Softimage founder and president, Daniel Langlois is reported dead with his partner, Dominque Marchand, after they were reported missing. Details about the businessman explored.
Daniel Langlois was a Canadian tech businessman and a major supporter of Dominica.
He was behind the startups of organisations like Softimage, the Daniel Langlois Foundation, and Cinéma Excentris.
Langlois was reported missing by local news outlets alongside his partner, Dominique Marchand. A few days later, the pair were declared dead.
His passing has left the Quebec community in despair.
Here’s everything we know about the entrepreneur; his businesses, net worth, cause of death, wife, children, and untold biography facts.
Daniel Langlois was honored last November by the government of Dominica on the occasion of the small island nation’s independence day.
Who was Daniel Langlois?
Daniel Langlois was a renowned Quebec media entrepreneur who was born and raised in Québec in 1957.
The tech entrepreneur owned a luxury resort on the island and his company Daniel Langlois Foundation which is affiliated with a non-profit called Resilient Dominica.
Langlois also is the founder of Softimage Inc. which is an animation film company that produces 3D animation software for films like Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean. He also served as the company’s president and chief technology officer from November 1986 to July 1998.
Daniel was also the founder of Cinéma Excentris and Media Principia Inc.
He earned a bachelor of design degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Ernst & Young identified him as Canada’s national entrepreneur of the year in 1994. He was awarded a Scientific and Technical Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts in 1997.
He was named a Knight of the National Order of Québec in 1999 and an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000.
In 2003, he was awarded the Octas Prize as a Great Pioneer in Information and Communications Technologies (ITC) for the integration of advanced digital technologies in film and media creation.
The City of Montréal recognized him as a Personnalité Arts-Affaires in 2000 and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal subsequently celebrated him as a “Great Montrealer.”
He has received honorary doctoral degrees from several universities, including Concordia University, McGill University, Université d’Ottawa, Université du Québec à Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke.
His many artistic, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic activities have made lasting contributions to Montréal and Canada.
How did Daniel Langlois die?
Tech entrepreneur and Softimage Inc. founder and president, Daniel Langlois has died in mysterious circumstances in Dominica.
Per reports, he is believed to have been found dead on December 1, 2023, in a completely charred vehicle after being reported missing.
Langlois, 66, was visiting Coulibri Ridge Eco resort in Dominica with his partner Dominique Marchand and remains were discovered on Thursday.
Before their tragic passing, the couple was reported missing for several days before being declared lifeless.
The project manager for Resilient Dominica confirmed the reports in an email sent to Radio-Canada.
The burned-out vehicle was found crashed in trees, per Dominica News Online.
“The entire community on the island is in mourning following a devastating incident on Thursday, November 30,” said a spokesperson for the Coulibri Ridge resort in a statement to Radio-Canada, CBC reported.
Jacqueline Dupigny, Belgium’s honorary consul in Dominica, a woman who last saw the couple in early November recalled that Langlois was always a major supporter of the Dominica community and that the event is causing major stress among everyone.
“It always was lovely seeing Daniel and Dominique,” she told Radio-Canada, CBC reported.
“Dominique was probably somebody who was probably more open in the public and she had such a warm and friendly personality her smile just lit up a room.
Global Affairs Canada said in an emailed statement it “is aware of the presumed death of two Canadian citizens in Dominica,” per Montreal Gazette.
“Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of the Canadian citizens involved.
“Canadian officials continue to monitor the situation closely, are engaging with local authorities and providing consular assistance.
“Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed.”
Daniel Langlois, in 2009
What was Daniel Langlois’ net worth?
Tech entrepreneur Daniel Langlois accumulated an impressive fortune before his passing in 2023. He reportedly died a millionaire.
Daniel Langlois amassed an estimated net worth of around $10 million. His main source of income was from his primary work as a businessman who founded organisations like Softimage, Daniel Langlois Foundation, and Cinéma Excentris.
His company, Softimage Inc. was sold in 1994 to Microsoft for $200 million.
Who was Daniel Langlois’ wife and did he have children?
Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois was not known to have been officially married, hence, he had no legal spouse or wife.
However, he was in a serious relationship with his partner, Dominique Marchand.
The pair stayed silent and kept their love life away from the media.
Sadly, in December 2023, the couple was reported dead as their remains were found in a burnt-out car near Galion.
There are no reports about the late couple being parents, thus, they were believed not to have welcomed a son or a daughter.