Réal Béland, the beloved comedian of Quebec audiences for many years, was a guest on the TV show Les enfants de la télé to revisit milestones from his career. True to form, he dove back into archival moments with humor and self-deprecation, uncovering pieces that were as surprising as they were entertaining.
The son of Ti-Gus (Réal Béland Sr.), a towering figure in Quebec humor who died in 1983, Réal carries a genuine comedic heritage.
As he spoke with noticeable emotion, he explained that his father held a monumental place in his life. A source of inspiration and a family pillar, he represented for him a model both human and professional. Réal Béland, however, faced a defining early life moment: his father passed away when he was only 12 years old.
Des regrets?
It was when André Robitaille asked him whether he felt any regret — or even a pang — that his father had never seen him perform on stage, despite following in his footsteps, that Réal opened up with great emotion.
“No, that’s a bummer, but when your father did this line of work, it’s really just a job, and you don’t give the craft much importance. I regret that my father never got to meet my children, my family, all that — I’d give anything to have five minutes with my father. The stage stuff doesn’t interest me at all when it comes to my father,” Réal confessed.
“OK, have you stayed close to Ti-Mousse?” asked host Mélanie Maynard.
“I’ve stayed close to Ti-Mousse now; Ti-Mousse has Alzheimer’s, so… Denyse Émond. It’s no longer possible to contact her. But for a long time… Denyse is amazing. She’s come to see me in shows so many times. She came to see me in every show my father missed, I can tell you that,” the comedian added.
Réal Béland has maintained a very positive relationship with Denyse Émond, his father’s former colleague, even after his father’s passing. They have kept a special bond over the years. She has even made a few discreet appearances with him on stage.
The other half of his father also rang him several times to help out, especially when his TV was acting up, he joked with a lot of humor.
We wish the comedian many more wonderful moments to come, both personally and professionally. The confidences he shared on the show Les enfants de la télé constitute rare and precious television moments.
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