French actors who were born in 1904
Here are 10 famous actors from France were born in 1904:
Jean Gabin
Jean Gabin (May 17, 1904 Paris-November 15, 1976 Neuilly-sur-Seine) otherwise known as Jean-Alexis Moncorgé, Jean Moncorgé, Alexis Moncourge, Jean-Alexis Moncorge or Jean Alexis Gabin Moncorgé was a French actor, singer, film producer and soldier. His children are called Florence Gabin, Valérie Moncorgé and Mathias Moncorgé.
Gabin was considered one of the greatest actors in French cinema history, with a career spanning over five decades. He began his acting career in the 1920s as a stage actor, before transitioning to film in the 1930s. He became a major star in the 1930s and 1940s, known for his tough, yet charming, persona in films such as "Pépé le Moko" (1937) and "Le jour se lève" (1939).
During World War II, Gabin put his acting career on hold and joined the Free French Forces. He served as a gunner and later as a liaison officer, earning the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille Militaire for his bravery.
After the war, Gabin returned to acting and continued to star in some of France's most acclaimed films, including "La Grande Illusion" (1937), "Grand Hotel" (1946), and "Touchez pas au grisbi" (1954). He also ventured into producing films in the 1960s.
Gabin's career declined in the 1970s as he aged and the French New Wave led to a shift in French cinema. He passed away in 1976 at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy as one of France's greatest actors.
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Jean Dasté
Jean Dasté (September 18, 1904 Paris-October 15, 1994 Saint-Priest-en-Jarez) also known as Jean Daste, Jean Georges Gustave Dasté or Daste was a French actor and theatre director. His child is called Catherine Dasté.
Dasté began his career in theatre during the 1920s and was a member of the avant-garde theatre group, Groupe Octobre. He also worked with director Jean Renoir on several films including "Boudu Saved From Drowning" and "La Grande Illusion". Dasté was a key figure in the foundation of the Théâtre National Populaire in 1920 and went on to direct productions there for over 20 years. He was also a teacher at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre in Paris. In addition to his work in theatre, Dasté appeared in over 50 films throughout his career. He was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1978 for his contribution to French culture.
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Jacques Tourneur
Jacques Tourneur (November 12, 1904 Paris-December 19, 1977 Bergerac) otherwise known as Jack Tourneur or Jack Turner was a French film director, television director, actor and film editor.
Tourneur began his career in film in the early 1930s and is best known for directing classic horror films such as "Cat People" (1942) and "The Leopard Man" (1943). He also made a number of critically acclaimed films noirs, including "Out of the Past" (1947) and "Nightfall" (1957). Tourneur was known for his use of inventive camera angles, shadow and light to create suspense and tension in his films. He continued to work in television in the 1950s and 1960s, directing episodes of popular shows such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Fugitive." Tourneur passed away in Bergerac, France in 1977 at the age of 73.
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Christian-Jaque
Christian-Jaque (September 4, 1904 Paris-July 8, 1994 Boulogne-Billancourt) also known as Christian Maudet, Christian Jacque, Christian-Jacque, Christian Jaque or Christian-Albert-François Maudet was a French film director, screenwriter, television director, journalist, production designer, film art director and actor.
He began his career in the film industry as an actor in the 1920s before transitioning to directing in the 1930s. Christian-Jaque directed over 70 films throughout his career and was known for his versatility, directing films in a variety of genres including historical dramas, musicals, and comedies. He worked with many of the top French actors of his time, including Fernandel, Jean Gabin, and Michèle Morgan. Christian-Jaque was also a prolific television director, directing several popular television shows in the 1960s and 70s. He won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946 for his film "Uncle Moses." Christian-Jaque's contributions to the French film industry have cemented his status as a highly-respected and influential filmmaker.
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Jacques Dumesnil
Jacques Dumesnil (November 9, 1904 Paris-May 8, 1998 Bron) also known as Jacques Joly, Dumesnil or J. Dumesnil was a French actor and voice actor. He had one child, Pierre Dumesnil.
Dumesnil's career in acting spanned over five decades, beginning in the 1930s and continuing through to the 1980s. He appeared in over 150 films, both French and international productions, and is best known for his roles in films such as "Casque d'Or" (1952), "Napoléon" (1955), and "The Phantom of Liberty" (1974).
In addition to his work on the big screen, Dumesnil was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to French versions of foreign films and animation. He notably provided the voice for the character of Hamm in the French version of Pixar's "Toy Story" (1995).
Despite his extensive career, Dumesnil remained somewhat of an enigmatic figure, shying away from the spotlight and rarely granting interviews. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 93 in the French city of Bron.
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Henri Vilbert
Henri Vilbert (April 6, 1904 Marseille-April 20, 1997 Cagnes-sur-Mer) also known as Henry Vilbert, Vilbert or Henri Miquely was a French actor.
Vilbert began his acting career in 1924 with the play "Trois Jeunes Filles Nues" at the Théâtre Michel in Paris. He later appeared in numerous films, including "La Chienne" (1931), "The Rules of the Game" (1939), and "Rififi" (1955). Throughout his career, Vilbert worked with renowned filmmakers such as Jean Renoir, Marcel Carné, and Jules Dassin. In addition to his film and theater work, Vilbert was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to French dubs of foreign films and TV shows. He lived a long life and died in 1997 at the age of 93 in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
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Edmond Ardisson
Edmond Ardisson (October 23, 1904 Marseille-November 30, 1983 Jouarre) otherwise known as Edward Ardisson, Ardisson or E. Ardisson was a French actor.
Throughout his career, Ardisson appeared in over 120 French films, often playing supporting roles alongside some of the most famous actors of his time. He first made a name for himself in the 1930s and 1940s, starring in films like "The Puritan", "The Secret of St. Ives", and "The Pirates of the Bois de Boulogne".
In the 1950s and 1960s, Ardisson continued to act in popular French films, such as "Les Espions", "The Big Show", and "Walking in the Shadow". He also appeared in television programs and theater productions.
Despite his prolific career, Ardisson was known for staying out of the spotlight and keeping a low profile. He rarely gave interviews and was known to be very private. Ardisson passed away in 1983 at the age of 79 in Jouarre, France. Today, he is remembered as a talented character actor and a staple of French cinema.
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Henri Guisol
Henri Guisol (October 12, 1904 Aix-en-Provence-May 11, 1994 Saint-Raphaël) a.k.a. Henri Bonhomme, Henry Guisol, Guisol or Henry Paul Julien Bonhomme was a French actor.
He started his career in the 1930s as a cabaret entertainer and later transitioned into acting in films. Guisol appeared in over 80 films during his career, including "La Reine Margot" (1954), "Love and the Frenchwoman" (1960), and "Le Cerveau" (1969). He also acted in numerous stage productions and television shows.
In addition to his acting career, Guisol was a singer and songwriter. He wrote and performed many popular songs in the 1950s and 1960s, including "Le Petit Train," "Le Chapeau Rouge," and "Boum Sur Paris." He also wrote the theme song for the French TV show "Les Cinq Dernières Minutes."
Guisol was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1985 for his contributions to the arts. He continued to work in film and television until his death in 1994 at the age of 89.
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Léo Joannon
Léo Joannon (August 21, 1904 Aix-en-Provence-March 28, 1969 Neuilly-sur-Seine) a.k.a. Joannon or Léon Gabriel Paul Joannon was a French film director, writer, film producer and actor.
Starting his career in the 1930s, Léo Joannon became well-known for directing films such as "Les Cinq Sous de Lavarède" (1939) and "Les Frères Bouquinquant" (1947). Additionally, he frequently collaborated with the legendary French comedian Fernandel, directing him in several films, including "Simplet" (1942) and "L'Âge ingrat" (1964). In addition to his work in film, Joannon wrote novels and plays and produced several films. Despite his success as a filmmaker, Joannon's career declined in the 1950s and he struggled to find work in the following decade. He passed away in 1969 at the age of 64.
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Charles Bouillaud
Charles Bouillaud (May 11, 1904 Nointot-June 12, 1965 Paris) also known as C. Bouillaud, Ch. Bouillaud or Bouillaud was a French actor.
Bouillaud made his acting debut in 1929, appearing in the film "Charlemagne". He went on to act in over 70 films, throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, establishing himself as one of the most successful character actors of French cinema. He worked with a number of prominent French directors, including Jean Renoir, Marcel Carné, and Henri-Georges Clouzot, and appeared in some of their most acclaimed films, including "Les Enfants Terribles", "Le Corbeau", and "To Have and Have Not". In addition to his work in film, Bouillaud also appeared in numerous stage productions in Paris. He passed away in 1965, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of France's most beloved actors.
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