Although Yanic (pronounced ya-neek) Truesdale was a fresh face to American audiences before playing Michel Gerard on "Gilmore Girls," he had been one of Canada's busiest and most popular actors for years.He made his American television debut in "Gilmore Girls," the first role he auditioned for after relocating to Los Angeles. His performance prompted Daily Variety to select him as one of their 10 Actors to Watch.
Truesdale was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He got into acting at age 17 when he decided on a whim to audition for acting school with a friend. Although his friend was turned down, Truesdale got in, and he soon discovered a passion for acting. Truesdale graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada when he was 20, and the talented actor was quickly in demand.
His first big break came with a starring role in "He Shoots, He Scores," a hugely popular Canadian television series about hockey.A six-year role on the series "The Duval Family" followed, during which Truesdale also found time to co-host a live daytime talk show for teenagers called "Special Delivery."
Truesdale was later nominated for a Gemini Award (the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy® Award) for playing the only black child of white parents on the sitcom "Majeurs et vaccinés."The role mirrored his own offscreen life, as Truesdale was raised solely by his mother, who is Caucasian.
Onstage, his hilarious performance as the maid in the long-running Canadian production of "The Bird Cage" earned him rave reviews. After many professional accomplishments in Canada, Truesdale decided it was time for new challenges. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in New York and moved to Los Angeles, which he now calls home, and he enjoys dual citizenship. The self-described "movie maniac" sees several films each week and also enjoys writing and traveling.
Truesdale's birth date is March 17.
