Michele Cadieux
Michele Cadieux (Born 6 June 1959 –Died 8 June 2009) was a Canadian actress-model.
Early Life
Michele was born in Gatineau, Quebec, a French speaking suburb of Ottawa. She was an only child who was educated in the local Catholic schools. An extremely bright student, she completed primary and secondary education ahead of her peers and began college at age 16 in 1975. While in school, Michele’s athletic pursuits were fencing and equestrianism. She won title of Best Escort at the Word Town Crier Championship in the United Kingdom, where she met HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Michele completed her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa in 1983. While in school, Michele worked part time as a model, substitute teacher and aerobics instructor.
Careers
Civil Service
Michele worked at the Ontario Housing Ministry as a community relations officer before being hired by the Ministry of Public Security (Quebec), as corrections counselor, in 1988. Michele worked at the Riviere Des Prairies Prison from 1988 to 2001, where she was greatly respected by inmates and staff alike. Michele sat on the disciplinary and parole committees. Michele specialized in dealing with the unique issues of native people in prison. Michele was one of the first and few women to have this position in a men's prison.
Modeling and Acting
When Michele was 16, her boyfriend sent a photo to a local modeling contest. Although she did not win this contest she began getting offers for local work. Michele had studied dance from many years and was naturally very graceful which was easily captured on film.
Michele did photo shoots and runway fashion shows in Canada, New York, the Caribbean, Columbia, Italy, and France. Michele appeared in commercial print ads from fashion designer Thierry Mugler, Lafont eye glass designer and Istrilene Cosmetics Belgium. Michele additionally did a television commercial for VISA in France.
From modeling, Michele branched out in acting. She studied acting at the National Film Acting School in Montreal. She was a member of both ACTRA and Union des artistes(UDA). Michele brought many things to acting aside for striking appearance. She was fluent in French, English and Spanish. Michele was also an accomplished dancer is several diverse styles. She began studying ballet and jazz as a child. She also traveled to Spain in the 1980s to perfect her flamenco. Michele always maintained that modeling and acting was a sideline. She loved psychology too much to give it up for show business.
Partial Filmography (Film and Television)
Film |
Role |
|---|---|
J'ne Suis |
Art Auction Client |
Twin Sisters |
Client |
Louis XIX |
Dancer |
Le Sphinx |
Client |
River |
M.D. |
Bringing Out the Dead |
Student |
The Collectors |
Waitress |
Karmina 2 |
Bar Maid |
Program |
Role |
|---|---|
Little Gloria... Happy at Last (TV Mini Series) |
Dancer |
Omerta 1,2 |
Frank Vastelli’s Girlfriend |
Omerta 3 |
Nick Balsamo’s Hostess |
Paparazzi |
Dominatrix |
10.07 |
Client |
Innocence |
Main Character’s Mistress |
Platinum |
Un Credited |
The Hunger |
Dominatrix |
Misguided Angels |
Champion Fighter’s Girlfriend |
Illness And Death As a child, Michele stricken with pneumonia which eventual led to Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare, chronic progressive interstitial lung disease. By 2001, Michele semi retired from both her careers. She moved to Monterey, California for the mild climate and the fresh air. In 2004, she became ill while visiting her parents in Canada during winter and spend several days in the hospital. The following summer, Michele again became ill and spend several weeks in the hospital where her heart once stopped. Michele died on the morning 8 June 2009, a few days after her 50th birthday from IPF. Although she had been in physical decline for several years, her death at that time was unexpected.