Gary Ouellet
Encyclopedia
Gary Ouellet was a French-Canadian
television producer
and magician who lived and worked in the United States.
He may be best-known as the driving force behind a number of network television specials that helped some of the top performers in modern magic to gain a national and international profile. He was also a lawyer and lobbyist.
, Ouellet became interested in magic as a boy after receiving a toy magic set as a present. As a teenager, he performed a magic act that was the opening for headliners at a prominent cabaret venue in Quebec City
.
Later in life he pursued magic part-time while making a career as a lawyer and as a government lobbyist. Ouellet was a member of the successful and sometimes controversial Ottawa
lobbying firm Government Consultants International, starting, in 1984 along with Frank Moores
, Francis Fox
, and Gerald Doucet
.
After moving to the United States to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, he became a producer and was involved in founding several successful businesses, including the live show production company Area 52 Entertainment and his own firm Ouellet Entertainment Inc. He was also a partner in the television production firm OCT, which took its name from the last initials of partners Ouellet, Alan Carter and David Tumaroff. In the 1990s Ouellet produced more than 50 hours of network television, including the five World's Greatest Magic
shows and the two World's Most Dangerous Magic
specials.
He settled in Los Angeles
but also spent a considerable amount of time in Las Vegas
because of its importance as a venue for magic shows. He wrote and directed a number of big Las Vegas stage shows, including Melinda "First Lady of Magic" starring Melinda Saxe
, and a show with magician Steve Wyrick
. He was also responsible for Saxe's 1997 television special. As well as contributing to magic through his production work he also wrote a number of books and made instructional videos and DVDs, in which he taught magic skills.
where he was working on a television production. Writing after Ouellet's death, magician Jonathan Pendragon stated:
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and magician who lived and worked in the United States.
He may be best-known as the driving force behind a number of network television specials that helped some of the top performers in modern magic to gain a national and international profile. He was also a lawyer and lobbyist.
Life and career
Born in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Ouellet became interested in magic as a boy after receiving a toy magic set as a present. As a teenager, he performed a magic act that was the opening for headliners at a prominent cabaret venue in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
.
Later in life he pursued magic part-time while making a career as a lawyer and as a government lobbyist. Ouellet was a member of the successful and sometimes controversial Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
lobbying firm Government Consultants International, starting, in 1984 along with Frank Moores
Frank Moores
Frank Duff Moores served as the 2nd Premier of Newfoundland. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservatives from 1972 until his retirement in 1979.-Early life:...
, Francis Fox
Francis Fox
Francis Fox, PC, QC is a member of the Senate of Canada. He is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and is the former Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, and thus was a senior aide to Prime Minister Paul Martin. He also worked as a lobbyist in the 1980s.-Life and career:Born in...
, and Gerald Doucet
Gerald Doucet
Gerald Doucet is a former politician and lobbyist from Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented the electoral district of Richmond in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1963–1974, as a Progressive Conservative.He graduated from St...
.
After moving to the United States to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, he became a producer and was involved in founding several successful businesses, including the live show production company Area 52 Entertainment and his own firm Ouellet Entertainment Inc. He was also a partner in the television production firm OCT, which took its name from the last initials of partners Ouellet, Alan Carter and David Tumaroff. In the 1990s Ouellet produced more than 50 hours of network television, including the five World's Greatest Magic
The World's Greatest Magic
The World's Greatest Magic was a series of American television specials showcasing magic acts.The first of five shows was broadcast by NBC in 1994, and continued with annual editions through 1998. These shows were most often first telecast during the Thanksgiving holidays when special programming...
shows and the two World's Most Dangerous Magic
The World's Most Dangerous Magic
The World's Most Dangerous Magic was the title of two American television specials showcasing illusion and escapology acts, which were made for the NBC network...
specials.
He settled in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
but also spent a considerable amount of time in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
because of its importance as a venue for magic shows. He wrote and directed a number of big Las Vegas stage shows, including Melinda "First Lady of Magic" starring Melinda Saxe
Melinda Saxe
Melinda Saxe is a magician from Las Vegas, Nevada, best known for network television performances and Las Vegas stage shows in which she was billed as "The First Lady of Magic". She is often associated with the "Drill of Death" illusion which was a signature trick developed for her by Andre Kole...
, and a show with magician Steve Wyrick
Steve Wyrick
Steve Wyrick is an American magician from Garland, Texas who is best known for performing as a headliner in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Las Vegas Hilton beginning in August 2011. He was featured in The World's Greatest Magic series on NBC in the 1990s...
. He was also responsible for Saxe's 1997 television special. As well as contributing to magic through his production work he also wrote a number of books and made instructional videos and DVDs, in which he taught magic skills.
Death
He died of a heart attack in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
where he was working on a television production. Writing after Ouellet's death, magician Jonathan Pendragon stated: