M ichel Côté, a prominent Quebec actor known for his roles in films including Cruising Bar and C.R.A.Z.Y., has died at age 72.

Côté died Monday (May 29) surrounded by his loved ones, his family announced in a statement, adding the actor and his immense talent have made a permanent mark on our collective memory. 

A cause of death was not revealed in the statement, however multiple news outlets including The Canadian Press have reported that he’d been undergoing treatment for bone marrow disease. The family statement said no further comments or interviews will be issued at this time, but an announcement about a memorial will be announced shortly.

The Montreal-based actor is being remembered by members of the industry and politicians alike as a “genius on screen” who always had “a good word for everyone.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Monday that Côté’s “passing is an extraordinary loss for Quebecois culture and for our entire country.”

Born in 1950 in Alma, Que., Côté started his career on a number of TV series and got his big-screen break with a lead role in the André Forcier 1983 dramedy Au clair de la lune (Albine Productions) followed by titles including Robert Ménard’s 1989 comedy Cruising Bar (Vidéofilms Productions), which he co-wrote and starred in as four different characters. He would reprise the characters in the sequel that came out in 2008, which he co-directed and co-wrote with Ménard.

He starred in Jean-Marc Vallée’s debut feature Liste noire, produced by Marcel Giroux, in 1995 and worked with the director again on his hit film C.R.A.Z.Y. (Cirrus Communications) in 2005.

Actor and Bloc Québécois MP Denis Trudel, who worked with Côté on C.R.A.Z.Y., tweeted that Côté was the greatest Quebec actor of all time and described him as kind, funny, endearing and hard-working, noting he always had a good word for everyone.

Côté was also a stage star in productions including the long-running play Broue. His last film role was in the Émile Gaudreault comedy De père en flic 2, one of the highest grossing Quebec films at the domestic box office at the time.

Cinémas Guzzo’s president and CEO Vincenzo Guzzo described Côté as an “on-screen genius” on Twitter.

Côté won a Jutra award for best supporting actor in 2006 for his role C.R.A.Z.Y., and received a lifetime achievement award at the 2013 Jutra awards. He was appointed to the Order of Canada for being “one of Quebec’s most prominent actors on stage, on television and in film.”

Quebec Premier Francois Legault tweeted that Côté is one of the country’s great actors, noting he had planned induct him into the National Order of Quebec in a few weeks.

“Michel, Quebec loved you for your humour, your kindness, your sincerity and your extraordinary talent. My thoughts are with your family and your many friends. Tonight, I’ll have a nice cold beer in your honour!,” Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez tweeted, making a reference to the play Broue.

Côté is survived by wife Véronique Le Flaguais and sons Maxime Le Flaguais and Charles Côté.

Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images