Maxim Gaudette

A versatile actor who chose his projects carefully, Maxim Gaudette was capable of delivering enormously powerful performances beyond his years. Born June 8, 1974 in Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, Maxim Gaudette graduated from the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montréal in 1997, where he gained invaluable theatrical experience. Seemingly drawn to darker projects, Gaudette recurred on the mystery series "Fortier" (TVA, 2000-04) and played a terrorist in two episodes of "Si la tendance se maintient" (TVA, 2001). He impressed fans and critics alike with his turn as conflicted hockey player Michel Chantelois on the reality-bending sports drama "Lance et compte" (Radio-Canada, 1986- ) popping up during numerous seasons, including "La revanche," "Le grand duel" and the 2010 film version. Gaudette dazzled audiences with a chilling turn as the killer in Denis Villeneuve's "Polytechnique" (2009), which won him Best Supporting Genie and Jutra Awards. He broke through internationally as a temperamental young man attempting to piece together the mystery of his dead Middle Eastern mother's secret life in Villeneuve's powerful "Incendies" (2010). Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, the intensely dark picture earned Gaudette a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. Buoyed by his success, the actor next appeared on the sci-fi series "Les rescapés" ("The Survivors") (Radio-Canada, 2010-12) and the soap "L'auberge du chien noir" ("The Inn of the Black Dog") (Radio-Canada, 2003- ).