Herby Moreau dies at 56

The godfather of the red carpet is no more. Host and cultural journalist Herby Moreau died at the age of 56.

Nicknamed the star hunter, Herby Moreau made his reputation by interviewing the most famous stars in the world, during prestigious ceremonies such as the Oscars or the Cannes Film Festival.

“He was a real transmission belt between the showbiz American and people in Quebec,” summarizes host Isabelle Racicot, who met Herby Moreau when she worked at Musique Plus in 1997.

“I have always admired his rebellious side. He wasn't afraid of anything. He went into places where no journalist went. To have the best clip, the extract that the others didn't have, that was her trademark,” she continues.

Isabelle Racicot remembers a time when Herby Moreau was waiting alone, behind the building where a Vanity Fair magazine event was taking place. “He told himself that he was going to have an image that others wouldn't have. And it happened. Tom Cruise arrived on his motorcycle. No one in the world had that clip except Herby. »

“Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Paris Hilton: the stars, he found them all. He would enter the kitchens if necessary. He knew how to be in the right place, at the right time,” she assures.

The host particularly remembers the Oscars ceremony in 2002, when Herby Moreau scored one of her biggest hits. “All the journalists were sitting down, raising their hands to ask questions of actor Sidney Poitier. Herby got together with Poitier, with the Oscar in his hands. He had a bull’s-eye, and it made for some amazing TV moments,” she says.

Not only did Herby Moreau have a knack for spotting celebrities, he knew how to make them feel comfortable.

“Herby was the guy cool. When he was on a red carpet in Hollywood, he didn't feel like an imposter. He felt in his place, like the Americans. Everyone wanted to be friends with him,” recalls host and producer Julie Syder.

Julie Snyder quickly recognized Herby Moreau's potential when the two were studying at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. “Clearly, he stood out. We knew he would go far,” she says.

So she opened a door to the industry for him, by offering to be his personal stylist for the show To go outin 1989. One thing led to another, and he began doing his own reports, leading him to host several renowned cultural shows, such as Star System, District V or the Star Académie Auditions.

Through all his successes, Herby Moreau imposed his tone. Even behind the scenes. “For Star Académie, he didn’t want to rehearse, even if it was live. He said he didn't want to become a parrot, Julie Snyder recalls, laughing. He couldn't believe that I was still doing it. »

“But he was a real worker. When he wanted something, he never gave up,” she adds more seriously.

Born in Haiti, Herby Moreau arrived in Quebec at the age of five. He briefly left La Belle Province to study journalism at the École Supérieure de Lille, working for various media such as RFO, France 2, TV5 and M6.

He and the actress Julie Du Page became friends when both lived in Paris.

“He was someone who was very loyal in friendship, very honest. He had a huge circle of friends. The evenings with him were never dull, he had so much to say. His laugh was frank and contagious. When I close my eyes, I hear it,” she recalls.

“He was a great cheerleader for his friends, and above all, a very proud father. That’s especially how he defined himself,” adds Isabelle Racicot.

Back in Quebec, Herby Moreau was a collaborator in Little Journal at TQS, before participating in the show Flashand to host the pre- and post-gala ceremonies of the Prix Gémeaux, du cinéma québécois and the ADISQ. As luck would have it, the news of Herby Moreau's death fell on the 46th.^e ADISQ Gala.

“It was a little surreal to learn of his death on a red carpet, a place where my team and I welcomed him so often,” comments the president of the Roy and Turner press relations firm, Elisabeth Roy.

“Herby was a curious, passionate and very determined man who would not accept being told no,” she continues. He knew how to be very insistent while always remaining respectful and kind. He was someone who had stature, someone with whom you could laugh a lot. A unique and striking being in our ecosystem and in the hearts of the public”

“He had class, guts and determination,” summarizes the president of Immina Films Patrick Roy, in a publication on social networks. He will have spent his career shedding light on major international stars, but also and above all highlighting the work of Quebec creators here and abroad. »

Various personalities joined their voices to pay tribute to Herby Moreau on social networks following his death. “I’m in shock. He was our neighbor in Old Montreal, the class he had on the red carpets also translated into the streets of our neighborhood,” shared Quebec Liberal Party MP Marwah Rizqy.

“Herby quickly made his mark on the red carpets and brought us closer to our stars,” praised Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

“Red carpets will no longer have the same brilliance or the same elegance without Herby Moreau,” commented radio host Pierre Landry.

“Learning about the death of Herby Moreau hit me hard this evening,” writes TVA journalist Christine Manzo.

Herby Moreau wrote the column “Herby behind the scenes” in the pages of The Press for three years, in which he covered various social events.