Louis Champagne

Louis Champagne was big in French-Canadian acting circles, not just because of his appearance in many of the region's most popular TV and theater, but because of his size. The bulky actor became best known for playing a bouncer on the popular Radio Canada TV show "Minuit, le soir" ("Midnight, in the Evening") (2005-2007). Champagne was born in Toronto, and he graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1994. He dabbled in improv and theater before landing small roles in Quebecois TV and movies. He remained mostly anonymous until he landed a role as the violent Scorpion on Radio Canada's "Au nom de la loi" ("In the Name of the Law") (2005). Soon after, he starred as the dark Louis in the critically acclaimed and popular "Minuit, le soir." He then played minor roles in films like the acclaimed "Monsieur Lazhar" (2011) and the comedy "Cocteau Rouge" (2011) and directed his first film, an independent comedy called "Les cavaliers de la canette" (Riders of the Can) (2007), an ode to beer and male friendship. He continued to be involved in the Quebecois theater scene, writing, directing, and acting in a variety of plays from comedies to drama. In 2013, he starred in the cross-dressing role of Edna Turnblad (played by John Travolta in the 2007 movie) in a translated Canadian production of "Hairspray," and co-starred along longtime friend Gabriel Sabourin in the dark comedy-drama "Amsterdam," which Champagne and Sabourin co-wrote with director Stefan Miljevic.