Pro Wrestling Legend Emile Duprée Passes Away

We are saddened to announce the death of Émile Duprée, Canadian professional wrestler and promoter.

Duprée was 86 years old at the time and his cause of death has not been announced. He is the father of former WWE star Renee Duprée.

Émile Duprée, real name Émile Goguen, entered the world of professional wrestling in the mid-1950s, becoming friends with Canadian wrestling icons Vic Butler and Reggie Richard.

His wrestling career had taken him to many places around the world, including Australia, the United States and New Zealand.

PW Insider reports that legendary wrestler and trainer Ron Hutchinson paid tribute to Emile Duprée on Facebook, confirming the news.

He also expressed his condolences to the Duprée family, friends and fans of Émile during this difficult time.

“I spent six summers touring for Emile Dupre, working 7 nights a week for months on end, working with some of the best names in the business.

It was a learning experience like no other and one I’ve, publicly, been thankful to Emile for since the very beginning.

I’m sure, I’ll post more as I take the time to reflect on this Canadian wrestling icon and just how much he meant to me since first chatting with him and writing to him when I was 19 years old.

But let me leave you with this for now.

Emile Dupre was an, often overlooked, Canadian pro-wrestling icon.

He gave work and opportunities to so many of us with his Grand Prix Wrestling territory.

A grand territory that just might have been the best kept secret in pro wrestling. He was wholeheartedly supported by a wonderful wife, Paula and an equally as loving family.

My thoughts, prayers, well wishes and condolences go out this morning to all of Emile’s family and especially Paula, Rene, Jeff and Ron Gougen.

May you all find comfort in the cherished memories that you hold so dear.

I know that i will try to find that comfort today through those memories.”

In the late 1970s, Emile founded Grand Prix Wrestling, a wrestling promotion that thrived in the Maritime region of Canada.

Grand Prix Wrestling remained a successful territory until the mid-1980s, when Vince McMahon’s WWF expanded into the United States and Canada.