Ren Anglil: Not just a manager of Cline Dion

Ren Anglil, the man who transformed Cline Dion from little-known teen francophone chanteuse to international pop superstar, died Thursday at the age of 73.

• Cline Dion's husband RenAnglildead at 73
• Ren Anglil's death draws strong response from fans, friends

Many fans knew him as Dion's husband and longtime former manager.

Celine loses her Ren

9 years ago

Duration 1:54

Songstress Celine Dion always knew she would be a young widow and asks for privacy

But Anglil had other accomplishments aside from managing the career of the pop diva.

1. Boy band member

Before he became the man behind the powerhouse vocalist, Anglil had his first brush with the spotlight on stage.

"Hehad quite a life in the '60s. He was in a group called Les Baronets, where he would take British Invasion songs and Beatles songs and make them in French," said CBC arts columnist Brendan Kelly.

2. As a restaurateur

Anglilbecame co-owner of Montreal's famous Schwartz's Deli in 2012.

"I have so many great memories of being there with the guys and with Cline and our families throughout the years. It's the most unique restaurant in the world, and we're thrilled to be a part of it," Anglil had said at the time in a written statement.

Anglil and Dion were also partners in Nickels, a chain of retro 1950s diners that sellmostly fast foods.

3. Poker pro

Anglil was an avid poker player. He qualified for several high-level tournaments, including the World Series of Poker, which he took part in during the summer of 2006 in Las Vegas. In 2007, he walked away from the World Poker Tourwith prize money.

4. Promoting other artists

Besides managing Dion's career, Anglil was involved in helping other artists get discovered.

He collaborated with Quebec City promoter Richard Samson to help push the careers of jazz group The Lost Fingers and singer-songwriter Jonathan Roy (son of Habs legend Patrick Roy).

Anglil was also a director of Star Acadmie, a talent show in Quebec similar to American Idol.

5. 'Down-to-earth', even as a superstar

Montreal Jubilation Choir founderTrevor Payne,who has known Anglilsince 1964, remembers himas "generous, kind, and gifted," adding "there was no change inRenfrom the very first day when we met to the last time I was in communication with him."

Even asAngliland Dionbecame cultural icons, Payne, whose choir has backedDionin concert, said"backstage, out of the eye of the general public, they were the kindest, most down-to-earth, superstarsthat I've ever known in my entire career."

"Once they decided that you were what they wanted as part of the show whether you were making the sandwiches or backing them on stage it made no difference. Everyone was equal, everyone was important, and they went out of their way to drive that home to everyone."