Louis Saia, the director behind Quebec's iconic Les Boys hockey films, has died at 75. His passing was confirmed by his agency.
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If you grew up around Quebec hockey culture, Les Boys wasn't just a movie. It was a thing.
Saia directed the first three films in the franchise, helping turn a story about a beer league hockey team into one of the biggest hits in Quebec cinema history. The original film topped the local box office in 1997, even outperforming Titanic.
That tells you a lot. But Saia's impact didn't stop there.
Je viens d’apprendre le décès du réalisateur et scénariste Louis Saia, à l’âge de 75 ans. Je tiens à offrir mes plus sincères condoléances à sa famille et à ses proches.
Il aura laissé une empreinte indélébile sur l’imaginaire collectif québécois grâce à sa contribution à des… pic.twitter.com/qkMgRMX74Y
— Charles Milliard (@CharlesMilliard) April 1, 2026
He also co-wrote Les voisins, a sharp, widely praised stage play that took a close look at suburban life. Alongside longtime collaborator Claude Meunier, he helped shape a generation of Quebec comedy through projects tied to Broue and La petite vie.
His work extended to television as well.
He helped create the teen series Radio enfer, a staple for younger audiences, and later worked on Histoires de filles, bringing a different voice to TV comedy.
Saia wasn't chasing flash. He was focused on story and character. Real people. Real settings. Humor that hit close.
That's what made Les Boys work. And it's why his work stuck.
Quebec didn't just lose a filmmaker. It lost one of the voices that helped define its culture.
