Pierre Légaré (2 June 1949 – 5 October 2021) was a Canadian humorist, writer, and psychologist.
Pierre Légaré was born on 2 June 1949, in Sherbrooke, Quebec.[1][2] He received a degree in psychology from the Université de Sherbrooke and practiced as a psychologist before entering comedy in the late 1970s.[3] He wrote for theater, television, and radio.[3] His first solo comedy special, Recherchez Légaré, was released in 1989.[3] He received a Guinness world record for Mots de tête, the "shortest broadcast in the world".[4] Légaré died in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on 5 October 2021.[2]
Biography
Studies and early career
Pierre Légaré completed classical studies at the Séminaire de Saint-Jean (now CEGEP Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) before obtaining a bachelor's (1972) and master's degree (1973) in psychology at the Université de Sherbrooke.[5] His master's thesis initially focused on behavioral psychology. For ten years, he was a psychologist and consultant in the psychology of organizational development in schools[2] in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
In 1977, he obtained a second master's degree[5] and his thesis focuses on students in difficulty when arriving in high school, following the adoption in 1974 of a law from the Ministry of Education making the passage to high school compulsory for all 13-year-olds.
He wrote lyrics for his psychedelic musical group "Blanc Deuil" for which he is the guitarist.
Some of his quotes, aphorisms, and witticisms were published in three volumes in the early 2000s. The first volume is titled "Mots de tête", a wordplay between headaches ("Maux de tête") and "Words from the head" referring to the intellect. They are broadcast in the form of capsules, also named "Mots de tête", lasting a few seconds, in Quebec on the TQS TV network[2] and in France on France Inter radio. Pierre Légaré thus won the Guinness record for the shortest television program in the world.[1]
He is a key figure in humor with several appearances on television in shows such as "Piment fort" with Normand Brathwaite, which are increasing his popularity.
Pierre Légaré lent his name to several causes and got involved with young people. He was notably a spokesperson for the Depressive and Manic Depressive Association of Québec and for Opération Nez rouge.[5] He was also the star of an advertising campaign for Quebec notaries.
Personal life
Pierre Légaré survived a bladder cancer diagnosed in 2007.[7] "You are no longer in curative mode: you are in the palliative mode,” his doctor told him at the time.
These programs aroused a lot of reactions: the comedian spoke frankly about his experience of the disease and his questions about traditional medicine.
He died on 5 October 2021, at the age of 72 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.[1][8]
He was married to Danielle Légaré and had three children. The comedian had left the public life for fifteen years.
Works
Comedy shows
1989–1992 : Recherchez Légaré
1992–1995 : Légaré 2
1995–1997 : Guide de survie
1998–2000 : Rien
1999 : Les parlementeries
Books
2000 : Les Trois Premiers Coups
2001 : Mots de tête
2001 : Mots de tête persistants
2001 : Rien
2002 : Waiter! / c'est pas un siphon c'est mon frère
2003 : Mots de tête récurrents
2005 : Mots de tête incurables
2005 : Onze nouvelles humoritiques et autres recits plaisants (co-author)
