French actors who were born in 1908
Here are 11 famous actors from France were born in 1908:
Alfred Adam
Alfred Adam (April 4, 1908 Asnières-sur-Seine-May 7, 1982 Le Perreux-sur-Marne) also known as Adam, Alfred Adam de la Comédie Française or Alfred Roger Adam was a French actor and screenwriter.
Alfred Adam began his acting career on the stage, and later became a member of the esteemed Comédie Française in 1949. During his time there, he became known for his commanding presence and exceptional range as an actor, specializing in both dramatic and comedic roles. In addition to his stage work, Adam also wrote several film scripts and appeared in numerous movies throughout his career. Some of his most notable film credits include "Le Corbeau" (1943), "Le Doulos" (1962) and "The Day of the Jackal" (1973). Adam received several accolades throughout his career, including the Legion of Honour in 1975. He passed away in Le Perreux-sur-Marne in 1982, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most celebrated and respected actors of his generation.
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Alain Cuny
Alain Cuny (July 12, 1908 Saint-Malo-May 16, 1994 Paris) also known as René Xavier Marie Cuny was a French actor, film director, screenwriter, costume designer and set designer.
Cuny was born into a wealthy family and attended prestigious universities such as Oxford and the Sorbonne. He began his career as an actor in the 1930s, but it was not until the late 1940s that he gained widespread recognition for his roles in films such as "Les Enfants Terribles" (1950) and "Orpheus" (1950).
In addition to his acting work, Cuny directed several films, including "The Awakening" (1970) and "The Coven" (1972), and was renowned for his work as a designer, creating costumes and sets for films such as "Eyes Without a Face" (1960) and "Barbarella" (1968).
Cuny was also a member of the French Resistance and fought against the Nazi occupation during World War II. Later in his life, he became known for his spiritual pursuits, including his interest in the teachings of the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Cuny continued to act well into his later years, appearing in films such as "La Belle Noiseuse" (1991) and "Three Colors: Red" (1994). He passed away in Paris in 1994 at the age of 85.
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Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur (November 19, 1908 Paris-July 2, 2002 Paris) also known as Daniel-Lesur was a French film score composer, actor, organist and composer.
He was raised in a family of musicians and began studying music at a young age. He attended the Paris Conservatoire where he studied under some of the leading composers of the time including Charles-Marie Widor and Maurice Emmanuel.
In addition to his work in film score composition, Daniel-Lesur was known for his contributions to vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He was heavily influenced by the works of Debussy and Ravel and his music often incorporated elements of the Impressionist style.
Daniel-Lesur was also an accomplished organist and served as the organist at the church of St. Germain-des-Prés for over 50 years. In addition, he founded and conducted the Paris chamber choir, which gained international renown for its performances of choral works by contemporary French composers.
Throughout his life, Daniel-Lesur was celebrated for his contributions to the French cultural scene and was honored with numerous awards and accolades, including being made a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1984.
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Jean Delannoy
Jean Delannoy (January 12, 1908 Noisy-le-Sec-June 18, 2008 Guainville) also known as Jean-François Henri Delannoy was a French screenwriter, film director, actor and film editor.
Throughout his career, Jean Delannoy made over 70 films and is considered as one of the leading figures of French cinema. He started his career in the film industry in the 1930s, working as an assistant director for several films before embarking on his own directorial career. Delannoy's films were known for their poetic and romantic elements and often explored religious and spiritual themes. Some of his notable works include "La Symphonie Pastorale", "Les Amants de Montparnasse" and "Notre-Dame de Paris". Jean Delannoy was also awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government for his contribution to the arts.
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Ray Ventura
Ray Ventura (April 16, 1908 Paris-March 30, 1979 Palma, Majorca) a.k.a. Raymond V. Ventura or Raymond Ventura was a French film producer, actor, film score composer and musician.
He was known for his contribution to the French jazz scene in the 1930s as the leader of the Ray Ventura et ses Collégiens band. The group's unique style of music, which blended jazz with French lyrics and comedic elements, gained widespread popularity in France and even earned them international recognition. Apart from his musical endeavors, Ventura also acted in several films such as "Quai des Orfèvres" (1947) and composed music scores for movies like "Le Schpountz" (1938). He later founded his own film production company, Les Films Ray Ventura, which produced successful films like "Ali Baba et les quarante voleurs" (1954) and "Les 7 péchés capitaux" (1962). Ventura's legacy continues to influence French popular culture to this day.
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Louis Daquin
Louis Daquin (May 20, 1908 Calais-October 2, 1980 Paris) was a French actor, film director and television director. His child is called Michel Recanati.
Louis Daquin began his career in the entertainment industry as an actor in the 1930s, but quickly transitioned into directing. He directed over 20 feature films throughout his career, including the acclaimed films "Rue de l'Estrapade" (1953) and "Moi, un noir" (1958). In addition to his work in film, he also directed numerous television programs in France.
Throughout his career, Daquin was known for his socially conscious films that addressed important political and social issues of his time. One of his most notable films, "La Vie d'un honnête homme" (1952), tackled corruption in French politics and earned him widespread critical acclaim.
Daquin passed away in 1980 in Paris at the age of 72. Today, he is remembered as one of the pioneering directors of the French New Wave movement.
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Pierre Dux
Pierre Dux (October 21, 1908 Paris-December 1, 1990 Paris) also known as Pierre Martin or Alex Martin was a French actor and television director.
He started his career in theater and made his film debut in 1932 with the film "Gitanes". Dux went on to act in over 80 films, including notable roles in "Children of Paradise", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and "The Golden Coach". He was also a prolific television director, directing multiple episodes of the French crime drama "Les Cinq Dernières Minutes". In addition to his work in film and television, Dux was also a respected theater director, and served as administrator of the Comédie-Française from 1962 to 1965. Dux was a recipient of the Legion of Honour, one of France's highest honors, for his contributions to the arts. He passed away in Paris in 1990 at the age of 82.
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Louis Gasté
Louis Gasté (March 18, 1908 Paris-January 8, 1995 Rueil-Malmaison) also known as Loulou Gasté, Gasté, Louis or Louis "Loulou" Gasté was a French film score composer and actor.
Louis Gasté began his career in the music industry in the 1930s as a composer and songwriter, writing for some of France's most famous singers such as Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet. He also worked extensively in the film industry, composing the scores for over 200 films throughout his career. Gasté was also an accomplished actor, appearing in over 50 films and television shows. He was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government in recognition of his contribution to the arts. Gasté passed away in 1995 at the age of 86.
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Alexandre Mnouchkine
Alexandre Mnouchkine (February 10, 1908 Saint Petersburg-April 3, 1993 Neuilly-sur-Seine) also known as Alexandre Alexandrovich Mnouchkine, Aleksandr Mnushkin, Alexander Mnouchkine or A. Mnouchkine was a French film producer and actor. His children are called Ariane Mnouchkine and Joelle Mnouchkine.
Alexandre Mnouchkine was born to a family of Russian intellectuals in Saint Petersburg, and his family emigrated to France when he was a child. He studied law in Paris and began his career as a film producer in the 1930s. He founded his own production company, Les Films Ariane, in the 1940s, and produced a number of popular French films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He also acted in a few films, including Jean Renoir's "The Rules of the Game" (1939). Mnouchkine's daughter Ariane went on to become a prominent theater director, known for her avant-garde productions with the Théâtre du Soleil. His other daughter, Joelle, worked as a film editor. Mnouchkine died in Neuilly-sur-Seine at the age of 85.
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Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli (January 26, 1908 Paris-December 1, 1997 Paris) also known as Stephanie Grappelli, Stephane Grapelli, Stepane Grappelli, Stephane Grappelli, Stephanie Grapelli, Stéphane Grappelly or Stéfano Grappelli was a French jazz musician, jazz violinist, film score composer and actor.
Grappelli was born in Paris and began playing the violin at a young age. He quickly developed a love for jazz and began performing in clubs throughout the city. In 1934, he met guitarist Django Reinhardt and the two formed the legendary jazz group, Quintette du Hot Club de France. Grappelli's innovative and virtuosic playing style helped propel the group to international fame.
During World War II, Grappelli fled to England where he continued to perform and record, often collaborating with other jazz legends such as Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson. He also composed music for films and appeared in several movies.
Grappelli continued to perform well into his 80s, recording with artists such as Yehudi Menuhin and playing at venues around the world. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and is considered one of the greatest jazz violinists of all time.
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André Fouché
André Fouché (September 17, 1908 Paris-July 23, 2001 Poissy) otherwise known as André Eugène Fouché was a French actor.
He began his acting career on stage before transitioning to film in 1933. Fouché appeared in over 100 films throughout his career, including notable roles in "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1943) and "The Red Inn" (1951). He was recognized for his talent and dedication to the arts, receiving the National Order of Merit in 1981 and the Legion of Honour in 1990. In addition to acting, Fouché was also a noted sculptor and exhibited his artwork in several galleries throughout Paris. He continued to perform in films and on stage up until his death in 2001 at the age of 92.
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