Jean Lapointe, a well-known Quebec singer, actor, and comedian who later was elected to the Senate died at the age of 86.
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Jean Lapointe Cause of Death
According to the Jean Lapointe Foundation, he died surrounded by family members of “health complications.”
Lapointe struggled with alcoholism in the 1960s but was able to break free, and in 1982 he founded La Maison Jean Lapointe, a halfway house for people dealing with alcoholism and drug addiction.
The foundation and treatment center celebrated its 40th anniversary in October, 2022. The Centre’s operations were soon supported by the Jean Lapointe Foundation.
Jean Lapointe is survived by his wife Mercédès, their seven children (Marie-Josee, Maryse, Danielle, Michelle, Catherine, Jean-Marie, and Anne Elizabeth), two grandchildren, and his sisters Huguette and Suzanne. He also leaves his wife behind.
“Our father always said that his greatest pride has always been Maison Jean Lapointe,” daughter Anne Elizabeth Lapointe, general manager of the treatment centre, said in a statement.
“His departure saddens us, but we know that he will remain the soul of our establishment.”
Lapointe is survived by his wife, Mercedes, and his seven children, two grandsons and two sisters.
“Losing our father is a terrible ordeal, but knowing that his artistic and humanist heritage will live on in the hearts of Quebecers is comforting for us,” his son Jean-Marie Lapointe said in the statement.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement saying Lapointe’s legacy will be remembered for generations, and that he will be remembered for “his numerous contributions to the Canadian arts community, his philanthropy, and his service to Canadians as a former senator.”
“His performances were ahead of their time, filled with his signature wit and good-natured humour,” said Trudeau.
Who Is Jean Lapointe?
Jean Lapointe was born in a village in the Lower St-Lawrence region on December 6, 1935. Generations of Quebecers knew him as an entertainer whose talents included singing and stand-up comedy. He was also a social activist who used his Jean Lapointe Foundation to fight alcoholism and drug abuse. In 2005, Lapointe received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Francophone SOCAN Awards in Montreal.
