René Angelil
Date of Birth
René Angelil was a Canadian-born manager and producer best known for discovering, and later marrying, Celine Dion. He served as the singer’s manager for more than 30 years.
He discovered the Quebec songstress when she was only 12 years old, after she had sent him a demo tape of her singing a song written by her mother. They met in 1981 for her audition, and Angelil was so convinced of her talent that he mortgaged his house to help produce her first record. They began dating when Dion was 19, and married in 1994 (the ceremony was broadcast live on Canadian television).
Angelil himself had once been a Canadian pop star in the 1960s, as a part of the Baronets, before he turned to managing. With his guidance, however, it was Dion’s career as a singer that would thrive. She sold tens of millions of albums, had smashing success with “My Heart Will Go On” (the theme song to Titanic), and held a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
René Angelil was a Canadian-born manager and producer best known for discovering, and later marrying, Celine Dion. He served as the singer’s manager for more than 30 years.
He discovered the Quebec songstress when she was only 12 years old, after she had sent him a demo tape of her singing a song written by her mother. They met in 1981 for her audition, and Angelil was so convinced of her talent that he mortgaged his house to help produce her first record. They began dating when Dion was 19, and married in 1994 (the ceremony was broadcast live on Canadian television).
Angelil himself had once been a Canadian pop star in the 1960s, as a part of the Baronets, before he turned to managing. With his guidance, however, it was Dion’s career as a singer that would thrive. She sold tens of millions of albums, had smashing success with “My Heart Will Go On” (the theme song to Titanic), and held a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
Angelil also served as a producer on Dion’s concert specials, including Céline Dion: The Colour of My Love Concert. Additionally, he appeared in the television specials Divas Live: An Honors Concert for VH1 Save the Music and Céline Dion: All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video, among other specials.
The couple remained together until Angelil’s death.
He died January 14, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 73.
The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more