French actors who were born in 1926
Here are 17 famous actors from France were born in 1926:
Jean Poiret
Jean Poiret (August 17, 1926 Paris-March 14, 1992 Suresnes) otherwise known as Jean Poiré, J. Poiret or Jean Gustave Poiré was a French screenwriter, author, film director, actor and playwright. His children are called Sylvie Poiret and Nicolas Poiret.
Poiret was best known for his comedic talent, both on stage and screen. He co-wrote and starred in the play "La Cage aux Folles" (The Birdcage), which was later adapted into a successful film. Poiret also appeared in numerous films, such as "Le Dîner de Cons" (The Dinner Game) and "Les Compères" (Father's Day), often as a character actor. In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Poiret was also a member of the French Resistance during World War II. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his bravery. Poiret passed away in 1992 at the age of 65.
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Jacques Jouanneau
Jacques Jouanneau (October 3, 1926 Angers-July 19, 2011 Nîmes) was a French actor.
Jouanneau began his acting career in the 1940s as a member of the TNP (Théâtre National Populaire) company. He appeared in numerous plays throughout his career, both on stage and on screen. Some of his notable film roles include "Le Farceur" (1960), "Le Jour d'après" (1983), and "Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre" (1989). Jouanneau was also a respected director, and he notably directed the premiere of Jean-Claude Grumberg's play "L'Elseneur" in 1965. In addition to his work in theater and film, Jouanneau was also a writer and a painter.
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Charles Denner
Charles Denner (May 29, 1926 Tarnów-September 10, 1995 Dreux) also known as Mr. Denner was a French actor. He had two children, Charlet Denner and Ethel Denner.
Charles Denner began his acting career in the mid-1950s and quickly gained popularity in French cinema with his exceptional acting skills. He appeared in over 80 films during his career, working with some of the most notable French directors such as François Truffaut, Claude Lelouch, and Costa-Gavras.
One of his most memorable roles was in Truffaut's film "The Wild Child" (1970), in which he played a doctor trying to rehabilitate a feral child. Denner's performance earned him critical acclaim and cemented his status as one of the most talented actors of his generation.
In addition to his film work, Denner was also a renowned stage actor, performing in numerous plays throughout his career. He also received several awards for his work in film and theater, including a César Award for Best Actor in 1977 for his performance in "Un Elephant ça trompe énormément."
Denner's life was tragically cut short when he died of a heart attack at the age of 69. However, his legacy as an actor continues to inspire and influence generations of actors in French cinema.
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Georges Lautner
Georges Lautner (January 24, 1926 Nice-November 22, 2013 Paris) was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, writer and film producer. He had two children, Thomas Lautner and Alice Lautner.
Lautner began his cinema career as an assistant director for notable filmmakers such as Jacques Becker and Gilles Grangier, and later made his directorial debut with the 1960 film "La Môme aux boutons". He then gained wider recognition for his crime comedies such as "Les Tontons flingueurs" (1963) and "Ne nous fâchons pas" (1966), both of which starred French actor Lino Ventura.
Over the course of his career, Lautner directed more than 50 films and worked with many accomplished actors, including Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, and Mireille Darc. He was also known for his collaborations with screenwriter Michel Audiard, with whom he made many of his most successful films.
In addition to his film work, Lautner wrote several books and acted in a number of films as well. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Legion of Honour in 2007. Despite his passing in 2013, his films continue to be appreciated and enjoyed by audiences around the world.
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Robert Clary
Robert Clary (March 1, 1926 Paris-) also known as Robert Max Widerman or Clary, Robert is a French actor.
He is best known for his role as Corporal Louis LeBeau in the popular TV series Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971). Clary's family was deported to Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and he himself was a prisoner in several camps, including Auschwitz. After the war, he moved to the United States and began acting in Hollywood. In addition to his role in Hogan's Heroes, Clary has appeared in numerous other films and TV shows, including The Love Boat and The Nanny. Clary is also a talented singer, having released several albums of French and American popular songs. In 2008, he published a memoir titled From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes: The Autobiography of Robert Clary, detailing his experiences during the war and his career in show business.
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Jacques Hilling
Jacques Hilling (May 22, 1926 Randwick-February 16, 1975 19th arrondissement) also known as Jacques Hiling was a French actor.
He started his acting career in the 1950s and appeared in over 50 films throughout his career. Hilling was recognized for his versatile acting skills and often played comedic roles. Some of his notable films include Les Tontons flingueurs, La Grande Vadrouille, and Le Président. Hilling also acted in several television series and theater productions. Apart from acting, Hilling was also known for his passion for music and played the piano proficiently. He passed away at the age of 48 due to a heart attack.
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Bernard Dhéran
Bernard Dhéran (June 17, 1926 Dieppe-January 27, 2013 Marrakesh) a.k.a. Bernard Poulain, Bernard Dhéran de la Comédie Française, Bernard Dheran de la Comédie Française or Bernard Yves Raoul Dhéran was a French actor and voice actor.
He began his career as a stage actor in the early 1950s and joined the Comédie Française in 1955. He remained with the prestigious theatre until his retirement in 1996, appearing in over 120 productions. Dhéran was known for his natural and compelling performances, and was considered one of the most talented actors of his generation. In addition to his work on stage, he also appeared in several films and television shows, including Louis Malle's "Lacombe Lucien" and the TV series "Maigret". Dhéran was also a prolific voice actor, providing French dubbing for numerous films and animated series, including Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "The Little Mermaid". He was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1993 for his contributions to French culture.
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Philippe Nicaud
Philippe Nicaud (June 27, 1926 Paris-April 19, 2009 Nice) was a French actor.
Nicaud began his acting career in the 1940s and appeared in over 50 films throughout his career. He was known for his roles in films such as "Les zazous" (1944), "The Elusive Corporal" (1962), and "Dirty Hands" (1975). In addition to his film work, Nicaud was also a prolific stage actor and performed in numerous plays throughout his career. He was highly regarded for his versatility as an actor and his ability to portray both comedic and dramatic roles. Nicaud also worked in television and was a regular on the popular French series "Les Cinq Dernieres Minutes." He continued to act well into his later years, and was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government in 2007 in recognition of his contributions to French culture.
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Henry Djanik
Henry Djanik (March 21, 1926 France-August 18, 2008 France) also known as Henry Djanikian, H. Djanik, Djannik, Henri Djanick or Henri Djanik was a French actor.
Born to Armenian parents in France in 1926, Henry Djanik started his acting career in the 1950s and acted in over a hundred films and television shows in his lifetime. He was known for his baritone voice and played a variety of roles throughout his career. Djanik was also a voice actor and dubbed the voices of many actors, including Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston in French versions of their films. In addition to his acting career, Djanik was also a trained fencer and fencing master. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 82 in France.
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Philippe Castelli
Philippe Castelli (June 8, 1926 Chaville-April 16, 2006 Paris) also known as Castelli was a French actor.
He began his career in the theater in the 1950s and soon made his way to film and television, appearing in over 170 films and TV series throughout his career. Castelli was best known for his roles in French crime dramas, such as "The French Connection" and "Quai des Orfèvres". He was also a prolific voice actor, providing the French dubbing for numerous films including "The Godfather", "The Graduate", and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". In addition to his acting work, Castelli was a member of the French Resistance during World War II and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his efforts. He was also a passionate art collector and ran a gallery in Paris. Castelli passed away in Paris in 2006 at the age of 79.
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Charles Gérard
Charles Gérard (December 1, 1926 Marseille-) also known as Naubar Agjenor, Charlot or Charles Gerard is a French actor, film director and screenwriter.
Charles Gérard, born Naubar Agjenor in Marseille in 1926, is a multifaceted French artist famous for his work as an actor, film director, and screenwriter. After serving in the French army in Indochina, he began his acting career working with directors such as Jacques Becker and Robert Enrico. He became known for his performances in films like "The Big Risk" and "Les Tontons Flingueurs."
In the 1970s, Gérard made his debut as a director with "The Lion and the Bear," a movie he also starred in. In the following years, he directed several other films and collaborated with Jean-Paul Belmondo in "Stavisky" and "The Professional." Beyond his contributions to film, Gérard also wrote the script for the film "The Clockmaker," which was directed by Bertrand Tavernier.
Despite a decades-long career in French cinema, Gérard is perhaps best known for his friendship and collaboration with Belmondo, both on-screen and off. The two first worked together in 1960 and would go on to star in over a dozen films together, including "Le Magnifique" and "Joyeuses Pâques."
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Sim
Sim (July 21, 1926 Cauterets-September 6, 2009 Saint-Raphaël) also known as Sim O'Connor or Simon Jacques Eugène Berryer was a French actor. He had one child, Laurence Berryer.
Sim began his acting career in the 1950s and appeared in over 80 films throughout his life. He is most known for his roles in French comedies such as "Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez" and "Les Grandes Vacances". Sim's career also extended to television, where he appeared in several popular French TV series. His talent for comedy made him a beloved figure in French entertainment and he was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1991 for his contributions to French culture. In addition to his acting career, Sim was also a singer and recorded several albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 83.
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Paul Buissonneau
Paul Buissonneau (December 24, 1926 Paris-) is a French actor, singer and theatre director.
He has appeared in numerous films, including Les Ordres and The Tin Flute, both of which were nominated for Academy Awards. Buissonneau is also known for his work as a theatre director, having founded Théâtre de Quat'Sous in Montreal in 1955. He has directed numerous productions throughout his career and has been recognized with several prestigious awards for his contributions to theatre. Additionally, Buissonneau has taught at the National Theatre School of Canada and has been involved in community theatre initiatives. Despite being retired from performing, he continues to be a respected figure in the arts community.
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François-Régis Bastide
François-Régis Bastide (July 1, 1926 Biarritz-April 16, 1996 Paris) otherwise known as François Régis Bastide was a French screenwriter, actor, diplomat, politician, presenter and writer. His children are called Anika Bastide, Thomas Bastide and Emmanuelle Bastide.
Bastide is best known for his work as a screenwriter, having worked on numerous popular French films and television shows throughout his career. Some of his most notable works include "La Grande Vadrouille," "Le Cerveau," and "Les Morfalous." He also lent his talents to the political realm, serving as the French Ambassador to the United States during the mid-1980s.
In addition to his film and political careers, Bastide was also an accomplished writer and presenter. He authored several books throughout his lifetime, including the novel "Le Chien des Baskerville," and was a regular presenter on French television programs such as "Les dossiers de l'écran" and "Le grand échiquier."
Bastide passed away in Paris in 1996 at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy as one of France's most accomplished and multifaceted cultural figures.
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Nicolas Bataille
Nicolas Bataille (March 14, 1926 Paris-October 28, 2008 Paris) also known as Roger Louis Bataille was a French actor.
He started his acting career in the late 1940s and appeared in over 70 films throughout his career. Some of his notable film credits include "Les Grandes Familles" (1958), "La Grande Vadrouille" (1966), and "Mayrig" (1991).
Aside from his work in films, Bataille was also a prolific stage actor and performed in various productions at the Comédie-Française and other prestigious theaters in France. He was known for his versatility and ability to portray complex and nuanced characters on screen and onstage.
In addition to acting, Bataille was also involved in the French Resistance during World War II and later became a prominent figure in French politics. He served as a member of parliament for the French Socialist Party from 1981 to 1986.
Bataille passed away in Paris in 2008 at the age of 82.
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Maurice Lemaître
Maurice Lemaître (April 23, 1926 France-) is a French film director and actor.
He is widely recognized for his influential contributions to the experimental cinema movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Lemaître was a proclaimed member of the influential Lettrist movement, which sought to break down the barriers between art and everyday life. His films often contain improvised performances and use unconventional techniques, such as the use of multiple projectors and collage editing.
Lemaître's most notable works include "Le Film est déjà commencé?" (Has the Film Already Started?), a film that challenges traditional narrative structure by inviting the audience to participate in the film's creation, and "Vive la baleine" (Long Live the Whale), a provocative meditation on violence and consumer culture.
In addition to his work in film, Lemaître is also a prolific poet, writer, and visual artist. He has published numerous books and has exhibited his artwork in galleries around the world. Lemaître's contributions to experimental cinema and the arts have had far-reaching influence on contemporary art and culture.
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Gamil Ratib
Gamil Ratib (November 28, 1926 Cairo-) also known as Gamil Abu Bakr Ratib, Gamil Rateb or Gamil Abubakr Ratib is a French actor.
Born in Cairo to an Egyptian father and a Turkish mother, Gamil Ratib spent his childhood in Egypt before moving to France in the 1950s. He began his acting career in the 1960s and has since appeared in over 100 films and television shows. Some of his notable roles include playing Colonel Sharif in the 1962 film "Lawrence of Arabia," and playing the father of the main character in the 1998 French film "The Dinner Game." In addition to acting, Ratib has also worked as a voice actor, lending his voice to French dubs of popular films such as "The Lion King" and "Shrek 2." In 2003, he was awarded the "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" by the French government for his contributions to the arts.
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