On "Gilmore Girls," inn concierge Michel Gerard is French.
Michel works at the Independence Inn alongside Lorelai Gilmore and Sookie St. James, and later joins them at the Dragonfly Inn. His formal manner, sharp opinions, impatience with difficult guests, and distinctive accent make his French identity an important part of his characterization.
Played by Yanic Truesdale, Michel is not simply a background hotel employee. He is a highly capable hospitality professional whose dry complaints and exacting standards provide a recurring source of comedy. Although he often appears aloof, he gradually becomes more attached to Lorelai, Sookie, Rory, and the Stars Hollow community.
Viewers sometimes confuse Michel's nationality with Truesdale's. Truesdale is a Canadian actor, born in Montreal, while Michel is the fictional French character. The show also gives Michel strongly individual interests, including Celine Dion, Destiny's Child, and his beloved Chow Chow dogs, Paw-paw and Chin-chin.