People • Royalty

Francine Grimaldi

Francine Grimaldi is a Quebec cultural columnist, actress, and former Radio-Canada broadcaster born in 1944.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Francine Grimaldi is a Quebec cultural columnist, actress, and former Radio-Canada broadcaster born in 1944. She is best known for a long career in cultural journalism at Société Radio-Canada, beginning in the 1970s and lasting until her retirement in 2019. Grimaldi is the daughter of theatre impresario and performer Jean Grimaldi.

Early life and family

Francine Grimaldi was born in 1944 and grew up in a family connected to the performing arts. She is the daughter of Jean Grimaldi, a prominent figure in Quebec's entertainment world.

Acting career

Before becoming known as a broadcaster, Grimaldi appeared as an actress in films from the late 1960s and early 1970s. IMDb credits her with roles in films including Après-ski and L'eau chaude, l'eau frette.

Radio-Canada career

Grimaldi joined Radio-Canada after working as a researcher and later became a cultural columnist. Sources describe her as a long-time voice on cultural programming, including the morning show CBF Bonjour and other Radio-Canada outlets.

Retirement and recognition

Grimaldi retired in 2019 after roughly five decades in media and culture reporting. Radio-Canada and cultural institutions marked her retirement and highlighted her influence on Quebec arts coverage.

Key facts

Francine Grimaldi was born in 1944 and is identified as a Quebec cultural columnist.
She began her career as an actress in the late 1960s and early 1970s before moving into broadcasting.
She worked for Radio-Canada for several decades, including as a cultural columnist starting in 1975.
She retired from her cultural reporting role at Radio-Canada in 2019.
She is the daughter of theatre impresario and performer Jean Grimaldi.

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Canadian context

Francine Grimaldi is a notable figure in Quebec and Canadian broadcasting, especially for her long-running cultural coverage on Radio-Canada and her role in presenting arts and entertainment to French-speaking Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Francine Grimaldi?

She is a Canadian cultural columnist, broadcaster, and former actress best known for her long career at Radio-Canada.

When was Francine Grimaldi born?

She was born in 1944; some sources specify 14 April 1944.

What is Francine Grimaldi known for?

She is known for cultural reporting and commentary on Radio-Canada, where she worked for decades.

Did Francine Grimaldi work as an actress?

Yes. Sources describe her as an actress and list film credits from the early 1970s.

When did Francine Grimaldi retire?

She retired from Radio-Canada in 2019 after nearly 50 years in media.

References

Wikipédia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francine_Grimaldi
Supports: Birth year, Quebec cultural columnist description, early acting career, Radio-Canada work
Radio-Canada — https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/687867/biographie-francine-grimaldi-hommage-festival-cinema-international-abitibi-temiscamingue-fciat
Supports: Biography, family background, start at Radio-Canada, cultural columnist career
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0342112/
Supports: Birth date, actress identification, selected film credits
Radio-Canada — https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1194334/derniere-chronique-retraite-francine-grimaldi-radio-culture
Supports: Retirement in 2019, decades-long media career, Radio-Canada roles
Radio-Canada — https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/il-restera-toujours-culture/segments/entrevue/460209/francine-grimaldi-cv-spectatrice
Supports: Retirement context, cultural presence, family background
Ciné-Fête — http://www.cinefete.ca/fr/site/products/francine-grimaldi
Supports: Born in Montreal, family in entertainment, early stage appearances, Radio-Canada career