Richard Monette

Richard Jean Monette CM, DHum, LLD (June 19, 1944 – September 9, 2008), was a Canadian actor and director, best known for his 14-season tenure as the longest-serving artistic director of the Stratford Festival of Canada from 1994 to 2007. Early life Monette was born in Montreal, the son of Florence M. (née Tondino) and Maurice Monette. He was educated at Loyola High School (Montreal) and Loyola College (now Concordia University). Monette was the nephew of Canadian painter Gentile Tondino. Theatre career It was at college that his acting skills were first noticed when he took top acting honours at the 1959 Hart House Inter-Varsity Drama competition in Toronto.