Denis Héroux facts for kids

Denis Héroux was a well-known Canadian film director and producer. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, on July 15, 1940. He passed away on December 10, 2015, at the age of 75. Denis Héroux was recognized for making many popular movies and for his important role in the film industry.

Life and Career

Denis Héroux grew up in Montreal, Quebec. He was the older brother of another famous film and television producer, Claude Héroux.

Early Days in Film

Denis Héroux first wanted to be a teacher. In 1962, he worked on a film called Alone or with Others (Seul ou avec d’autres). This movie was about student life. After that, he became a teacher for six years. During this time, he also wrote two history books and kept directing films.

Becoming a Film Producer

By the late 1960s, Denis Héroux became one of the most successful independent filmmakers. This means he made movies without being part of a big studio. Some of his early hits included Valérie (1968) and Here and Now (L'Initiation) (1970).

In 1975, he started working on bigger film projects. He partnered with his wife, Justine Héroux, to create a company called Cinévidéo. Together, they worked on "co-production" films. This means they teamed up with film companies from other countries to make movies.

Some of the international films he helped create include Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1975), Atlantic City (1980), and Quest for Fire (1981). He also helped start Alliance Films, a major film company in Canada.

Awards and Recognition

Denis Héroux was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Picture for producing The Plouffe Family (Les Plouffe) in 1981. He won a Genie Award for producing The Bay Boy in 1985. The Genie Awards were a major film award in Canada, similar to the Oscars in the United States.

He also received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture for the film Atlantic City.

In 1983, Denis Héroux was given a special honor. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest awards a Canadian citizen can receive. It recognizes people who have made a big difference in their country.

Filmography

This is a list of some of the films Denis Héroux directed or produced.

Features

• Alone or With Others (Seul ou avec d'autres) - 1962, co-directed with Denys Arcand and Stéphane Venne
• Over My Head (Jusqu'au cou) - 1964
• No Holiday for Idols (Pas de vacances pour les idoles) - 1965
• Valérie - 1968
• Here and Now (L'Initiation) - 1969
• The Awakening (L'amour humain) - 1970
• Les Défroqués - 1971
• Seven Times a Day (7 fois... par jour) - 1971
• The Rebels (Quelques arpents de neige) - 1972
• Enuff Is Enuff (J'ai mon voyage!) - 1973
• There's Always a Way to Find a Way (Y'a toujours moyen de moyenner!) - 1973
• Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris - 1974
• Don't Push It (Pousse mais pousse égal) - 1975
• Born for Hell - 1976
• The Uncanny - 1977
• The Blood of Others - 1984

Other Work

• Cent ans déjà (Documentary short, 1967)
• Mais où sont les Anglais d'antan? (Documentary, 1967)
• Un ville à vivre (Documentary short, 1967)
• Les Acadiens (TV episode of the series La feuille d'érable, 1971)
• La fille du Roy (TV episode of the series La feuille d'érable, 1971)
• Bureau des inventeurs (Documentary short, 1971)
• Transports et communications (Documentary short, 1971)
• Un enfant comme les autres (Documentary, 1972)
• Le Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce du Canada (Short film, 1972)
• Le Ministère des Transports du Canada (Short film, 1972)
• La vallée-jardin (Short film Co-Directed with Justine Héroux, 1974)
• The Strikebreaker (TV episode of the series Sidestreet, 1975)