[40]
• 2015: Le mirage (The Mirage) – Actor.^[40]
• 2016: La chute de l'empire américain (The Fall of the American Empire) – Actor.^[40]
• 2016: Les amants du parc (Two Lovers and a Bear) – Actor.^[40]
• 2016: L'autre côté de novembre (The Other Side of November) – Actor and director.^[40]
• 2017: Cross My Heart – Director.^[39]
• 2018: Les garçons sauvages (The Fireflies Are Gone) – Actor.^[39]
• 2022: La nature de l'amour (The Nature of Love) – Actor.^[40]
• 2022: La nuit où Lauren s'est réveillée (The Night Logan Woke Up) – Actor and director.^[40]
• 2022: Viking – Actor.^[40]
• 2022: Le guide de la famille parfaite (The Guide to the Perfect Family) – Actor.^[40]
• 2022: Le voleur de temps (The Time Thief) – Actor.^[40]
• 2022: Confessions d'un tueur en série (Confessions of a Hitman) – Gérald Gallant (actor and director).^[39]
• 2023: Saint-Sacrifice – Antoine (actor; short film).^[15]
• 2023: Les chambres rouges (Red Rooms) – Actor.^[40]
• 2024: French Girl – Alphonse Tremblay (actor; international co-production).^[39]

Television

Picard's television career began in the early 1990s with guest appearances in Quebec series. In 1992, he played Elizabeth's Man in one episode of the series Shehaweh. The following year, 1993, saw him in multiple roles: Bertrand Gagnon across three episodes of Scoop II, Émilien Pronovost in two episodes of the mini-series Blanche, and M. Castonguay in the episode "Ginette Couture-Marchand" of Les grands procès. By 1994, Picard continued with a guest spot as Bertrand Gagnon in the fifth episode of Scoop III. His breakthrough in television came in 1996 with the role of François Pelletier in 11 episodes of the crime series Omertà. That same year, he appeared as Guy in the episode "Rénald gai" of the sketch comedy La Petite Vie. In 1997, he reprised François Pelletier for 14 episodes in the sequel Omertà II: Le Loi du silence. The late 1990s and early 2000s featured Picard in lead roles. In 1998, he starred as Henry in the TV film Traces d'étoiles. From 2000 to 2003, he portrayed labor activist Michel Chartrand in 12 episodes of the biographical drama Chartrand et Simonne.^[41] In 2006, he played Michel Champagne in 18 episodes of the investigative series Vice caché. Picard maintained a steady presence in Quebec television through the 2010s. In 2010, he appeared as himself in the episode "Luc Picard" of En audition avec Simon. He took on the recurring role of Raymond Malenfant in four episodes of Malenfant in 2011. In 2012, he guest-starred as Pidz in the episode "Vedettes de la pub!" of Les Boys. From 2014 to 2015, he played Marc Quenneville in 20 episodes of Les Jeunes Loups. Into the mid-2010s, Picard starred as Benoit Lebel in 11 episodes of the thriller Blue Moon in 2016. In 2017, he appeared as Charles Grisé in six episodes of Sur-Vie. That year, he joined the long-running police procedural District 31 as Geoffroy Morin, appearing in 130 episodes through 2018. Picard's more recent television work includes the role of Denis Théberge in six episodes of Aller simple in 2022. In 2024, he appeared as Michel in 10 episodes of the drama series Société distincte. In 2025, he starred in the police and genre series Le dernier des monstres.^[42] No television directing credits for Picard have been documented.^[17]