If you grew up watching movies in the late sixties or seventies, you couldn't miss Michael Sarrazin. He had these incredibly soulful, almost haunting eyes that seemed to look right through the screen. He was the "it" guy for a minute there, starring in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? alongside Jane Fonda and dating the gorgeous Jacqueline Bisset.
But then, like so many stars from that era, the spotlight dimmed. He didn't vanish, exactly—he just moved back to Canada and kept working quietly. When news broke that he had passed away, a lot of fans were caught off guard. People wanted to know: what was the Michael Sarrazin cause of death, and why did it happen so fast?
The Reality of the Michael Sarrazin Cause of Death
Michael Sarrazin died on April 17, 2011. He was 70 years old, which honestly feels a bit young for a guy who always seemed so vibrant on screen. He passed away in a hospital in Montreal, the city where he grew up and eventually returned to after his Hollywood years.
So, what actually took him? The official Michael Sarrazin cause of death was cancer. Specifically, he was battling mesothelioma, a particularly aggressive form of cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs.
It wasn't a long, drawn-out public battle. His agent and long-time friend, Michael Oscars, mentioned at the time that Sarrazin had only been diagnosed a few months prior to his death. It was fast. One day he’s a fixture in the Montreal acting scene, and the next, he’s gone. His daughters, Catherine and Michele, were with him at the end. It’s a small comfort, but he wasn't alone.
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Why Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a scary word. Usually, when you hear it, you think of those late-night law firm commercials about asbestos. While it hasn't been officially "proven" in a court of law where Sarrazin encountered it, mesothelioma is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure.
Think about the era he worked in. Soundstages in the 60s and 70s weren't exactly the "green" environments we have now. Asbestos was everywhere—in insulation, in fake snow, in the very walls of the studios. Steve McQueen, another massive star of that era, died from the exact same thing. It’s a tragic footnote to a career spent in the "Golden Age" of the studio system.
A Career Defined by Those Eyes
To understand why his death hit fans so hard, you have to look at what he brought to the table. Sarrazin wasn't your typical alpha-male lead. He was sensitive. He was often the "apprentice" character—the guy learning the ropes from a grizzled veteran.
- The Flim-Flam Man (1967): He played the protégé to George C. Scott.
- They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969): This was the big one. He and Jane Fonda played desperate contestants in a grueling Depression-era dance marathon. He was nominated for a BAFTA for this, and honestly, he should have won more.
- The Sweet Ride (1968): This is where he met Jacqueline Bisset. They were the "it" couple of the moment, staying together for about 14 years without ever actually getting married.
He had this "drifter" quality. He looked like he was searching for something he couldn't quite find. Maybe that's why he eventually left the Hollywood machine behind.
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Life After Hollywood: The Montreal Years
By the mid-80s and 90s, Sarrazin had mostly walked away from the blockbuster life. He wasn't bitter, though. He just liked Montreal. He worked on Canadian films like La Florida and did guest spots on shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (where he played Trevean in the episode "The Quickening") and Murder, She Wrote.
He was a regular at local pubs. People in Montreal would see him at a place called Elsie’s, just hanging out, chatting about movies or whatever was on his mind. He didn't act like a "star." He was just Michael.
His brother, Pierre Sarrazin, who is a producer, often talked about how Michael just loved the craft. He didn't care about the fame as much as he cared about the work itself. That's probably why his "disappearance" from Hollywood felt so natural. He didn't crash and burn; he just went home.
The Final Days
When the cancer hit, it hit hard. Mesothelioma doesn't usually give you a lot of warning. By the time you feel the symptoms, it's often quite advanced. The fact that he only survived a few months after the diagnosis tells you everything you need to know about how aggressive it was.
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His funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Montreal. It wasn't a massive Hollywood circus. It was a gathering of family, friends, and the Canadian acting community. They remembered him as a "battler." A guy who, even when he was a starving actor in New York, never gave up on the dream.
What We Can Learn From His Story
The Michael Sarrazin cause of death serves as a bit of a grim reminder of a different time in the film industry. But beyond the medical details, there's a lesson in how he lived.
- Prioritize the Craft: Sarrazin proved you don't have to stay in the Hollywood rat race to have a meaningful career. He found fulfillment in smaller projects and his local community.
- Health is Stealthy: Even if you feel fine, regular check-ups are crucial, especially if you've worked in environments (like old construction or old studios) where asbestos might have been present.
- Legacy Isn't Just Awards: People don't just remember Sarrazin for his Golden Globe nomination. They remember those eyes and the "soul" he put into every role, even the small ones.
If you want to honor his memory, skip the gossip sites and go watch They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? or The Reincarnation of Peter Proud. It's the best way to see why he was so special in the first place. He was a man who lived on his own terms and left behind a body of work that still feels modern and raw today.
To keep your own health in check, especially if you have a history of working in older buildings or industrial settings, talk to a doctor about lung health screenings. Early detection is the only real weapon against something as fast-moving as the cancer that took Michael.