Normand Brathwaite
Normand Brathwaite (born August 27, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Quebec comedian, movie and television actor, radio and television host and musician. He is known for hosting variety televisions shows for over 10 years, including Piment Fort as well as the Montreal radio morning show Yé trop de bonne heure on CKOI-FM for 15 years. He currently hosts CITE-FM's Mix 80 on Saturdays 4-8pm since August 2011.
Background
After studying Theatre at Collège Lionel-Groulx, at Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Brathwaite started to participate in theatrical plays in 1977 and played in 1981 the musical comedy show La Cage aux folles.
From 1979 to 1991, he participated in several television shows as actor including Chez Denise, L'Ingenieux Don Quichotte, Peau de banane and Le 101 Ouest Avenue des Pins as well as minor roles in a few movies such as The Moderns and If Only during the late 1980s.
His first role as a television host was in 1988 when he hosted for nearly six year Beau et Chaud. Starting in 1993, he was the host of the satirical and humor show Piment Fort which aired on TVA until 2001 and was the show's only host. While being one of the most popular evening show in Quebec it was criticized for controversial contents against various celebrities. After Piment Fort was removed from the TVA schedule, he briefly hosted the TQS show Fun Noir. He is currently the host of Télé-Quebec's Belle et Bum [1] [2]. He also hosted several award shows such as the Gemini Awards for over 10 years as well as the Jutra Awards in 2006. He also hosted several festivities and concerts related to Quebec National Day.
From 1990 to 2006, he hosted the CKOI-FM morning show Yé trop de bonne heure but left the station following major conflicts with co-host and comedian Jean-René Dufort. He returned to the station in 2009 for the Tout un retour show that runs from weekdays 3-6pm.
Brathwaite was married to Quebec singer Johanne Blouin and has a daughter Élizabeth Blouin-Brathwaite who is also a singer. Brathwaite also has a son, Edouard "Posé" Brathwaite. He was also a spokesperson for Muscular Dystrophy Canada Foundation [3] as well as a current advertisement spokesperson for Réno-Dépôt and Kaizen Sushi Bar & Restaurant.
Awards
Brathwaite received several awards including four consecutive Metro Star awards as best host in a game show as well as Gemini Awards as best host in a variety show in 1988, 1989 and 1992. The Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision honored him in 2003 for his three Gemini Awards he won when he was the host of Beau et Chaud. During the 2006 Gemini Awards he received an honorary award for his career.
Filmography
Movie
- Qui a tiré sur nos histoires d'amour (1986)
- If Only (1987)
- The Moderns (1988)
Television
Actor
- Chez Denise (1979–1982)
- Jeune delinquant (1980)
- L'Ingénieux Don Quichotte (1981)
- Peau de banane (1982–1987)
- Le 101, ouest, avenue des Pins (1984–1985)
- CTYVON (1990)
- Denise... aujourd'hui (1991)
Host
- Beau et Chaud (1988–1993)
- Piment Fort (1993–2001, 2016-present)
- Fun Noir (200?)
- Gemini Awards (gala) (1988, 1990–2002)
- Le Match des Etoiles (2005)
- Jutra Awards (gala) (2006)
- Belle et Bum (2003–present)
- Privé de sens (2011-2012)
Radio
- Mix 80 (Saturday version; 2011–present)
- Tout un retour (2009–2011)
- Yé trop de bonne heure (1990–2006)
- Idole instantanée (2005)