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1-50 of 123
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
One of the most popular and respected actors to come from the French "New Wave" film movement, Jean-Claude Brialy was born to a military family, which included one brother, in French colonial Algeria on March 30, 1933. Residing in various places while his father, a colonel with the French Army, went through the paces of his career, Brialy attended military school in 1946 and also worked in the theatre as a youth. He studied dramatics at a conservatory in Strasbourg, France, the Saint-Etienne Episcopal College.
Following time spent in the theatre, he moved to Paris in 1954 to pursue his career, without the support of his family, and worked various odd jobs before entering military service in Germany. Mixing in with a revolutionary group of artists that included Claude Chabrol and Jean-Luc Godard, he appeared as an extra in Jean Renoir's Elena and Her Men (1956) [Paris Does Strange things] and befriended other such rising film radicals as Éric Rohmer and Jacques Rivette while appearing in their short films. He grew in stature with featured roles in Girl in His Pocket (1957) [Girl in His Pocket] and L'ami de la famille (1957) [A Friend of the Family], but it was his friend Chabrol who provided him the leap to stardom with Le Beau Serge (1958), which is (arguably) considered the forerunner in "New Wave" filming. Co-starring Gérard Blain in the title role, Brialy played a city boy sophisticate returning to his simplified home village just to find that everything had changed and that his once promising friend (Blain) had become a chronic drunkard. He and Blain furthered their stars next playing each other's kin in Chabrol's The Cousins (1959), with Blain the innocent and Bialy the darkly disillusioned cousin. Bialy's association with other French avant-garde directors, including Godard, 'Francois Truffaut' and Louis Malle, placed him in excellent "New Wave" company alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Pierre Léaud and the afore-mentioned Blain, as strong, influential leading men.
Known for his lightness, passion, charm and subtlety of performance, Bialy's versatility in films ranged from stark melodrama to comedy farce. While essaying the elegant boulevardier with great sophistication and sympathy, he could just as easily slip into a character's dark and deep cynicism and/or contempt. He starred opposite a fantasia of Europe's loveliest leading ladies including Rosanna Schiaffino, Danielle Darrieux, Nadja Tiller, Elsa Martinelli, Françoise Dorléac, Geneviève Page and Dawn Addams. He ended the 60s notably paired with the enigmatic Jeanne Moreau in Truffaut's stylish Hitchockian thriller The Bride Wore Black (1968) [The Bride Wore Black].
In the 1970s Brialy extended his talents to include writing and directing, which included his debut film, the award-winning Églantine (1972). Most of the works he helmed were delightfully nostalgic and family-oriented in fashion. He also entered a newer phase of supporting character roles that also went on to court awards. After beginning the decade in one of his best film leads with Claire's Knee (1970) [Claire's Knee] for director/friend Rohmer, he earned a supporting César nomination for The Judge and the Assassin (1976) and then won the trophy a decade later for his secondary work in Les innocents (1987). During this time he also organized or supported several film and theatre festivals. He was the director of both the Théâtre Hébertot (1977) and the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens (1986). A long time artistic director of the Festival of Anjou (1985-2001), he was also the creator and artistic director of the Festival of Ramatuelle from 1985. His work also included radio and extensive TV.
Off stage Brialy was a witty raconteur and bon vivant. He was also one of the select few French stars to be openly gay. It was most fitting that two of his more notable roles came late in life -- as the gay uncle in Chabrol's Inspector Lavardin (1986), and as the poet Max Jacob in Monsieur Max (2007), a homosexual Jew who converted to Catholicism before perishing in a Gestapo prison camp.
An occasional yet prolific writer on film, Brialy penned his autobiography Le ruisseau des singes (auto) in 2000 and his memoir, J'ai oublié de vous dire, in 2004. He owned a restaurant, L'Orangerie, in the Saint Louis Island of Paris and died on May 30, 2007, after a extended bout with cancer. Among his many honors: The Commander of the Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit.- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Michel Modo was born on 30 March 1937 in Carpentras, Vaucluse, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Highlander (1992), The Gendarme of Saint-Tropez (1964) and Au théâtre ce soir (1966). He died on 25 September 2008 in Vaires-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actor
- Writer
Marcel Lévesque was born on 6 December 1877 in Paris, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Les vampires (1915), The Vampires: The Terrible Wedding (1916) and The Vampires: Satanas (1916). He died on 16 February 1962 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Jacqueline Pierreux was born on 15 January 1923 in Rouen, Seine-Inférieure [now Seine-Maritime], France. She was an actress, known for Le dindon (1951), Top of the Form (1953) and Cet homme est dangereux (1953). She was married to Pierre Léaud. She died on 10 March 2005 in Salins, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Django Reinhardt was born on 23 January 1910 in Liberchies, Wallonia, Belgium. He was a composer and actor, known for The Matrix (1999), Gattaca (1997) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003). He was married to Sophie Ziegler. He died on 16 May 1953 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Jean-François Calvé was born on 23 September 1925 in Athis-Mons, Seine-et-Oise, France. He was an actor, known for La guerre des femmes (1986), Shock Treatment (1973) and Turcaret (1968). He died on 8 October 2014 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- René Remblier was born on 14 July 1962 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999), Sandra et les siens (2000) and Félix et Lola (2001). He died on 25 March 2024 in Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Serge Grave was born on 21 September 1919 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Les disparus de St. Agil (1938), La guerre des gosses (1936) and Le vagabond bien-aimé (1936). He died on 30 January 1995 in Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
A round face, wavy hair and sometimes mustachioed, Jacques Ferrière was a lookalike of classic French writer Honoré de Balzac and he did embody him twice on TV (Rêves d'amour (1962), Eugène Sue (1974)). But he could also play Danton (in an episode of "La caméra explore le temps") or a mere monk (in the popular series "Thierry la Fronde"). On the big screen he was less present in the flesh (a few secondary roles in The Sucker (1965), Le franciscain de Bourges (1968) and a few others) than off-screen (he indeed provided the voice of dozens of tough guys in the French post synchronized versions of popular American movies, among whom Telly Savalas, Richard Jaeckel, Strother Martin, Danny Aiello... Also very active in the theater, Jacques Ferrière lent his talent to over twenty plays signed William Shakespeare, Boris Vian, Arthur Miller, Eugène Ionesco, Albert Camus... As if all that was not enough, Jacques Ferrière even formed a comedy duo with Michel Muller. It was back in the 1960's. The protean performer finally retired in 1993 and died in 2005 of Alzheimer's disease, aged 72.- Mireille Perrey was born on 3 February 1904 in Bordeaux, Gironde, France. She was an actress, known for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), Pas sur la bouche (1931) and Jim la houlette (1935). She died on 8 May 1991 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Claude Sylvain was born on 9 May 1930 in Neuilly-Plaisance, Seine-et-Oise, France [now Neuilly-Plaisance, Seine-Saint-Denis, France]. She was an actress, known for Rififi (1955), Si Paris nous était conté (1956) and If All the Guys in the World... (1956). She was married to Francis Claude. She died on 31 December 2005 in Vaux-sur-Lunain, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Philippe Taccini was born on 28 August 1958 in Nogent-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne, France. He was an actor, known for The Key Is in the Door (1978), Art of Love (1983) and Les sous-doués (1980). He died on 20 February 2006 in Claye-Souilly, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Gabriel Gobin was born on 12 May 1903 in Hacquegnies, Wallonia, Belgium. He was an actor, known for La meilleure part (1955), Les dossiers de l'écran (1967) and Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (1966). He died on 9 February 1998 in Brie-Comte-Robert, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Colette Marchand was a French prima ballerina with a relatively brief acting career. For her performance in "Moulin Rouge" (1952), Marchand was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1925, Marchand was born in Paris, Her parents were Roger Marchand and his wife Alice Lioret.
Marchand started her career at the Paris Opera Ballet. By 1949, she was performing as a prima ballerina in Broadweay shows. One of her most notable appearances was in the musical revue "Two on the Aisle" (1951) by Betty Comden (1917-2006), Adolph Green (1914-2002), and Jule Styne (1905-1994). The show ran for 276 performances.
In the early 1950s, Marchand appeared in several television shows, such Ford Star Revue, the Colgate Comedy Hour, and the Ed Sullivan Show. She made her film debut as a voice actress in the avant-garde film "Venom and Eternity" (1951).
Marchand found critical acclaim for her supporting role as street walker Marie Charlet in "Moulin Rouge", who has a love affair with protagonist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (played by José Ferrer). She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, but the award was instead won by rival actress Gloria Grahame (1923-1981).
Marchand returned to her dancing career. She appeared in the ballet "The Lady in the Ice" (1953) by Jean-Michel Damase (1928-2013), concerning a girl in suspended animation within ice. According to Orson Welles, who directed this ballet, the show "was very successful in London, and only moderately so in Paris, where it was very badly lit".
Marchand appeared in a few more films during the 1950s, but remained mostly a ballerina. Her career declined as she grew older. Marchand died in June, 2015, at the age of 90.- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Manu Dibango was born on 12 December 1933 in Douala, Cameroon. He was a composer and actor, known for Colors (1988), Ride Along (2014) and Parole de flic (1985). He died on 24 March 2020 in Melun, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Marie Bizet was born on 26 April 1905 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Chantons quand même (1940), La chanson du souvenir (1937) and Lumières de Paris (1938). She was married to Robert Boyer. She died on 10 July 1998 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Pierre Mirat was born on 12 February 1924 in Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne, France. He was an actor, known for Foncouverte (1965), À pied, à cheval et en voiture (1957) and Bastoche et Charles-Auguste (1960). He died on 16 July 2008 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Nathalie Nattier was born on 19 May 1924 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Love Me If You Dare (2003), Moumou (1951) and L'idiot (1946). She was married to Sacha Weill and Jacques Torrens. She died on 19 June 2010 in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Paul Mercey was born on 10 January 1923 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia [now Serbia]. He was an actor, known for Calembredaines (1965) and Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (1966). He died on 7 January 1988 in Férolles-Attily, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jeanne Aubert was the daughter of a French Aristocrat and a Flower-girl. At the age of 5, she had already worked as an extra in 'Le Chatelet'. As a teenager, she studied voice and music. In 1924 she played in "Mistinguett" at the Casino de Paris. In 1925, the song "Si tu vois ma tante" made her une grande Chanteuse in Paris. Under the name of Jane Aubert, she appeared in 1927 on "Paris aux Etoiles", the Moulin Rouge's magazine. In 1929, she made her first silent movie, La Possession (1929), with Francesca Bertini. Nelson Morris from Chicago, USA, went to see her 52 times and eventually brought her to the USA and married her. But the marriage failed and they were divorced because he forbade her to go on stage. After that she began a new career in the USA and did a lot of musical comedies in Broadway: "Princess Charming", "America's Sweetheart", "The Laugh Parade", "Ballyoo" with Bob Hope, "Melody" with Gypsy Rose Lee.
She made also two movies in Long Island: "The Mysterious Kiss" and "The Dream Of The Ocean". In 1935, she made her Parisian comeback. With "C'est une petite étoile", "Solitude" and "Je t'aime c'est tout" she had a big success. At the ABC Theater, she appeared with Fréhel in 1937. One of her biggest musicals was in London, "Anything Goes", with music by Cole Porter. She also appeared in Belgium, Italy, Egypt and Switzerland (Geneva).
Between 1935 and 1966, she made more than a dozen excellent films. During WWII, she appeared 630 times in "La Veuve joyeuse" at the Mogador Theater and also in two others theaters. After 1945, she played at ABC in "Tout pour elle", "Le prince endormi" with Pierre Blanchard, "Court circuit", Adorable Julia" with Madeleine Robinson, "Saison d'amour", "Les hommes préfèrent les blondes" ("Gentlemen Prefer Blondes") and "Après la chute" by Arthur Miller with Annie Girardot. Finally, she left the stage and made appearances on TV: "Sénéchal le magnifique", "Les Croulants se portent bien", "Les Saintes Chéries", "Madame vous etes libre..." and "La Femme de Jean" by Yannick Bellon. Madame Aubert never lost her elegance, charisma and Shine.- Renée Devillers was born on 9 October 1902 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for The Immature Grain (1954), Therese (1962) and Le droit de l'enfant (1949). She died on 5 August 2000 in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Polycarpe Pavloff was born on 23 February 1885. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Queen of Spades (1916), Doroga k schastyu (1925) and The Busy Inn (1916). He was married to Vera Grech. He died on 23 April 1974 in Chelles, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France.- Patrice de Vogue was born on 8 December 1928 in Paris, France. He was married to Maria Cristina COLONNA DI PALIANO. He died on 18 March 2020 in Vaux-le-Vicomte, Maincy, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Katherine Mansfield was born on 14 October 1888 in Wellington, New Zealand. She was a writer, known for Winners and Losers (1975), London Unplugged (2018) and Teatterituokio (1962). She was married to John Middleton Murry and George Bowden. She died on 9 January 1923 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Marfa d'Hervilly was born on 9 November 1876 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for La fille du régiment (1933), Sapho (1934) and Café de Paris (1938). She died on 18 November 1963 in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Suzanne Grandais was born on 14 June 1893 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Graziella, the Gypsy (1912), L'essor (1921) and Suzanne (1916). She died on 28 August 1920 in Vaudoy-en-Brie, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Jacques Chazot was born on 25 September 1928 in Locmiquélic, Morbihan, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Blue Panther (1965), Les bidasses au pensionnat (1978) and Qu'est-ce qui fait craquer les filles... (1982). He died on 12 July 1993 in Monthyon, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Annie Ducaux was born on 10 September 1908 in Besançon, Doubs, France. She was an actress, known for Rendez-vous à Paris (1947), Dreams of Love (1947) and Nuit de mai (1934). She died on 31 December 1996 in Champeaux, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Costume Designer
- Production Designer
- Actor
Antoine Malliarakis, aka Mayo, was born in 1905 in Egypt, the son of a Greek engineer and a French mother. Although he kept a Greek passport throughout his life, he was culturally French and lived in France for half of his life after leaving Egypt. He came to France to study architecture but started frequenting artistic circles in the Paris of the roaring twenties and decided to become a painter instead. He made a living decorating cabarets and, later, designing costumes for stage productions, while continuing to paint. In 1944 his friend, writer Jacques Prévert, recommended him as costume designer for the classical period piece "Les Enfants du Paradis". The film was a hit and allowed Mayo to lead a 20-year career in French cinema, designing the costumes (and sometimes the scenery) of several classics. In the meantime, he also worked as art director on many commercials. With the early 60s, and the coming of the "Nouvelle Vague", period pieces became less frequent, and Mayo had less work offers. He ultimately decided to leave movies to concentrate on his paintings. Having moved to Rome, Italy, in the mid-sixties, he finally managed to make a good living with his paintings alone. Unfortunately, in the early eighties, Mayo gradually lost his eyesight. In 1984 he moved back to France and died in 1990, aged 85.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Edmond Ardisson was born on 23 October 1904 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. He was an actor, known for Love and Death (1975), Manon des sources (1952) and La demoiselle d'Avignon (1972). He died on 30 November 1983 in Jouarre, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Denise Noël was born on 5 May 1922 in Saint-Denis, Seine [now Seine-Saint-Denis], France. She was an actress, known for Jouons le jeu (1952), Ruy Blas (1972) and Le clair de terre (1970). She was married to Grégoire Aslan. She died on 25 November 2003 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Ariane Borg was born on 24 August 1915 in Roubaix, Nord, France. She was an actress, known for L'hôtel du libre échange (1934), Tovaritch (1935) and Jeanne (1934). She was married to Michel Bouquet. She died on 16 April 2007 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Visual Effects
- Animation Department
Margaux Durand-Rival was born on 28 November 1985 in Paris, France. She is known for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015), Edge of Tomorrow (2014) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). She died on 5 July 2022 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actress
- Casting Director
- Additional Crew
Andrée Champeaux was born on 1 December 1905 in Lyon, Rhône, France. She was an actress and casting director, known for Docteur Erika Werner (1978), Diva (1981) and La grotte aux fées (1972). She died on 12 November 2006 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Germaine Auger was born on 13 June 1889 in Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France. She was an actress, known for Théodore et Cie (1933), Tout pour rien (1933) and Il faut rester garçon (1932). She died on 24 August 2001 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Raymond Lefebvre was born on 20 November 1929 in Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France. He was a composer and actor, known for The Gendarme of Saint-Tropez (1964). He was married to Nicole Bernard-Savary. He died on 27 June 2008 in Seine-Port, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Marcel Vallée was born on 15 January 1880 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Topaze (1933), Fric-Frac (1939) and Le mari rêvé (1936). He died on 31 October 1957 in Fontaine-le-Port, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Michel Herbault was born on 23 August 1926 in Bois-le Roi, France. He was an actor, known for La corde au cou (1978), La nuit de l'été (1979) and Bérénice (1975). He died on 10 February 2015 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pierre Champagne was born on 17 April 1894 in Paris, France. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Nana (1926), Whirlpool of Fate (1925) and Marquitta (1927). He died on 7 May 1927 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Jeanne Marie-Laurent was born on 1 September 1877 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Paris' Girls (1929), Les vampires (1915) and Mother (1925). She died on 7 April 1964 in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Cinematographer
Raymond Agnel was born on 26 July 1893 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. He was a cinematographer, known for Les maris de Léontine (1947), Trompe-la-Mort (1914) and Marquitta (1927). He died on 24 November 1967 in Voulx, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Director
- Writer
- Composer
Chomo was born on 28 January 1907 in Berlaimont, Nord, France. He was a director and writer, known for Le Débarquement spirituel, Images de lumière (1991), Retour au Village d'Art Préludien de Chomo (2012) and Les bâtisseurs de l'imaginaire (1976). He died on 19 June 1999 in Achères-La-Forêt, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Script and Continuity Department
- Director
- Additional Crew
Rachel Casaril was born on 25 October 1928 in Roanne, Loire, France. She was a director, known for La flambeuse (1981), L'ampélopède (1974) and Pic et pic et colegram (1972). She died on 26 November 2018 in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Jean-Pierre Dougnac was born on 27 May 1933 in Paris, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Un amour interdit (1984), Le bâtard (1983) and Stella (1983). He died on 27 September 2006 in Ferolles-Attilly, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Hélène Darly was born on 4 May 1900 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for La maison du mystère (1923), Le chiffonnier de Paris (1924) and Le berceau de dieu (1926). She died on 17 May 1994 in Conches-sur-Gondoire, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Daniel Mendaille was born on 17 November 1885 in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France. He was an actor, known for Rififi (1955), The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) and Contre-enquête (1930). He was married to Leda Ginelly. He died on 17 May 1963 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Maurice Coussonneau was born on 17 July 1918 in Montreuil-Bellay, Maine-et-Loire, France. He was an actor, known for Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (1967), Madame Sans Gêne (1963) and Van Gogh (1991). He died on 3 June 1999 in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.- Gilles Guillot was born on 24 December 1935 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Les dossiers de l'écran (1967), Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (1985) and Émile Zola ou La conscience humaine (1978). He died on 19 April 2013 in Villiers-sous-Grez, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Georges Pally was born on 3 August 1886 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Orage (1938), Le capitan (1946) and Copie conforme (1947). He died on 3 January 1954 in Saint-Sauveur-sur-École, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Alexina Duchamp was born on 20 January 1906 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. She was married to Marcel Duchamp and Pierre Matisse. She died on 17 December 1995 in Villiers-sous-Grez, Seine-et-Marne, France.