Interview with Actor Comedian Bernard Robichaud By Lucy Hall

“Fuck Off, I’ve Got Work to Do!” – Bernard Robichaud on Trailer Park Boys and Beyond

The actor behind Cyrus reflects on the cult series, stand-up comedy, and his creative process.

He talks like the tough guy from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s not too bright. He cheats in class to get his grade ten. He struts around toting the gun his father gave him and threatens to shoot up the park. He is Cyrus, the nemesis of the Trailer Park Boys.

With his signature studded motorcycle jacket and shades, he is the embodiment of cool comparable to another pop icon bad boy, Arthur Fonzarelli, but lacking Fonzie’s wholesome aura, Cyrus looks out for number one. He quickly became a breakout character among the residents of Sunnyvale Trailer Park and a fan favorite. When a red Corvette blasting “I’m Young, You’re Old” on the stereo, pulls into the park, you are fully aware that a badass has just arrived. Cyrus is arguably one of the best-known television characters, given the across-the-board appeal of the Trailer Park Boys.

The talented man who plays Cyrus is Bernard Robichaud. He may portray the nemesis of the Trailer Park Boys, but he is hardly the clueless, trailer park troublemaker. Bernard plays the part of Cyrus very well and uses his acting skills to make him a believable character. But Bernard is not really like the character he plays at all. Bernard is so much more than meets the eye. Not only is he an accomplished writer, model, comedian, and actor but he is also a cancer survivor and activist. The theatre-trained performer developed the knack to radically alter himself for every role with ease. He can go from portraying an intimidating, gun-toting thug to the enduring good guy with ease. A smart man no, a brilliant one for his implicit knowledge of his fan’s needs and how he will travel the extra mile, no, miles to give them what they expected. Bernard possesses this rare and brilliant ability to sculpt an everyday turn of phrase or mundane snippet of conversation into hilarious Cyrus-isms. Classic comedy characters Fonzie and Vinny Bobarino had their, “Ayyy” and “Up your nose with a rubber hose”; today we have Cyrus’ catchphrase, used as his exit, “Fuck off, I’ve Got Work to Do” which has also entered the lexicon of pop culture and is quoted often by fans.

Twisted Pulp: Where do you draw inspiration from as an actor, writer, and comedian?

Bernard Robichaud: From my misguided youth and spending lots of time in front of my mother’s mirror above her dresser acting out what I wish I could have done or said to my father in retribution.

Twisted Pulp: What do you think is the best role you ever had?

Bernard Robichaud: I don’t look at my roles like that, they were all the best in some way, or the best they could’ve been at the time.

Twisted Pulp: What or who got you into performing?

Bernard Robichaud: I had a good friend who thought I needed a better outlet to express myself other than bar fights on weekends.

Twisted Pulp: What can you tell fans about your stand-up comedy performances, what can they expect to see when they come to a show?

Bernard Robichaud: Initially it all revolved around my character in Trailer Park Boys, which was like being a cartoon, so, now it has become about me, not that I didn’t derive from my character, it was just written and delivered differently than it is today.

Twisted Pulp: What about daily aspects of road life—travel, food, hotels, what is the hardest thing to deal with? What was the best part?

Bernard Robichaud: Trying to sleep in a different bed each night, lack of sleep, bad food, too much to drink, long hours, but I did meet a lot of grateful people.

Twisted Pulp: When you write do you write from your own experiences?

Bernard Robichaud: Yes, always.

Twisted Pulp: What attracted you to the Trailer Park Boys script? How did the project come to you?

Bernard Robichaud: I knew Barrie Dunn and Mike Clattenburg and I was asked to audition with no guarantees.

Twisted Pulp: You were in the very first episode of Trailer Park Boys. Are you surprised that it has become such a huge phenomenon?

Bernard Robichaud: Yes, but I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Twisted Pulp: There are many references to hard rock and metal music in the Trailer Park Boys television series ranging from Helix, Rush, to Sebastian Bach. Were you ever a heavy metal fan? If not, what do you listen to?

Bernard Robichaud: I’ve listened to everything including the music those mentioned above perform.

Twisted Pulp: What research did you do to portray the Cyrus character, in Trailer Park Boys? Did you model the persona after any person?

Bernard Robichaud: Several from the neighborhood I grew up in.

Twisted Pulp:: What has been the best and worst aspect of playing Cyrus? How has starring in Trailer Park Boys affected your career?

Bernard Robichaud: Losing my anonymity, but it’s put us all on the map and I’m taken seriously about my craft which is reflected in the quality of the roles I’m asked to audition for.

Twisted Pulp: In your career thus far – who have you enjoyed working with the most?

Bernard Robichaud: I’m not sure anyone one person stands out, Corey Haim, Kathy Bates, Billy Zane, Eric Balfour, Lucas Bryant, to name a few actors, several directors including Kathy Bates, TW Peacock, Shawn Pillar, and of course Mike Clattenburg.

Twisted Pulp: I quote Cyrus all the time; do you have a favorite Cyrus line?

Bernard Robichaud: Not really lol

Twisted Pulp: Cyrus always has “work to do…” What do you think his motivation for being such a hard worker is?

Bernard Robichaud: lol, Money.

Twisted Pulp: You are originally from Boston. Are you more recognized in Canada or state-side?

Bernard Robichaud: Good question! I’m not sure, I seem to be recognized though, I guess I never really think about demographics, the show is global, and now I have fans everywhere which is very humbling.

When Bernard is not gracing the screen, he tours with his stand-up comedy act It’s My Life, Not Yours! It was at the stand-up stage when he initially developed the character of the loveable, clueless criminal known as Cyrus. In 2001 Cyrus became a recurring character on the popular series Trailer Park Boys. Bernard has made numerous film and television appearances. He starred in a string of thrillers such as Blue Seduction as Billy Zane’s music partner and American Sunset with his close friend, Corey Haim. He starred in Sea Change, a film based on a best-selling book and he had a recurring role on the supernatural drama series, Haven. Bernard has voiced characters for drama series and often writes scripts.

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