Raymond Bouchard, a Canadian actor and a familiar face in Quebec theatre, film, and television, died February 21, 2026. He was 80. He was best known for playing Germain Lesage in La grande séduction (Seducing Doctor Lewis), a role often cited as his most unforgettable screen performance.
Bouchard died in Verdun, Quebec, while hospitalized at Hôpital de Verdun, where he was reported to be in intensive care. His daughter confirmed the death to TVA Nouvelles. The cause of death was undisclosed, described as occurring after he had battled a virus.
Trained at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal, where he graduated in 1968, Bouchard developed a reputation for versatile character work across stage and screen. Onstage, he tackled major classical parts, including Othello at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), and appeared in works such as Le malade imaginaire and as Sganarelle in Don Juan. His screen career also included acclaimed television work, including L'Or et le Papier, for which he won the Prix Gémeaux for best actor in a drama series in 1990.
In later years, he spoke publicly about long-term health issues, including diabetes diagnosed at age 20, followed by kidney deterioration that led to dialysis beginning in July 2024. Radio-Canada scheduled tribute programming for February 23, 2026, airing the documentary Raymond Bouchard: voici comme je suis on ICI RDI and making it available on ICI TOU.TV, alongside an interview on ICI PREMIÈRE and OHdio.