Claire Lamarche (born June 28, 1945) is a television personality in Quebec, Canada.[1]
She was born in Quebec City and grew up there.[2] She studied sociology in university and then began a career in teaching. She later decided to work in television. Lamarche began work as a researcher[3] and later was host for the popular program Droit de parole on Radio-Québec for eight years. She then joined the TVA network[4] where she hosted a daily show Claire Lamarche for more than 12 years.[3] She was also host of the television program Les Retrouvailles which reunited adopted children with their birth parents.[2]
Lamarche had suffered from sudden drops in blood pressure and fainting since she was young. In 1997, she collapsed on live television during a debate between national party leaders. These health problems have since been addressed with a pacemaker.[2]
She married actor Guy Messier[5]
who died in February 2012. The couple had three children.She received the Prix Gémeaux for best host in 1987, 1991 and 1992 as well as several MetroStar Awards and a Prix Artis in 2006.[3] Lamarche was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2003.[4]