Yanic Truesdale

Yanic Truesdale
Born (1970-03-17) March 17, 1970 (age 54)
OccupationActor
Years active1991–present

Yanic Truesdale (born March 17, 1970) is a Canadian-American actor best known for his portrayal of Michel Gerard in the television series Gilmore Girls.[1]

Early life and education

Truesdale was born and raised in Montreal. At 17 years old, he joined the National Theatre School of Canada and graduated at age 19.

Career

One of his first big breaks was a starring role in He Shoots, He Scores a popular Canadian series about hockey.[2] He went on to work for six years on a series entitled fr: Les héritiers Duval, and in 1998 was nominated for his first Gemini Award (the Canadian Emmys) for Best Acting - Comedy Series or Special for his performance in the sitcom fr: Majeurs et vaccinés.[2] The series was a critical hit throughout Canada, with Truesdale portraying the only Black child in a white family. Truesdale then starred in fr: Mauvais Karma, which landed him his second Gemini nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy.[3]

Truesdale moved to New York City and studied at the renowned Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.[4] Truesdale’s very first audition in Los Angeles was for Gilmore Girls, a character he portrayed for 158 episodes starring opposite Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, and Melissa McCarthy as the opinionated, sarcastic, and good-hearted concierge of the Independent Inn, Michel Gerard. The role garnered Truesdale critical acclaim, landing him on the Variety 10 Actors to Watch list opposite Ryan Gosling and Jennifer Garner.[5]

Additional recent credits for Truesdale include appearing in the award nominated film My Salinger Year opposite Sigourney Weaver and Margaret Qualley, which opened the Berlin Film Festival,[6] Curb Your Enthusiasm for HBO (where he played Lin-Manuel Miranda’s agent), and is a part of the ongoing murder mystery franchise Fallen Angels Murder Club for Lifetime opposite Toni Braxton.[7]

In 2022, Truesdale performed in the Netflix comedy series God’s Favorite Idiot opposite Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. God’s Favorite Idiot follows a mid-level tech support employee who finds love with a co-worker at exactly the same time that he becomes the unwitting messenger of God.[8]

Personal life

Truesdale is the owner of indoor cycling studio Spin Énergie in Montreal.[9]

Filmography

Film/TV
Year Title Role Notes
1991 fr: Lance et compte: Tous pour un Joseph Brousseau TV movie
1992 Prince Lazure Michel TV movie
1996 fr: Majeurs et vaccinés Philippe Tessier **Gemini Award Nomination – Best Acting : Comedy Series or Special
1996 fr: Les héritiers Duval Arsenio 2 episodes
1997 Un gars, une fille Le guide / Le serveur
1999 The Sentinel Patrolman
2003 See Jane Date Noah TV movie
2006 fr: Tout sur moi Yanic
2000–2007 Gilmore Girls Michel Gerard Main cast
2008 Rumours Réjean (le comptable) 2 episodes
2012 fr: Mauvais Karma Yan Patrick 5 episodes
**Gemini Award Nomination – Best Supporting Actor: Comedy
2014 Mohawk Girls Sex Shop Clerk
2015 The Fixer FBI Agent Kincaid TV mini-series
2014–2015 fr: La théorie du K.O. Patrick 2 episodes
2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Michel Gerard Mini-series
2016 Sing It! Beau Hemsworth Web Series; Episode: "Let's be Real!"
2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm Aaron
2017 The Catch The Cleaner
2020 Christmas Catch Ken
2020 Love by accident Officer Paul
2020 My Salinger Year Max Supporting
2020 Les mecs Étienne Lebeau Series Regular **2023 Gemini Award Nomination - Best Actor Comedy
2022 God’s Favorite Idiot Chamuel Series Regular
2024 Etoile Raphael Series Regular

References

  1. ^ "Variety names its 10 Actors to Watch". Variety magazine. October 7, 2001. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Gennusa, Chris (October 3, 2001). "Yanic Truesdale". Variety. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "Yanic Truesdale". zscentertainment.com. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "YANIC TRUESDALE - Resume | Defining Artists". resumes.breakdownexpress.com. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "Variety names its 10 Actors to Watch". Variety magazine. October 7, 2001. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  6. ^ Falardeau, Philippe (March 5, 2021), My Salinger Year (Drama), Margaret Qualley, Sigourney Weaver, Douglas Booth, micro_scope, Parallel Film Productions, retrieved July 3, 2024
  7. ^ Baraka, Rhonda (April 2, 2022), Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends to Die For (Crime, Mystery, Thriller), Toni Braxton, Eddie Cibrian, Lisa Berry, Brain Power Studio, Lifetime, retrieved July 3, 2024
  8. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (June 13, 2022). "'Gilmore' Reunion! Yanic Truesdale on Joining Melissa McCarthy in 'God's Favorite Idiot'". TV Insider. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "Yanic Truesdale Combines Fun and Fitness at Spin Énergie". April 7, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2024.