Quebec actress Béatrice Picard, described as “one of the most vigorous builders of our culture” in Quebec, died Tuesday morning at the age of 96.
The news was confirmed by her family, notably in a message shared by Théâtre Duceppe on its Facebook page.
“Throughout her life, Béatrice managed to balance her family life with her passion for the performing arts and the causes close to her heart. It seemed only natural to share this news with her friends, her colleagues in the arts community, and, above all, with her audience, for whom she had a thought until the very end,” reads the post signed by her children, François, Stéphane, Sylvain, and Frédéric.
An energetic actress with a distinctive look and voice, she was known to older generations as “Madame Bellemare” or “Angélina,” and to younger generations as the raspy voice of Marge Simpson.
Just under a month ago, the actress shared an update via the social media accounts of the Saint-Jérôme Seniors’ Fair, an event for which she served as godmother.
“It’s been a while since I’ve given you any news. Things are a little slower than before, and some days require more patience… but it’s okay, and above all, it’s continuing,” she stated, before adding that “in a few weeks,” she would be back to “announce a new project.”
An extremely versatile actress, open to all forms and genres, moving seamlessly from slapstick comedy to realistic theatre, Picard was a fixture on Quebec’s cultural scene for over 75 years.
As recently as 2023, she was part of the cast of Guy Édoin’s feature film “Frontières,” in which she made a brief appearance.
In 2016, the octogenarian starred in a short film directed by actress Marianne Farley, alongside Sandrine Bisson. “Marguerite” garnered several awards at festivals around the world and earned the actress the Best Actress award at the 2018 Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma “Prends ça court!” gala.
And in the spring of 2017, at 87, she played the mischievous old lady in “Harold et Maude” at Théâtre Duceppe. After collapsing on stage during a matinee performance for high school students, she returned to the stage the following day, against her doctor’s advice, to perform the final two shows of the season. She said at the time that she had likely suffered from “accumulated fatigue.”
Born in Montreal on July 3, 1929, Picard began her artistic career in 1947 in radio. From the early 1950s, thanks to the burgeoning television industry, she gained considerable fame playing Angélina, the love interest of “Le Survenant,” in the television series based on the novel by Germaine Guèvremont. In 1958, she was named “Miss Radio Television”—the equivalent at the time of the “Métrostar” awards. In the 2005 film adaptation of the novel, Erik Canuel included a nod to Picard by featuring her again, this time in a photograph, as the mother of the new Angélina (Anick Lemay).
Initially appearing in radio dramas, Picard quickly landed television roles when the small screen arrived in Quebec in 1952. After her role as Angélina in “Le Survenant” in the late 1950s, she continued in the 1960s as Ramona Plouffe in “Le Petit Monde du père Gédéon,” Rosette Desgagnés in “Rue de l’Anse,” and most notably as Alice, Olivier Guimond’s wife in “Cré Basile.”
Many also remember Madame Bellemare, mother of undertaker Oscar Bellemare (Jean-Louis Millette), in “Symphorien.” Television continued to offer her prominent roles throughout the 1970s, in shows such as “Le Paradis terrestre,” “Les Berger,” “Les Forges de Saint-Maurice,” “Grand-papa,” and “Les Brillant.”
She later appeared in a chapter of “L’Amour avec un grand A,” which earned her a Gémeaux Award nomination, as well as in “Sous un ciel variable,” “Virginie,” “Un gars, une fille” (as the stepmother), and more recently, “Les Jeunes Loups.”
In theatre, she was in several productions of Michel Tremblay’s “Bonjour, là, bonjour.” She also appeared in the same author’s “Les Belles-soeurs,” directed by Denise Filiatrault in 1993, and in “L’État des lieux,” directed by André Brassard. She has also performed in plays by Marcel Dubé, Arthur Miller, Gratien Gélinas, and Molière.
Picard has also appeared in films, notably “L’Initiation” (1970), “Taureau” (1973), “Il était une fois dans l’est” (1974), based on the work of Tremblay, “Le Sourd dans la ville” (1987), “Le Nèg’” (2002), “Idole instantané” (2005), and “Dans les villes” (2006). In 2007, she landed her first major film role, that of an eccentric old woman, “Ma tante Aline,” threatened with being placed in a care home.
Also very active in voice acting, she lent her voice from 1990 to 2023 to Marge Simpson in the Quebec adaptation of the popular American animated series. She was also the voice of Marge in the 2007 Simpsons movie. Previously, she had voiced Delima’s mother in the Quebec version of The Flintstones.
In her professional life, Picard also served on the board of the Union des artistes (Artists’ Union). Married and a mother of four, she also became a provincial godmother and spokesperson for Petits Frères des pauvres in 2007, a role previously held by her colleague Juliette Huot.
In an interview that year, she recalled being told at age 20 that her career wouldn’t begin until she was 40; indeed, she confirmed that her first major roles in theatre were only offered to her at that age. That same year, 2007, which marked her 60th year in the business, she stated that she had participated in no fewer than 275 theatrical productions, ranging from the standard repertoire to Quebec theatre and summer theatre. She said she had played a total of 350 roles, on stage and screen.
“For the average person, we’re having fun,” she emphasized on March 27, 2018, when the Quebec Theatre Council chose her to deliver the Quebec message for World Theatre Day. “The word ‘play’ is part of our vocabulary: we ‘play’ in the theatre. We exude the pleasure of ‘playing’ in the theatre. Correction: for years, we work on our acting skills to express them properly, with rigor and flexibility, before merging into this ensemble of creators, designers, artists, and craftspeople who bring theatrical creation to life.”
Picard was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1989 and an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2012. A biography, “With Age, You Can Say Anything,” by Sylvain-Claude Filion, was published in October 2018.
Théâtre Duceppe paid tribute “to this great lady who touched the hearts” of many audience members. She performed in some forty plays within its walls.
“Bursting with enthusiasm, lively, genuine, a feminist from the very beginning, and driven by an unrelenting passion, she captivated Quebecers with her talent and personality,” the theatre wrote on its Facebook page.
“In addition to her talent and passion, her determination and independent spirit made Béatrice Picard one of the most vigorous builders of our culture,” it added.
“You were my Aunt Mina in ‘C’était avant la guerre à l’anse à Gilles’ on Duceppe, season 97-98! Your energy, your passion for acting, and your great respect for the audience will continue to inspire me!” reacted actress Guylaine Tremblay.
“Her voice, her humor, her rigor, and her immense talent have inspired and will continue to inspire several generations of artists and spectators,” commented Place des Arts.
Béatrice Picard, une grande actrice québécoise, a rendu son dernier souffle. Je me souviens de mes mardis soirs à écouter Cré Basile! Elle laisse une trace indélébile dans la culture québécoise.
Mes pensées les plus sincères vont à sa famille, ses proches et à tous les Québécois…
— François Legault (@francoislegault) December 9, 2025
Premier François Legault also praised the legacy this “great actress” leaves for Quebec culture.
“I remember my Tuesday evenings listening to ‘Cré Basile’! She leaves an indelible mark on Quebec culture,” he said on the social network X.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
