Jacques Desrosiers


Jacques Desrosiers was a Québécois Canadian singer and actor. Desrosiers was best known for playing the clown Patof in the Canadian television series Patofville. He was born in Montreal, Quebec.

Early career

Son of the comic comedian Pierre Desrosiers and brother of singers André Fontaine and Édouard Desrosiers, Jacques Desrosiers begins in 1956 as imitator and cabaret artist on CBC/Radio-Canada television. He soon presents his shows, mixing fanciful songs, parodies and imitations, in the cabarets of Quebec, particularly at the Montreal Casa Loma.
Some of his parodies, such as La Java à Lumina, Le Peddler and La Machine à laver make the hit parade. In 1963-1964 he participates in a review called Zéro de conduite with Dominique Michel, Denise Filiatrault and Donald Lautrec, then in Clémence DesRochers's musical, Le Vol rose du flamant.

Television

Between 1968 and 1973, Jacques Desrosiers hosts several TV shows on CFTM channel 10, such as Les trois cloches, Vaudeville, Café terrasse and Madame est servie.
It is through the character of the clown Patof, created in January 1972 for the TV serie Le Cirque du Capitaine, that Desrosiers becomes famous. He beats all the records of sale with the song Patof Blou, an adaptation of Roger Whittaker's Mammy Blue, and launches a serie of records made in association with Gilbert Chénier. He founds Les Entreprises Patof company, which launch on the market many products for children using the clown image.
On CFTM channel 10, Desrosiers hosted Patofville from 1973 till 1976, Patof raconte broadcast the weekends between 1975 and 1976, and Patof voyage from 1976 till 1977.

Other accomplishments

He started playing some roles as comedian in TV series, notably in an episode of the serie L'amour avec un grand A in 1990, and in the fourth season of Scoop in 1995.
Jacques Desrosiers played in some Canadian movies such as C'est pas la faute à Jacques Cartier, Après ski, Le Party directed by Pierre Falardeau and La Florida directed by George Mihalka.
He also played some roles in comedy theatre pieces under the management of Gilles Latulippe.
Jacques Desrosiers died of lung and bone cancer on June 11, 1996.

Filmography

Cinema and TV series

Albums

Singles

Compilations

Collaborations and performances as guest star

Complete discography