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The Life of Dennis Lemoine...and other Musings and Ramblings

"You really are the hottest thing to come out of New Hampshire since Gordon Clapp."
~ Anonymous


     For being only 23 years old and on the cusp of his acting career, Dennis Lemoine has already begun to make his mark on the world with 16 films to his name. For a man who has not had the blessing of famous Hollywood relatives to buy him connections and has not been blessed with chiseled good looks, Lemoine has begun to build himself up into a mini-acting empire; an empire that shows strong promise of growing into something huge.

     He's a long way from the awkward kid I met in 1993 during the seventh grade. It was late August, when the school year began. I had been a student in the Exeter, NH school system since the first grade, but this was Lemoine's first day attending school in Exeter and the first day for junior high. In fact, it was many student's first day in Exeter Junior High School as the surrounding small towns sent their elementary school children to higher learning in the big town of Exeter. While there were a hundred new faces in junior high, he was able to stand out.

     It was first period, Mr. True's English class. Mr. True was getting to know his students when Dennis spoke. All I remember was Lemoine responding to Mr. True by saying the stupid, backwoods New Hampshire phrase "Okey-Dokey." "What is this," I thought, "Granite State Hillbillies?" And so...I made fun of him. "Okey-Dokey" I said in the best stupid hick voice I could muster. There were laughs across the classroom and Dennis was publicly ridiculed for the first time in Exeter territory.

     The next day, I went to turn in my English assignment to Mr. True and sadly realized that I had done it completely wrong. I wasn't alone. Dennis sat in the corner looking embarrassed realizing that he, too, had completed the simple assignment completely wrong. I turned to him with a stupid smile after Mr. True made some snide comments about the two morons in the back of the room. He returned my smile and I knew I had a friend. We've been getting made fun of together ever since.

     After this long-winded, yet hopefully absorbing tale of youth, I will now do the honor of transcribing the Life of Dennis.

     To learn the complete history of Dennis Lemoine, one must go back to the 1600's when the Lemoine's (French meaning: The Monk) of France sailed down the St. Lawrence River, settled along the banks near Quebec City, and began to farm the fertile valley. But since I don't feel like diving into North American history and French Canadians as a whole have aggravated me as of late, I'll jump to May 28, 1981.

     Dennis Lemoine entered the world at Exeter Hospital that May morning to his loving parents, Brenda and Keith (His sister, Joanna, would join the family in 1983). Exeter, the home of Phillips Exeter Academy, the town of John Irving, the inspiration for A Separate Peace, and (like it or not) the birthplace of the Republican Party, now could claim fame to the birthplace of Dennis Lemoine (or it will in the near future...maybe.)

     The Lemoine's lived in the neighboring town of Brentwood where Dennis spent his growing years. Brentwood was the quintessential small New England town, with winding scenic roads, tumbling brooks, and more than few town drunks. Dennis attended the Swasey Elementary School where he is remembered as shy and quiet.

     It wasn't until eighth grade that Lemoine would begin his illustrious career. After working stage crew for the mega-hit "The Mikado" (a Bob True production), Dennis was bit by the acting bug. He was cast as the lead in the lavish '50's classic "Pompadours and Poodle Skirts" (don't worry, nobody's heard of it either). He played fictional '50's pop idol Curtis Jackson. With his wild facial expressions and whacky Kramer hair, he was an instant favorite with the audiences.

     Upon entering high school, Lemoine was in hot demand with the high school drama club. He was also fast becoming the most popular kid in his class, taking over as Class President from Cory Hopkins (Hopkins' would never recover from that defeat and his life has been slow to turn around). Lemoine played onstage in such classics as "Once Upon a Mattress" and "12 Angry Men." By the time senior year arrived with his popularity, not to mention ego, soaring to new heights, Dennis knew acting was his calling.

     The fall after his high school senior year, Lemoine attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. In the Big Apple, Dennis was exposed to all sorts of art, performances and acting talent. He spent two years (1999-2001) in New York putting in quality performances, while learning scene study, stage combat and various acting techniques. It was in New York that Dennis began to mature into the master thespian he is today.

     Upon graduation, Dennis moved back to the simple life of Exeter (his family had moved from Brentwood), mainly because he ran of out of money. Dennis stayed in New Hampshire and began his acting career there, searching out film productions throughout all six New England states.

     His first step into the world of full-length motion pictures began with New World Artists' "Voice of Reason." Lemoine played the ill-fated Todd in the horror film set in a former POW camp and mental institution in Taunton, MA. He also took on a slew of student films at Boston University (switcheroonie, The Interview, Meet the Higgins) and Harvard (Conviction, White Noise) which helped a few seniors get a little closer to graduating.

     Perhaps his best success so far has come from the award-winning comedy "Jack Milton: Fairy Tale Detective." This truly unique short film follows detective Jack Milton as he tries to solve crimes in the Fairy Tale World. Lemoine plays Milton's partner, "Tom Thumb" as they question and interrogate many familiar Fairy Tale characters, such as the Big Bad Wolf and Jack and Jill. Critically acclaimed by audiences all over the country, the film went on to win the Boston International Film Festival's Best Storyline and Best Creativity. More importantly, it furthered Lemoine's career. Suddenly, casting directors had actually heard of him!

     After the success of Jack Milton, Lemoine sought out many other challenging short films, such as the dark and mysterious "Arc of Descent" the funny and engaging "Free Samples" and a hilarious take on Little League with "Bottom of the Ninth." He also began touring with Deana's Fund, a traveling theater group that visits schools all over the United States educating students on the harms of abusive relationships and bullying. To date Dennis has performed to over 15,000 students across the USA.

     But if you think that all Dennis can do is act, then you're wrong. Dead wrong. Lemoine has set his sights on working from behind the camera. Currently, Lemoine has been busy working with Andrew Clemons on a feature length screenplay, about his days working at Hampton Beach during the summer. Tentatively titled "Driftwood," this comedy will follow several characters that spend their summer days dealing with tourists and each other at the crazy beach.

     And that's just the beginning. Fortunately for us, we have many years of movies and theater work that are still to come from Dennis. He is constantly working on different projects and rarely takes time off from his commitment to the "craft." To see him succeed in his work has made me profoundly proud. Not "proud like a parent" proud, but more like "proud that I'll probably know someone famous to hit up for cash later in my life" proud. All jokes aside, I truly wish Dennis the best of luck on his career and see it growing into something bigger than we both can imagine.



Tim Simard
Burlington, VT
May 2004