Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-12 of 12
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Celebrated French stage actor/director/producer Jean-Louis Barrault was born on September 8, 1910. A superlative tragedian and mime, his dedication to both avant-garde and classical plays helped revive the French theatre after World War II, while presenting world premières of works by such playwrights as Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco and Jean Genet. A rebel with many causes, he once hid French Underground members on the set of his greatest film Children of Paradise (1945).
Barrault initially was a teacher and studied art before turning to the theatre. A gifted student of both Charles Dullin of drama and Etienne Decroux of pantomime, he supported himself as a bookkeeper and flower salesman during those lean years. He made his official film bow in Vagabonds imaginaires (1950) (billed as J.L. Barrault), and took his first curtain call a year later playing a servant in "Volpone" at the Theatre de l'Atelier. While he made quite an impact in numerous classic, romantic films, including Bizarre, Bizarre (1937), Mirages (1938) and Children of Paradise (1945) (the last two opposite the exquisite Arletty), the theatre would remain Barrault's greatest passion, marking his directorial debut with "Les beaux jours" in 1935. Five years later he would join the Comedie Francaise as both actor/director.
In 1936 Barrault met actress Madeleine Renaud, who was a decade his senior, and married her four years later. Together the couple founded many theatres (including the Renaud-Barrault Paris stage company in 1947) and toured extensively, becoming the Lunt and Fontanne of European theatre with such performances in "Christopher Columbus" (1957) (she as his Queen Isabella), "The Misanthrope" (1957) and "The Marriage of Figaro" (1964) among their many collaborations. In November of 1952, Barrault and Renard made daunting Broadway debuts touring in repertory with "Les Fausses Confidences", "Baptiste", "The Trial", "Amphitryon", "Scapin", "Keep Your Eyes on Amelie" and "Hamlet". In 1957, they returned with "Christopher Columbus", "Volpone", "The Misanthrope", "Intermezzo", and others. He received a "special" Tony award for his work.
Barrault's thin frame, gentle bearing and sensitive features belied a great power and those same talents were utilized magnificently, if sporadically, on film, associating with the greatest of directors including Abel Gance, Georg Wilhelm Pabst, Sacha Guitry, Jean Delannoy, Max Ophüls and Jean Renoir. His initial impression playing Beethoven's nephew Karl in The Life and Loves of Beethoven (1936), led to other fine filming. Arguably his most notable triumph on film was his portrayal of Baptiste in Children of Paradise (1945), which was based on the life of the mime-actor Jean-Gaspard Deburau, a character he originally suggested to Marcel Carné and Jacques Prévert. The phenomenal success of that film singlehandedly revived public interest in the art of pantomime and subsequently influenced the popularity of legendary mime Marcel Marceau. Barrault's peerless performance in that role is still studied in acting and mime schools today. Elsewhere, he appeared in historical characterizations ranging from that of composer Hector Berlioz to Napoleon Bonaparte.
In later years Barrault served twice as director of the Theatre des Nations and in 1974-1981 was the director of the Theatre d'Orsay. His last film performance at age 78 was in La lumière du lac (1988). The beloved 83-year-old actor died of a heart attack in Paris on January 22, 1994; wife Madeleine died in September of that same year at age 94.- Jacques Herlin was born on 17 August 1927 in Le Vésinet, Yvelines, France. He was an actor, known for National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish (1991) and A Good Year (2006). He died on 7 June 2014 in Paris, France.
- Patricia Viterbo was born on 21 March 1939 in Le Vésinet, Yvelines, France. She was an actress, known for Ces dames s'en mêlent (1965), Des frissons partout (1963) and Le judoka, agent secret (1966). She died on 10 November 1966 in Paris, France.
- Micheline Rolla was born on 15 January 1924 in Le Vésinet, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. She was an actress, known for Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953), Edward and Caroline (1951) and Le capitaine Benoît (1938). She died on 13 February 2002 in Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France.
- Writer
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pierre Lary was born on 25 February 1927 in Le Vésinet, Yvelines, France. He was a writer and director, known for L'indiscrétion (1982), Belle de Jour (1967) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). He died on 14 April 2019 in France.- Patrick Font was born on 27 September 1940 in Le Vésinet, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He was an actor and writer, known for Sylvestre ou Le Luron du Réveillon (1981), Paulette, la pauvre petite milliardaire (1986) and Le roi des cons (1981). He died on 6 April 2018 in Chambéry, Savoie, France.
- Emmanuel Berl was born on 2 August 1892 in Le Vésinet, Yvelines, France. He was a writer, known for L'affaire Manet (1951) and Portrait souvenir (1960). He was married to Mireille, Jacqueline Bordes and Suzanne Muzard. He died on 21 September 1976 in Paris, France.
- Johan Nykopp was born on 27 May 1906 in Le Vésinet, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He was married to Bertha Marianne Achilles. He died on 28 April 1993 in Helsinki, Finland.
- Charles Jean Rigoulot was a weightlifter, professional wrestler, racing driver, and actor. As a weightlifter he won the gold medal in the 82.5 kg division at the 1924 Olympics. Between 1923 and 1926 he set eight official world records. In 1932 he worked as a strongman in the circus, an actor and singer in the theater. As a professional wrestler, he was billed as "the strongest man in the world". As a driver, he competed in the 1937 Le Mans race.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Jean Faucher was born on 19 August 1924 in Le Vésinet, Yvelines, France. He was a director and actor, known for Le soleil des autres (1970), La mercière assassinée (1958) and Anne-Marie (1954). He was married to Françoise Faucher. He died on 1 February 2013 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Production Manager
Robert Aron was born on 25 May 1898 in Le Vésinet, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He was a production manager, known for Madame Bovary (1934) and Lectures pour tous (1953). He died on 19 April 1975 in Paris, France.- Gérard Bauër was born on 7 October 1888 in Le Vesinet, Seine-et-Oise, France. He was a writer, known for Paris (1954), Un voisin sait tout (1961) and Les gens de lettres (1960). He was married to Helena Margareta Van der Zee. He died on 4 September 1967 in Paris, France.