Anthony Kavanagh: “My son inspires me”

In your show, you touch on your fatherhood. What has the birth of your son changed in your life as a man and as an artist?

It changed everything. First of all sleep (laughs), but also the dynamics of the house, the couple relationship, we have to reinvent ourselves. A baby brings life to the house, laughs, it’s great! For me, a child is the reincarnation of time. Before I did not see the time passed, now I do. Today, two years ago, he was learning to walk …

As an artist, the child is a source of inspiration. My son inspires me, gives me another reason to go to work. I have become Mr. Kavanagh. Once a parent, you become someone’s model, you want to be the best guide and instill values.

Exactly, what values ​​do you want to pass on to your son?

Respect for oneself and respect for others. Circulate love, give to others, always extend a hand …

You became a dad at 40. A fatherhood, rather late, chosen?

Yes, it is a choice. We had to find the mother already! I tried for a long time on my own, never succeeding (laughs). In fact, I just wasn’t ready. I knew I wanted to have a child, but not right away. If we had a much longer life expectancy, I would have even waited 120 years! When I met my fiancee, I was 33, and she wasn’t ready either. However, as the age advances, we begin to calculate, when I will be such an age, there will be so many. So I said to my fiancée: if no baby at 40, I will leave her!

My parents died young, my mother at 51 and my father at 65. I still have this anguish of dying young, I want to be there for him as long as possible.

You’re a comedian, but are you a joker daddy?

More and more joker. Interaction with children becomes more interesting from 2 years old. From 2 to 4 years old, these are magical years! Before, the child is much more attached to mom, it is not the same relationship. Otherwise, I don’t think I am being harsh, but firm. I always tell my son, mom says no twice, dad once!

You started your career at 19. If in a few years your son decided to follow in your footsteps, how would you react?

Now that I’m a father, I’d be a little freaked out. It is not an easy job. I am aware that I have been very lucky. I’ve been making a living for 22 years doing what I love. But I would certainly tell him what my mother told me: “do what you want but do it well.” “

You are Canadian, of Haitian origin, do you speak Creole to your son?

No, but I would like him to find out. I would have loved if my parents were still there to talk to him. I understand it perfectly, but only speak it well at 65%, I would need a one month internship in Creole (laughs). I would already like him to learn English like me, it’s a chance to practice early. At first, I spoke English to him because I wanted him to be bilingual. But afterwards, it got me a little… “drunk”.

Your son’s name is Mathis, how did you choose his first name?

With my fiancée, we agreed at the last moment, only twenty minutes before he left! In addition, it arrived a month early! His full name is Mathis Alexandre Kavanagh.

A highlight of your life as a young dad?

There are a lot of them… The first is when it came out of course. At the time of delivery, I felt the presence of my father. And then, he looks so much like her. There is also the first time he said I love you, the first time he said daddy, plus he said it before mum!

Enlarging your family, do you think about it?

Yes, we need the girl now, a beautiful little sister! With weapons to scare away her suitors when she is a teenager (laughs). But if I have a boy, I would still be happy …