Bernard Robichaud
Bernard Robichaud is an American-born actor who started out working as a model. He is perhaps best known for his role as 'Cyrus' in the gripping television series Trailer Park Boys, but has also appeared in many other TV shows and films throughout his career including: Lifeline to Victory (1993), Reaper (2000), Vendetta: No Conscience, No Mercy (2004), North/South (2006), The Hostage Game (2010) and, more recently, can be seen as 'Kirk' in the fantastic series Haven (2010-?). Bernard also tours with his comedy act Who Needs Grade10? I'm a Public Speecher!
SN: Welcome Bernard, thank you very much for taking the time out to speak with me. Now, you started your career as a model before you happened upon a talent agent. Was this something you actively pursued or was it a matter of circumstance? What aspirations did you have as a young man?
Bernard: I was sent to Toronto to meet with a talent agent who told me she couldn't use me. She had hired someone that looks like me a week before I arrived, and she had suggested I should become an actor, that I was missing my calling and I should consider it, which I did, but much later on - probably was about a year maybe two - before I auditioned for Dalhousie University'theatre school and was accepted.
I aspired to play professional hockey or basketball. I was scouted for hockey at 16 but didn't get picked up, so I continued with my basketball aspirations, but I guess circumstances in my home life postponed going to one of the universities I wanted to play for, and even though I was still asked to play at age 23, I decided to pursue acting instead.
SN: How did you feel about the acting world when you first went into it, and did you regret not being able to pursue your sporting aspirations?
Bernard: I loved it. It allowed me an outlet to express myself in ways that were stifled as a young man, and allowed me the opportunity I needed to grow and become a better person. It was similar to writing; it was almost therapeutic. I never regretted anything that I've done, whether they were good or bad choices. I like to think I've learned from them all, and still learning.
SN: You've portrayed a wide variety of different characters over the years, and you are certainly known for one in particular. What genre do you find the most challenging, and where do you feel more comfortable?
Bernard: I find them all challenging, but that's why I do what I do; if there were no challenges then why bother? And that in itself and knowing myself allows me to feel comfortable no matter what the challenge is when portraying any character, regardless of the genre.
SN: As a 6'1" athletically built man from Boston, you've played some solid roles throughout your career so far that include a killer and a drug dealer, among others. With that being said, tell us about 'Becky', and how that came about.
Bernard: Haha! That's good. In Becky's Name was my first professional opportunity, I didn't have my Union card at the time. It was a radio drama which was directed by Sudsy Clarke, and the role was Robert and Becky. Robert was schizophrenic and the role required me to speak with a man and woman's voice. When I had finished the play, Sudsy and a very good friend Kent Stetson (Governor General award-winning playwright and author) determined anyone one who could come off the street and in his first role do what I had should be given their professional status, and they both wrote to ACTRA, and a couple of weeks later ACTRA sent me my Union card.
Bernrd Robichaud as Cyrus in Trailer Park Boys.
‘Cyrus’.
SN: And all you had to do was temporarily become a woman, that's a wonderful inside tip for people still living in hope. Now, as much as you've probably discussed this to the death it would be remiss of me to ignore Trailer Park Boys. Tell me about some of your fondest memories playing 'Cyrus'.
Bernard: Wow! I'm not sure that there is in particular thing that stands out. Every episode my character was involved in were special in one way or another, just having the opportunity to play the villain for 14 years and still have the love hate relationship with people who love the show is probably what stands out for me the most, and is the testament of the character. Cyrus has also a great cast around him and of course that is important, but I don't know of any other villain that has had that kind of run, and that I'm extremely grateful for.
But, if I had to choose; season 1 ep 1 and the infamous catch phrases, season 2 and the classroom scene with Ricky,
season 4 and the randy punching Cyrus (which he actually did and apologized, for a couple of days), season 5 and those episodes with grandma and Terry and Dennis were classic. She couldn't speak a word of English so having Terry and Dennis were necessary to speak Japanese. Let's see, the scene outside Terry and Dennis'. Sheesh, you know season 5 was just an incredible journey and really helped define my character thanks to the genius of Mike Clattenburg, and the latest movie because I had to do it a week after I had reconstructive surgery on my right leg for a quad tendon repair. So I did all my scenes with a full leg cast as well as season 8 while my leg was in a brace.
SN: That's a great answer. Now, it's not unheard of for the odd over-zealous fan to blur the lines between the character and the actor. Given that Cyrus was a man of questionable character, have you had any odd run-ins with people confusing you with Cyrus?
Bernard: When the show first started I had people ask 'how are you allowed to carry a gun?' and 'why are you shooting at those boys? They're nice guys' lol, but once people realized it was a TV show - not so much, and of course there have been instances where the bad boy image was confused with the real me and circumstances arose, which were unfortunate and difficult to remedy.
SN: Yes, I imagine you've had some interesting incidences for sure. What do you do to wind down after particularly difficult roles?
Bernard: Ha! Not much, maybe a couple of beers or glass of Shiraz and relax watching Family Guy.
SN: Family Guy; excellent choice. What was it like joining the cast of the brilliant Haven? Also, how much would you love to do a voice-over on Family Guy?
Bernard: Haven's cast - like Luke, Eric, Adam, the crew - were wonderful to me, very giving and really made me feel at home and a part of their family, I am very grateful to have been part of it. Hell ya! I'd love to have an opportunity like that lol. That would be fun.
SN: Yeah you could play Meg's boyfriend, or her new friend Becky I guess. I'm interested in learning more about your comedy career. What can you tell me about that, and is this something that you are personally passionate about?
Bernard: My Comedy at the moment is as Cyrus while I'm on stage, and it came about simply because venues that wanted me for appearances wanted more for their money and of course randy and Lahey had a show, and the 3 boys had theirs so it started out as 20 mins and turned into over an hour within the first year, which I can tell you was extremely difficult, not to mention the learning curve of delivery etc. I guess initially it was lucky I was Cyrus and had a gun, and wasn't intimidated by the stage or an audience. I also had help from a few good friends who were comics who helped me recognize how my material needed to be written, and now I'm quite comfortable in writing and performing, but my first passion is and always will be acting.
SN: What or who would you say are your biggest influences and inspirations in regard to your career?
Bernard: I'd say my biggest influences were my good friend Tony McGlone who suggested I go to Theater school coz I needed an outlet, the head of the program at the time, Patrick Young, who told me I had some raw talent but I'd never be an actor, which just pissed me off, my voice teacher that Year, Dorothy Ward, who convinced me to quit coz it was an injustice to put me into first year instead of third, and who also got me a job at Neptune Theater in Halifax, which was a better education, and my good friend Barrie Dunn who amongst others have always believed in my ability and talent.
SN: Well I guess Patrick is busy eating humble pie now. What is your most cherished memory of your career so far?
Bernard: In '93, Barrie Dunn contacted me to do a documentary on an actor that could live in the USA, who he felt had the look and ability to make it in LA and I ended up doing it, and we documented the drive from Halifax to LA and I guess that trip and the result of it is my most cherished; it was called Bernie Goes to Hollywood. Mike ClattenBurg was the DOP in that project.
SN: Is there anything that we have not discussed that you want to talk about, and what can we expect from you in the near future?
Bernard: The future looks bright. Before Xmas I was contacted by Kate Edwards of Grand View Management in LA asking me if I was interested in taking my career to the next level. Kate was the manager for Travolta, Lilly Tomlin and Mickey Rourke. I've signed in with her and a new agent, Linda Butler of Butler Rushton Bell, in Toronto and together they are putting a plan together for me for Global representation. It won't happen overnight, but that which grows slowly endures. Kate also has 3 projects in hand, which I've written; Kitchen Sports, Black Bart, and Woman Scorned, and is in the process of putting those into the hands of potential producers, so I've got my fingers crossed. In May, we start filming season 10 of Trailer Park Boys and Zi have a new project which is Reality TV based that I hope will be launched in the next few weeks.
As far as anything else, gee Mike, I think you did your homework and it was a pleasure doing this interview with you. So I thank you for taking the time, it is appreciated.
B.
SN: Things are looking great for you. Bernard Robichaud, thank you so much for taking the time out to speak with me, it's been an absolute pleasure. Congratulations on your career so far and I look forward to seeing where your career takes you in the future. Thank you again.
Bernard: My pleasure, Mike.