Alain Chanoine: His Game Is Stunt

Fate is a funny thing.

One turn here, a glimpse there, anything can happen.

Take Alain Chanoine, for instance.

The Montreal-born actor/stuntman, who already had experience in theatre and acting before moving away from home, grabbed a great opportunity to forward his career.

After a football practice at his school, College Maisonneuve, ten years ago, Chanoine happened to stumble upon auditions for a film. Chanoine had to move out to Vancouver and improve his english for the film.

Afterwards, he began to “hustle” for work opportunities as his own agent. Unlike actors, stuntmen usually negotiate and seek for employment on their own.

As for that movie Chanoine was cast in, it never happened.

Ten years, numerous stunts and acting opportunities later, Chanoine’s latest adventure has him in Bulgaria, acting as a stunt double for actor Orlando Jones, in a film called Enemies Closer which will feature action star, Jean Claude Van Damme.

Constantly training, two hours a day in fact, Chanoine improves his cardio and technique for his stunt work.

“It’s a lifestyle.” Chanoine says, “It’s kind of fun because my work is my life and my life is my work.”

Sure enough, Chanoine’s line of work is something he’s trained and prepared for a great portion of his life.

Chanoine’s background with combat and martial arts began at an age which some consider late, 12 years old. Despite the late start, Chanoine is now trained in Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and kick-boxing. Working with stunt coordinator and five-time world karate champion, Jean Frenette in Boucherville, Chanoine eventually became a Canadian Black Belt Champion.

Chanoine also did work with Frenette on the OSS (On Set Stunts) Action team, where he performed stunts for different films and shows including Spartacus, The Immortals and the shortlived television rendition of the vampire hunter trilogy, Blade.

Chanoine especially enjoyed his time with the cast of Immortals, starring Henry Cavill and Mickey Rourke. “The [films] that are long [to produce] are the best ones, because you get to connect with your team. The OSS team worked together [with the cast and crew] for six months.” Chanoine says on the work on “Immortals”.

However, Chanoine is no one-trick pony. Chanoine has done some acting work, having done bit parts in Spartacus and Immortals, while also tackling bigger roles in upcoming films such as While The Village Sleeps and Evil Feed.

Chanoine embraces his versatility, and has a liking for both talents. “I actually see myself as much as an actor as a stunt performer because I work so hard at both ends.” he says.

Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, Chanoine will be focusing on performing stunts, connecting with Orlando Jones and preparing to go toe to toe with Jean Claude Van Damme’s stunt double in the film, Enemies Closer, which also stars Tom Everett Scott.

Chanoine briefly described the plot as two sworn enemies having to join forces to fend off a bigger enemy and the hell that follows. The film is already gathering hype as another film in Jean Claude Van Damme’s comeback trail, having already returned to silver screen in the star-studded The Expendables 2.

From a doomed audition to working alongside Jean Claude Van Damme. Lucky, right? Not exactly. Along with advising aspiring actors and stuntmen to work hard, he says that “luck doesn’t really exist. It’s when opportunity means perseverance.”

As long as Chanoine’s drive and perseverance continue, his star will continue to rise. Soon enough, Chanoine could end up being the next big Montreal star/badass who performs his own stunts.