French actors who were born in 1906
Here are 10 famous actors from France were born in 1906:
Jacques Becker
Jacques Becker (September 15, 1906 Paris-February 21, 1960 Paris) also known as J. de Beauker or Becker was a French film director, screenwriter and actor. His children are called Jean Becker, Etienne Becker and Sophie Becker.
Jacques Becker first gained recognition as an assistant to French film director Jean Renoir, before making his own debut as a director in the early 1940s. He is known for his contributions to the French film industry, particularly in the development of the policier genre, which he helped popularize through his work in films such as "Touchez pas au grisbi" (1954) and "Le Trou" (1960).
Becker's early career was marked by his work in the French resistance during World War II. He was captured and sent to a German concentration camp, from which he escaped and returned to Paris in 1945. Following this experience, his films often explored themes of survival, individualism, and the existential condition.
Becker died of a heart attack at the age of 53, leaving behind a legacy of influential works and a significant impact on French cinema. His son, Jean Becker, has also become a prominent French film director, and the Becker family remains an important part of French film history.
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Georges Hugnet
Georges Hugnet (July 11, 1906 Paris-June 26, 1974 Saint-Martin-de-Ré) was a French actor and writer.
He was an active participant in the Surrealist movement, and was a close friend of André Breton. Hugnet's literary works often featured elements of Surrealist art and poetry, and he was known for his use of experimental writing techniques. He also worked as a translator and editor, and was involved in the production of surrealist films. In addition to his literary pursuits, Hugnet was a prolific artist, and his works have been exhibited internationally.
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Jacques Brunius
Jacques Brunius (September 16, 1906 Paris-April 24, 1967 Exeter) a.k.a. Jacques-Bernard Brunius, Jacques Borel, Jacques Henri Cottance, Borel, J.B.Brunius, Brunius or J.B. Brunius was a French film director, actor and screenwriter. He had one child, Richard Brunius.
His real name was Jacques Henri Cottance, but he used several pseudonyms throughout his career. Brunius began his career in the French film industry in the 1920s, working as a film critic before turning to directing and acting. He directed several films in the 1930s and 1940s, including the critically acclaimed "Les visiteurs du soir" (1942) and "La vie de plaisir" (1944). Brunius was also known for his acting roles in films such as "La règle du jeu" (1939). He was a member of the Surrealist movement and collaborated with artists such as Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel. Brunius fled France during World War II and settled in England, where he continued to work in the film industry as an actor and writer. He died in 1967 at the age of 60.
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Maurice Maillot
Maurice Maillot (September 18, 1906 Rethel-February 8, 1968 Paris) a.k.a. Maillot was a French actor.
He started his acting career in the 1930s and appeared in over 90 films throughout his career. Maillot was known for his versatility in portraying a wide range of characters, from comedic to dramatic roles. He worked with some of the most prominent directors of his time, including Jean Renoir, Marcel Carné, and Henri-Georges Clouzot. In addition to his film work, Maillot also performed on stage and on television. He was recognized for his contributions to French cinema, and in 1959 he was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. Maillot passed away in 1968 at the age of 61 due to a heart attack.
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Roger Duchesne
Roger Duchesne (July 27, 1906 Luxeuil-les-Bains-December 25, 1996 Les Mureaux) also known as Roger Jordaens was a French actor.
He began his career as a stage actor, but gained recognition for his performance as the lead character in the French film "Bob le flambeur" in 1956. Duchesne portrayed Bob, a retired gambler who plans a complex heist at a casino in Deauville, France. The film is now considered a classic of French cinema and has been credited with helping to establish the genre known as film noir.
Duchesne continued to act in films and television throughout his career, appearing in over 40 movies and TV shows. He is known for his roles in "Les Amants de Montparnasse", "Le Rat d'Amérique", and "La Passe du Diable". He was also a screenwriter, penning the script for the 1963 film "Carambolages".
Despite his success as an actor, Duchesne led a tumultuous personal life. He struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, and his behavior on set was sometimes erratic. Nonetheless, he is remembered as a talented performer, particularly for his role in "Bob le flambeur" which launched his career as a film actor.
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Robert Vattier
Robert Vattier (October 2, 1906 Rennes-December 9, 1982 Nanterre) a.k.a. Robert Valtier, Vattier or R. Vattier was a French actor and comedian. He had one child, Bérangère Vattier.
Robert Vattier was active in the film industry from the 1930s to the 1980s, appearing in over 120 films. He had a talent for comic roles and was particularly known for his work in popular French comedies of the 1950s and 1960s. Vattier also had a successful career in the theater, both as a performer and director, and he appeared in numerous television productions. Outside of his work in entertainment, Vattier was involved in political activism and was a member of the French Resistance during World War II. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his service. Robert Vattier remains a beloved figure in French film and theater history.
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Edmond T. Gréville
Edmond T. Gréville (June 20, 1906 Nice-May 26, 1966 Nice) also known as Edmond T. Greville, Edmond Greville Thonger, Edmund Greville, Edmond Gréville, Max Montagut or Edmond Gréville Thonger was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, film editor and film journalist.
He was born in Nice, France in 1906 to a family of British origin. Gréville began his career as a journalist before moving into the film industry in the 1930s. He directed his first feature film, "Chanson d'Armor" in 1934.
Gréville went on to direct nearly 40 films throughout his career, spanning across multiple genres including crime, drama, and comedy. Some of his notable works include "Secret Lives" (1937), "Menaces" (1940), "The Seventh Veil" (1945), and "Beat Girl" (1960).
In addition to directing, Gréville also acted in several of his own films, as well as in films for other directors. He was known for his versatility and willingness to experiment with different styles and techniques.
Gréville continued to work in the film industry up until his death in 1966 at the age of 59. Though he may not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries, his contributions to French cinema are significant and continue to influence filmmakers to this day.
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Alexandre Trauner
Alexandre Trauner (August 3, 1906 Budapest-December 5, 1993 Omonville-la-Petite) a.k.a. Alex. Trauner, A. Trauner, Alexander Trauner, Trauner, Sándor Trau or Alex Trauner was a French production designer, film art director, set decorator and actor.
Trauner was born in Hungary to a family of artists and architects, and was raised in Austria. He began his career in film during the 1930s in France, where he eventually became one of the most influential film designers of the 20th century. He worked on over 150 films, collaborating with renowned directors such as Marcel Carné, Jean Renoir, and Billy Wilder.
Trauner's work was distinctive for its attention to detail, and he was known for creating elaborate, visually stunning sets that helped to establish the tone and atmosphere of the films he worked on. He was particularly skilled at creating realistic depictions of everyday life, as well as incorporating symbolism and metaphor into his designs.
In addition to his work in film, Trauner was also an accomplished painter and sculptor. He continued to work in film until his retirement in 1988, and was recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for the film "The Apartment" in 1960. Trauner passed away in 1993 at the age of 87.
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Pierre Gérald
Pierre Gérald (May 26, 1906 Paris-March 23, 2012 Levallois-Perret) was a French actor.
Pierre Gérald began his acting career in the 1930s, after studying at the Conservatoire de Paris. He is often remembered for his roles in French cinema during the 1940s and 1950s, including in films such as "Le Comte de Monte Cristo" (1943) and "Les Amants de Montparnasse" (1958). Gérald also acted in theatre productions, including with the Comédie-Française in the 1950s. In addition to his acting work, he was a trained singer and performed in several operettas. After his retirement from acting, Gérald continued to stay involved in the arts and was a published poet. He was one of the last surviving actors to have worked in French cinema during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
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Jacques Pills
Jacques Pills (January 7, 1906 Tulle-September 12, 1970 Paris) also known as René Jacques Ducos or Jacques Ducos was a French actor. He had one child, Jaqueline Boyer.
Jacques Pills was not just an actor but also a popular French singer in the 1930s and 1940s. He began his career as a cabaret singer before transitioning to film and theater. He often collaborated with his famous wife, French singer and actress Lucienne Boyer, on music and performances. Pills was known for his charming persona and his smooth baritone voice that enchanted audiences. He appeared in over 20 films and many stage productions throughout his career. Jacques Pills passed away in Paris in 1970 at the age of 64.
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