Most famous ever Quebecer worldwide?

[shijak]

I asked on another forum...mostly with feminine members, most of them asked me "Who is William Something? :lol: ", some came back, saying they made a research and recognized him but never thought he was quebecer....

Dear Alyssa,
Perhaps the thread starter should have specified whether or not the general public out there should be AWARE that the candidates mentioned should be known as being from Quebec. I'm sure the majority of americans who have watched Star Trek since the mid-60s are totally unaware that William Shatner is Canadian-born and not american. I interpret it as ANY person who was born within the province of Quebec, irrespective that they shout from the rooftops where they came from or not, but became world-famous in their own way...

That being said, on 13 answers, 6 didnt know who he was, on a women board.....on the other hand, whatever if you ask it on a men/women's board; each and everyone know who is Celine, whatever what made her famous, she is certainly the most widely known celebrity from Quebec.

Here is the thing, it seems like you asked this question to people who live IN Quebec, no? again I repeat: Celine has acheived her international fame solely for singing the theme song to one of the most-watched films of recent history, Titanic. That said, people who watched it back in the mid-90's would be aware of her. I dare say, 95% of them (excepting those who live in Quebec, Canada and France) could not even REMEMBER any other song from Celine's catalogue ( please do not remind me of the awful, awful remake of ''ALL BY MYSELF'' she once did)...
Ask anybody in Turkey, Ireland, Australia or Kazahkstan to name a song other than MY HEART WILL GO ON, you will be disappointed...
And also, as I said, since that song came out Celine has not had another pop hit in all this time, preferring to sing in Las Vegas and friendly locales her standards. Problem with that, there is now a new generation of teenagers today who have NO idea who she is. If Justin Bieber had been born in Quebec rather than Ontario, he likely would be named the most famous Quebecer...

On 13 replies over there, 12 said Celine, from far away...The member left said: "Léonard Cohen, Trudeau & Alys Robi". But i am still pretty sure Celine is more famous than those 3 well-known personnalities.

Again, this is taking into account that the people you ask are AWARE that certain celebrities are FROM Quebec... I didn't know Shatner was from here until my mid-30s. So was another actor who was the second voice of Fred Flintstone. Kiefer Sutherland...so many others...

BTW: i am not her fan at all...but i am still able to admit she is from far away the most famous celebrity from quebec...and comparing her with Twiggy wasn't really appropriate.

Let's give it another 10 to 20 years, unless Celine gets off her butt and actually tries to come up with a world-caliber song again...

 

[kaydee1968]

There seems to be prejudice against Shatner because he is an Anglophone and Jewish. You ask some French people in Quebec if they know who he is and you may get a "huh?" What does that prove? But ask anyone in the USA or the rest of the world and they will know who Shatner is. Shatner is single handledly responsible for the ascension of Priceline from a small company nobody heard of to an international behemoth of travel websites. What has Celine done to grow any company? Nothing. Zero. People know her in Montreal and Vegas. Elsewhere she is a nonentity.

The truth is Shatner can buy Celine out of everything she owns if he wanted to, and have plenty of change leftover to buy up half of Montreal. He owns 15% of the stock of Priceline and that is on top of all his earnings as actor and pitchman for over 50 years now. Celine is small-time compared to Captain Kirk.

I disagree with just about everything you have said in here.

I didn't ask who has grown a company more, I asked who is the most famous world-wide.

Celine is famous all over the world. And you think Shatner is worth more than her? I would bet that Celine is worth far more than Shatner.

And just to clarify, I don't care if people are aware if someone is from Quebec or not......

 

[EagerBeaver]

I disagree with just about everything you have said in here.

I didn't ask who has grown a company more, I asked who is the most famous world-wide.

Celine is famous all over the world. And you think Shatner is worth more than her? I would bet that Celine is worth far more than Shatner.

There is no contest if you are asking most popular in the world. See my last post. Shatner wins with ease. Every time someone in the world uses PL they see his face. Star Trek reruns are shown in every country in the world, even places where nobody even knows who is Celine Dion. And what has she done since Titanic anyway? She has had a short and limited career as compared to Shatner who has been a major star in TV and movies and as a commercial pitchman going back to the early 1960s. It's not even close and if Shatner cashes in his PL stock today Celine could be bought out of everything she owns. She is a medium sized fish in a small pond whereas Shatner is a big fish in the Ocean.

What startles me is the ignorance displayed in this thread about Shatner and his career. The fact that you don't know much about Shatner does not mean you are right in what you do know.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I agree with kaydee. Shatner is certainly the most famous Quebecer in the US, but world wide? Leonard Cohen fills 15,000 seat halls all around the world. Shatner is most likely unknown, for example, in Austria.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Um, Beav, Priceline is a US site. Priceline ads, which used to feature Shatner, ran in the US. You really need to get over this US is the center of the universe thing.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Um, Beav, Priceline is a US site. Priceline ads, which used to feature Shatner, ran in the US. You really need to get over this US is the center of the universe thing.

That is simply not true. Go read the Priceline FAQ. It is not a US site. It is widely used by foreigners. While you are at it check www.biddingfortravel.com and you will see the true scope of Priceline.

 

[shijak]

Uh Rumple,

http://www.seeglobalentertainment.com/experiences/star-trek/

The STAR TREK tours have given fans from around the world the extraordinary opportunity to step inside the world of Star Trek and become active participants in a franchise that has captured the imaginations of millions. Interactive exhibits included show-based simulators, multimedia attractions, and the world’s largest collection of Star Trek ships, sets, costumes and props from all five TV series and ten films over the last half century.

Throughout 1998 and 1999, STAR TREK – THE TOUR brought the world of Star Trek to Düsseldorf, Germany and Vienna, Austria, as well as Singapore.

Looks like they're aware of Shatner in Austria

 

[EagerBeaver]

Priceline ads, which used to feature Shatner, ran in the US.

Also not true. When the stock dropped they brought him back as pitchman. The company views him as savior and gave him 15% of the stock.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Uh Rumple, http://www.seeglobalentertainment.com/experiences/star-trek/
Looks like they're aware of Shatner in Austria

Shijak,

This thread is pointless as you have a bunch of people who have no clue of what they are talking about, know nothing about the scope of Shatner's impact on the science fiction genre or his personal roots. It's bordering on comical. On the other hand I would not expect an audience of French Canadians to know much about him, because as an Anglophone and Jew he is not looked at as one of them. And clearly nobody evens seems to know that he is one of them. It is farcical. You are the only one in the thread who gets it, I suspect because you are bilingual, bicultural and in the entertainment industry.

 

[sapman99]

I would not expect an audience of French Canadians to know much about him, because as an Anglophone and Jew he is not looked at as one of them.

That is a very large generalization. But we are used to it.

 

[EagerBeaver]

William Shatner

"William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, author, and film director. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T. Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise, in the science fiction television series Star Trek from 1966 to 1969, Star Trek: The Animated Series from 1973 to 1974, and in seven of the subsequent Star Trek feature films from 1979 to 1994. He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences playing Captain Kirk and being a part of Star Trek, and has co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe. He has also authored a series of science fiction novels called TekWar that were adapted for television.

Shatner also played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1986. Afterwards, he hosted the reality-based television series, Rescue 911 from 1989 to 1996, which won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Dramatic Series. He has since worked as a musician, author, producer, director and celebrity pitchman. From 2004 to 2008, he starred as attorney Denny Crane in the television dramas The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal for which he won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award."

Personal Background

Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in the Côte Saint-Luc neighbourhood of Montréal, Québec, the son of Anne (née Garmaise) and Joseph Shatner, a clothing manufacturer. He has two sisters, Joy and Farla. His paternal grandfather, Wolf Schattner, anglicized the family name to "Shatner". All of Shatner's grandparents were Jewish immigrants (from Austria, Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine), and Shatner was raised in Conservative Judaism. He attended Willingdon Elementary School, in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG-Montreal) and Baron Byng High School, in Montréal, as well as West Hill High School in NDG. He is an alumnus of the Montreal Children's Theatre. He also attended McGill University in Montréal, where he studied economics and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In June 2011, McGill awarded him with an honourary doctorate of letters. The Students' Society of McGill University building on McTavish Street is popularly (though not officially) named "Shatner".

Shatner has said that he faced anti-semitism while growing up in Montréal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shatner

 

[sapman99]

Shatner has said that he faced anti-semitism while growing up in Montréal

In turn, French-Canadians have been called "pea soup" and "frogs" by the English.

I do not stand for any form of prejudice, EB and I think you know it. But always putting the burden of prejudice on one ethnicity is a form of prejudice in itself. Prejudice knows no boundaries. The Muslims have had raging internal prejudice between Shiites and Sunnis for what seems like an eternity, and that is only one example.

 

[man77777]

On the other hand I would not expect an audience of French Canadians to know much about him, because as an Anglophone and Jew he is not looked at as one of them..

Come on Eager, who dont know Shatner ? And seriously what you suggested about francophone concerning anglophone Quebekers is just a cliche...

 

[EagerBeaver]

Come on Eager, who dont know Shatner ? And seriously what you suggested about francophone concerning anglophone Quebekers is just a cliche...

Earlier in this thread Alyssa said her friends had no clue who he is, and this is just wrong on so many levels. The man is a cultural icon and is deserving of far better treatment than what he has been shown in this thread. I watched Star Trek as a kid and can legitimately say he was my first science fiction hero.

 

[man77777]

Anglo-haters, jews-haters, ignoramus, IMHO this innocent thread is not the good place to spread stupid cliches about quebekers, Eager...

 

[shijak]

Beav,

Just call me the Nate Silver of Merb

Look, I have nothing against Celine Dion, I just look at it objectively (I think):

Fame especially in the music industry is very fleeting. She has not had a mega-hit in 15 years. And even when that song was at its peak, did Celine tour the world like U2, the Rolling Stones and Madonna do? not very likely. And now she spends all of her time only doing shows in Vegas, Quebec or France, most likely, a wrong-headed move that contracts her visibility, completely quashing any momentum towards the same mega-reputation as those other acts.

Basically she is behaving the same as a soap-opera actress who gets handed an Oscar-winning role, then throws it all away to go back to doing bit parts and soap detergent commercials...intentionally!!

As I said, it's been 15 years since her last big hit... Give it another 10 (totalling 25), and with the average human lifespan of 80 (80 divided by 25) in 2022 there will be about 25% of the planet's population (ok, very iffy math, but bear with me) who will be completely unaware of her carreer if only tangentially...

In the meantime William Shatner, who is still very popular and well-known but pushing 80, is still performing. He may pass away in the next few years (he just turned 80), but his shows STILL keep being broadcast all over the world (I saw them on television while in eastern europe and Asia).

 

[EagerBeaver]

Anglo-haters, jews-haters, ignoramus, IMHO this innocent thread is not the good place to spread stupid cliches about quebekers, Eager...

First of all I did not say that. I said Shatner is not looked at as one of them, and he obviously isn't. That is the only way I can explain the extreme ignorance of his accomplishments that I am seeing in this thread.

I suggest reading my post quoting the wiki bio on Shatner and Shijak's posts which seem well informed. Shatner is as much or more of a Quebecer as all of you are. Show the man some fucking respect. He is a cultural icon all over the world.

 

[kaydee1968]

Eager, you are way high on Shatner man! The guy is a terrible actor, and is more known in a comical sense, as people make fun of the way he acts all of the time. I bet he would hardly get recognized the second he steps out of North America. To compare his magnitude of fame to Celine's, to me, is nonsense - she trounces him.

Whether or not Celine has had a hit in 15 years doesn't really affect her career. She's already made her stamp on music by being recognized as one of the very best female vocalists in the world. You hear other top female vocalists constantly praising her. I am quite sure she can sell out any stadium just about anywhere in the world. She chose to do a long stint in Vegas so she could have stability while raising a family.

 

[bardamu]

Eager Beaver: Si certains Québécois francophones ne reconnaissent pas William Shatner comme le plus célèbre d'entre nous tous, ce n'est pas parce qu'ils sont ignorants, anti-sémites ou xénophobes. C'est parce que William Shatner appartient à une autre génération. Sacrament, ça fait presque 50 ans que Star Trek a débuté!!! Et puis crisse-nous patience avec tes annonces de Price line!!! Non mais faut-il être obtus et puis imbécile!

(I could translate this message in English, but I don't feel like it sorry. If someone wants to ahead with a translation, be my guest.)

 

[EagerBeaver]

bardamu,

Priceline is THIS generation. William Shatner has been a cultural icon in not one, but two different generations. And for that reason alone, he is the most widely known Montreal native not only in this world, but also in Klingon dude.

Regarding the comments on Shatner's acting ability: he has won multiple Emmy awards for his role on Boston Legal. He has a comical acting style that is unique. Even in Star Trek, he, unlike all other actors who portrayed James T. Kirk, played the role with a sense of humor that widely endeared him to audiences worldwide as has been noted by Shijak. He is the quintessential James T. Kirk and nobody has dared to try to play the role like he did.

Shatner was offered 15% of Priceline's stock and look what he did for that company. If he is such a terrible actor how come he got offered the job and they rehired him when their stock plunged?

Celine Dion is a good singer but she has not produced anything of note since 1997. She accepted a gig on Las Vegas probably so her husband could pursue his own interests there. She took a backwards step. She is a major singing talent, but she has not really gotten the most out her abilities and has not exactly torn up the charts since 1997.

Shatner has over 50 years of success in many venues starting with Twilight Zone in 1962. Look at what this McGill graduate did with himself in his life. He has lived an amazing life and yet some of you don't know much about him? The whole world knows William Shatner.