Dionne Quintuplet Cécile Dies at 91 After Life of Fame and Hardship

Cécile Dionne, one of the first surviving quintuplets, has passed away at the age of 91. Born in 1934 in rural Ontario, Canada, the Dionne quintuplets gained worldwide fame and became a major tourist attraction, even surpassing Shirley Temple in popularity. However, their lives were marked by exploitation and a difficult upbringing, with Cécile herself expressing resentment over being treated as a commodity rather than a person. The quintuplets were at the center of a custody battle involving their parents, the doctor, and the province of Ontario, who were concerned about their welfare. Cécile was the most vocal among her sisters about the negative impacts of their celebrity.