Michael Sarrazin (May 22, 1940 - April 17, 2011) was a Canadian film and television actor who found fame opposite Jane Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969).

Early life

He was born Jacques Michel André Sarrazin in Quebec City, Quebec, and moved to Montreal, Quebec, as a child. After acting in school plays he landed his first professional role at age 17.

Career

Sarrazin worked on television productions in Toronto, Ontario, and then gained a contract with Universal Studios. His early appearances include The Virginian (1965), the TV film The Doomsday Flight (1966), Gunfight in Abilene (1967), and a starring role in The Flim-Flam Man (1967) with George C. Scott. In 1969 he starred in four films, one them being the dark Great Depression drama, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. The Sydney Pollack-directed movie earned nine Oscar nominations, with Sarrazin starring alongside Jane Fonda, Susannah York, Gig Young, Red Buttons, and Bruce Dern. He served as a supporting actor in Sometimes a Great Notion (1971). He starred in a string of successes, including the television film Frankenstein: The True Story (1973), the crime caper Harry in Your Pocket (1973), the screwball comedy film For Pete's Sake (1974), and the horror film The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975), about a man doomed to die the same kind of death twice. His film career as a leading man came to a close with his role in The Gumball Rally (1976).

He also appeared in Joshua Then and Now (1985), the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Quickening" (1996), and the The Outer Limits episodes "I Hear You Calling" (1996) and "The Other Side" 1999. He hosted the April 15, 1978, episode of Saturday Night Live.

Sarrazin was originally cast to play Joe Buck in the drama film Midnight Cowboy (1969); however, he was unable to gain release from a prior contract and the part went to Jon Voight.

Personal life

For seven years (1967-1974) he was in a relationship with actress Jacqueline Bisset, whom he met while making the drama film The Sweet Ride (1968).

Death

Sarrazin died of cancer. According to a family spokesman, his daughters Catherine and Michele were at his side when he died.

Filmography

• You're No Good (1965) NFB Film
• The Doomsday Flight (1966)
• Gunfight in Abilene (1967)
• The Flim-Flam Man (1967)
• Journey to Shiloh (1968)
• The Sweet Ride (1968)
• In Search of Gregory (1969)
• A Man Called Gannon (1969)
• Eye of the Cat (1969)
• They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
• Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)
• Believe in Me (1971)
• The Pursuit of Happiness (1971)
• The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)
• The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972)
• Harry in Your Pocket (1973)
• Frankenstein: The True Story (1973, television film)
• For Pete's Sake (1974)
• The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)
• The Gumball Rally (1976)
• The Loves and Times of Scaramouche (1976)
• Caravans (1978)
• Beulah Land (1980, TV mini-series)
• Deadly Companion (1980)
• The Seduction (1982)
• Fighting Back (1982)
• The Viaduct (1983)
• Joshua Then and Now (1985)
• Captive Hearts (1987)
• Mascara (1988)
• Passion and Paradise (1989)
• The Wind (Ray Bradbury Theater - 1989)
• Murder She Wrote (1991, TV series) "Murder Plain and Simple"
• Tomorrow's Child (Ray Bradbury Theater - 1992)
• La Florida (1993)
• Bullet to Beijing (1995)
• Midnight in Saint Petersburg (1996)
• The Peacekeeper (1997)
• The Second Arrival (1998)
• Earthquake in New York (1998)
• A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2002, TV series), "Too Many Clients"
• The Christmas Choir (2008; television film)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]