View source for Anthony Kavanagh

{{Short description|Haitian-Canadian entertainer}}
{{about|the Haitian-Canadian entertainer|the British singer|Kavana (singer)}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Anthony Kavanagh
| image = Anthony Kavanagh 2012.jpg
| caption = Kavanagh in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth_date and age|1969|09|26}}
| birth_place = Greenfield Park ([[Longueuil]]), Québec
| active       = 1992-present
| notable_work =
| spouse = Alexandra Kavanagh 
| children = 2
}}
'''Anthony Kavanagh''' (born September 26, 1969) is a Canadian [[Stand-up comedy|stand up comedian]], [[actor]], [[Singing|singer]] and [[Television presenter|TV presenter]]. After a successful career on the [[French language in Canada|francophone]] stand-up scene in Quebec, he became a major star in France and is now a popular television host.

== Early life ==
Anthony Kavanagh was born to [[Haitians|Haitian]] parents on September 26, 1969. He made his stage début in a high school talent show at the age of 14. In 1989, he won the Best New Comic Award of the [[Just for Laughs|Juste pour rire Festival]] ("Just for Laughs") in [[Montreal]]. This award propelled him onto the [[Quebec]] show business scene. Kavanagh charmed English and French speaking audiences alike.
In 1992, Kavanagh opened for touring artists such as [[Julio Iglesias]] and [[Natalie Cole]] and spent two years as [[Céline Dion]]'s opening act across [[Canada]], in French and in English.
Kavanagh got his own television talk show in 1993 "''…et Anthony''", becoming the youngest [[talk show]] host in Quebec at age 23. He co-starred on the  French Canadian comedy radio show ''Les Midis fous'' on [[CKOI-FM|CKOI]] (No.1 in their time slot), then in a recurring role on the television series ''[[Super sans plomb]]''  and a starring role in the made-for-TV movie "''Voodoo Taxi''"  for [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC).

== Career ==
=== Stand-up comedy ===
Kavanagh presented his first stand-up comedy show, "''Kavanagh!''" across [[Quebec]] in 1995. The one-man show was a success and garnered rave reviews. That same year, he received the Outstanding New Talent award at the [[Montreux Comedy Festival]] in [[Switzerland]]. In December, Kavanagh once again opened for [[Celine Dion]] in [[Paris]] at the [[AccorHotels Arena|Paris-Bercy]] and [[Zénith Paris|Zenith arenas]].

In 1998, after taking a year to adapt and prepare his show "''Kavanagh!''"  for [[France]] with famous French comedian [[Pascal Légitimus]], Kavanagh debuted in [[Lyon]] right in the middle of the  [[1998 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]]. Nevertheless, the show drew sold-out crowds, even turning away more than 150 people a day. In the fall, he took up residence at Theâtre Trévise in Paris for seven months to sold-out audiences. After less than one year in France, Kavanagh was asked to do four shows at the [[Olympia (Paris)|Olympia]], the most prestigious theater in France. After 5 years, in 2003, his ''Kavanagh!'' Tour ended after 500 shows in 7 countries and 250,000 DVDs sold.

In 2008, after a five-year break from stand-up comedy, Kavanagh returned to the comedy stage with a new one-man show "''Anthonykavanagh.com''" touring in Canada, France and Switzerland. The following year, he returned to [[Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell|Théâtre du Gymnase]] with another new comedy show called "''Ouate Else''". Kavanagh took this show on tour across France and Switzerland in 2010.

Kavanagh has since performed the one-man show "''Anthony Kavanagh fait son coming out''" at [[Bobino|Bobino Theater]] in Paris and is  on tour throughout France and the French-speaking world.

Every year, since 2010, Kavanagh has hosted the "''Grand Gala at the Festival Grand Rire de Québec''" , a Quebec comedy festival which airs on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|Radio-Canada]].

=== Acting career ===

Following in the footsteps of [[Richard Gere]] on film and [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]] on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], Kavanagh was chosen in 2003 to play lawyer [[Billy Flynn (Chicago)|Billy Flynn]] in the French version of the musical comedy ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]'' in Montreal and Paris.

In 1998, Kavanagh voiced the character Mushu for the French-Canadian dub of the Disney animated film ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]''. He also provided voice work in French for ''[[Home on the Range (2004 film)|Home on the Range]]'' (2004) by Disney : Buck (French voice); ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'' 1 (2005), 2 (2008) & 3 (2012) by DreamWorks: Marty the zebra (French and French Canadian voice);  ''[[Happy Feet]]'' 1 (2006) and 2 (2011) by Warner Bros: Memphis and Lovelace (French voice); ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]'' by Disney (2010): Ray (French and French Canadian voice).
 
In 2006, Kavanagh launched the show "[[Les démons de l'Arkange]]" accompanied by the album by the same name. The show was a musical, a concert, and standup comedy show all rolled into one. The show debuted at the [[Grand Rex]] in Paris, and then moved to Théâtre des Variétés.

French filmmaker [[Étienne Chatiliez]] gave him the leading male role in his 2008 film "[[Agathe Clery]]" in which he played Quentin Lambert, a French businessman.

Kavanagh played American GI Gary Larochelle in the [[Philippe Niang]] made-for-TV movie "[[Les amants de l'ombre]]" in 2009. It was a huge hit, attracting over four million viewers.

Kavanagh took a supporting role in the mini-series "[[La Fille au Fond du Verre à Saké]]" by [[Emmanuel Sapolsky]] which aired on [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal Plus]] in 2009, playing a gay French Canadian car designer living in Paris.

This year for the new season of "[[Fais pas ci, fais pas ça]]", (French hit TV series), Kavanagh guest starred as the new neighbour, sports agent Chris Lenoir.

=== Television ===
Since 2001, [[TF1]], the biggest television network in Europe and the most popular in France, has invited him to MC the "[[NRJ Music Awards]]"  (equivalent to the [[MTV Music Awards]]) six years in a row welcoming major French and international stars like [[David Guetta]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Britney Spears]], [[U2]], [[Black Eyed Peas]], [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]], [[Coldplay]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]].Kavanagh's charisma, outstanding presence, and combined North American and French culture helped make this show a must-see annual showcase to this day.

In 2006, Kavanagh hosted numerous primetime French TV shows on [[France 2]] television network – "The Dancing Show", "[[Fête de la Musique]]" and the "Symphonic Show" and the renowned «Night of Proms» orchestra.

Kavanagh also returned to television in 2010 as host of a show he co-wrote and co-produced called "Nous avons les images", broadcast on Comédie Channel in France and Super Écran in Canada.

In 2014, he participated in the fifth season of ''[[Danse avec les stars (France season 5)|Danse avec les stars]]'' – the French version of ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]''. He was partnered with professional dancer Silvia Notargiacomo. On November 1, 2014, they were eliminated finishing 7th out of 11 contestants.

== Various shows ==
* 2010 : ''Anthony Kavanagh fait son coming out''
* 2009 : ''Ouate Else''
* 2008 : ''Anthonykavanagh.com''
* 2006 : ''[[Les Démons de L'Arkange]]''
* 2003 : ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]'', the musical - Billy Flynn
* 1995-99 : ''Kavanagh !''

== Filmography ==
* 2024 : ''[[Moana 2]]'' : Maui (French and Quebec voice)
* 2021 : ''[[Fatherhood (2021 film)|Fatherhood]]'' - ER doctor
* 2019 : ''[[Aladdin (2019 film)|Aladdin]]'' : Genie (French and Quebec voice)
* 2016 : ''[[Moana (2016 film)|Moana]]'' : Maui (French and Quebec voice)
* 2010 : ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]'' : Ray (French and Quebec voices)
* 2008 : ''[[Agathe Cléry]]'' - Quentin Lambert
* 2008 : ''[[Madagascar 2]]'' - Marty le zèbre (French voice)
* 2005 : ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'' - Marty le zèbre (French voice)
* 2004 : ''[[Home on the Range (2004 film)|Home on the Range]]'' - Buck (French voice)
* 2000 : ''[[Antilles sur Seine]]''
* 1998 : ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]'' - Mushu (Quebec voice)

== Television ==
=== Movies ===
* 2011 : ''[[Fais pas ci, fais pas ça]]'' - Chris Lenoir
* 2011 : ''[[Oggy et les cafards]]'' (voices)
* 2009 : ''[[Les Amants de l'ombre]]'' - Gary Larochelle
* 2008 : ''[[La Fille au fond du verre à saké]]'' - Maxime Leroy
* 2005 : ''[[Le cœur a ses raisons]]'' - Brock Steel
* 1989 - 1991 : ''Super sans plomb''
* 1991 : ''[[Voodoo Taxi]]''

=== Shows ===
* 2010 : ''Nous avons les images'' on Comédie channel !
* 2006 : ''Shymphonic Show'' on [[France 2]].
* 2006 : ''Dancing Show'' on France 2.
* 2001 à 2006 : [[NRJ Music Award]]

== Radio ==
* 1994 : ''Midis Fous'' de CKOI, on [[CKOI-FM]]

==Video games==
* 2011 : ''[[Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure]]'' - Kaos (Quebec French)
* 2012 : ''[[Skylanders: Giants]]'' - Kaos (Quebec French)

== See also ==
* [[List of Quebec comedians]]
* [[Culture of Quebec]]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Anthony Kavanagh}}
* [http://www.anthonykavanagh.com Official website of Anthony Kavanagh]
*{{IMDb name|5627640}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kavanagh, Anthony}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Haitian Quebecers]]
[[Category:Canadian male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:Canadian male voice actors]]
[[Category:Comedians from Quebec]]
[[Category:People from Longueuil]]
[[Category:Male actors from Quebec]]
[[Category:Participants in French reality television series]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Black Canadian male actors]]
[[Category:Black Canadian comedians]]
[[Category:Canadian stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:Canadian male comedians]]