French actors who deceased in 1979
Here are 10 famous actors from France died in 1979:
Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir (September 15, 1894 Montmartre-February 12, 1979 Beverly Hills) a.k.a. Le patron or The boss was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, film producer, author and film editor. He had one child, Alain Renoir.
Renoir was one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the 20th century, known for his contribution to the development of the French film industry. He began his career in the film industry in the 1920s and directed several acclaimed films such as "Grand Illusion" and "The Rules of the Game". Renoir's films often explored themes of class differences, social issues, and human relationships with a touch of satire and humor.
Besides his work in the film industry, Renoir was also an accomplished artist and writer. He wrote several books on cinema and art, including his memoir "My Life and My Films". In addition, Renoir was a talented painter and often incorporated his artistic vision into his films.
Renoir's legacy continues to inspire filmmakers around the world and his films continue to be regarded as classics of French cinema.
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Paul Amiot
Paul Amiot (March 29, 1886 Paris-January 26, 1979 Paris) a.k.a. Paul Henri Amiot or P. Amiot was a French actor.
He began his career in the theater but later transitioned to film acting in the 1920s. He acted in over 200 films during his career, including popular French films such as "The Rules of the Game" and "Les Misérables". Amiot was known for his ability to portray both comedic and serious roles, and was regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his time. He was also a talented writer, having penned several plays and screenplays. In addition to his successful acting career, Amiot was also a respected director and produced several films. Outside of his professional life, Amiot was a devoted family man and father to his two children. He died in Paris in 1979 at the age of 92.
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Maurice Dorléac
Maurice Dorléac (March 26, 1901 Paris-December 4, 1979 Paris) also known as Dorléac, Georges Maurice Edmond Dorléac or Maurice Dorleac was a French actor. His children are called Catherine Deneuve, Sylvie Dorléac and Françoise Dorléac.
Maurice Dorléac was born into a family of actors, so it was only natural that he followed in their footsteps. He made his debut on stage at the age of 18, and soon after landed his first film role in "Les Nuits Moscovites" (1929). Dorléac worked steadily throughout the 1930s and 1940s in a variety of films, specializing in comedic roles that showcased his charming personality and energetic presence.
In addition to his work on stage and screen, Dorléac also served in the French military during World War II, fighting against the German occupation of France. He was eventually captured and spent several years as a prisoner of war in Germany before being released at the end of the war.
Despite his success as an actor, Dorléac is perhaps best known as the father of three famous actresses: Catherine Deneuve, Sylvie Dorléac, and Françoise Dorléac. All three followed in their father's footsteps and became successful in the entertainment industry in their own right.
Maurice Dorléac remained active in films and on stage until his death in 1979 at the age of 78. He is remembered as a beloved actor and a proud father who left a lasting legacy in French cinema.
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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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André Luguet
André Luguet (May 15, 1892 Fontenay-sous-Bois-May 24, 1979 Cannes) also known as André Maurice Jean Allioux-Luguet or Andre Luguet was a French actor. He had one child, Rosine Luguet.
Luguet began his career in theater and later transitioned into film in the early 1920s. He appeared in over 70 films throughout his career, often playing suave and sophisticated characters. Luguet was known for his charming demeanor and captivating screen presence.
Some of his most notable films include "Le Million" (1931), "Serenade" (1937), and "La Poison" (1951). He also appeared in several films directed by Jean Renoir, including "The Rules of the Game" (1939) and "French Cancan" (1955).
In addition to his acting career, Luguet served as the president of the French Actors Union from 1953 to 1966. He was awarded the Legion of Honor for his contributions to the arts in 1958.
Luguet continued to act in films and on stage until the 1970s. He passed away in Cannes in 1979 at the age of 87.
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Paul Meurisse
Paul Meurisse (December 21, 1912 Dunkirk-January 19, 1979 Neuilly-sur-Seine) a.k.a. Paul Gustave Pierre Meurisse was a French actor.
He began his career in theater, performing in various productions before transitioning to film. In 1947, Meurisse gained international recognition for his role in the film Les Jeux Sont Faits (The Chips Are Down). He went on to appear in numerous movies throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including Les Diaboliques (1955) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966), which became one of the most popular French comedies of all time. Meurisse was known for his ability to portray complex characters and his commanding presence on screen. He was also a talented stage actor and performed in a number of plays during his career. Meurisse died in 1979 at the age of 66, leaving behind a legacy as one of France's most beloved actors.
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Robert Florey
Robert Florey (September 14, 1900 Paris-May 16, 1979 Santa Monica) also known as Florian Roberts was a French actor, film director, screenwriter, journalist and television director.
After studying journalism and art, Florey moved to Hollywood in the 1920s to work in the film industry. He began his career as an assistant to famous silent film director, Josef von Sternberg. Florey went on to direct more than 50 films throughout his career, including the horror classic "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932) and "The Cocoanuts" (1929), the Marx Brothers' first feature film. Florey was also known for his work in television in the 1950s and 60s, directing episodes of shows such as "The Twilight Zone" and "77 Sunset Strip." Despite his successful career, Florey's contributions to film history were often overlooked, and he was not as well-known as some of his peers. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in Florey's work and his role in shaping the film industry during its formative years.
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Georges Spanelly
Georges Spanelly (December 25, 1899 Paris-June 30, 1979 Paris) also known as Spanelly or Georges Spanelli was a French actor.
He was known for his work in both French and American films. Spanelly began his career as a stage actor, performing in various productions throughout Paris before transitioning to film. He made his film debut in 1935 and went on to appear in over 60 films, often playing supporting roles.
Some of his notable roles include appearances in the films "The Battle of the Rails" (1946), "Thérèse Raquin" (1953), and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1956). Spanelly also appeared in several American films, including "To Catch a Thief" (1955) and "The Sun Also Rises" (1957).
Outside of his acting career, Spanelly was a skilled painter and photographer. He was particularly interested in capturing the beauty of the French landscape and architecture. He passed away in Paris in 1979 at the age of 79.
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Albert Préjean
Albert Préjean (October 27, 1894 Pantin-November 1, 1979 Paris) a.k.a. Albert Prejean was a French actor. He had one child, Patrick Préjean.
Albert Prejean began his acting career in the theater before transitioning to film in the 1920s. He quickly became one of the most popular actors of the French silent cinema, starring in several successful films. His most famous films during this time were probably "Les Misérables" (1925) and "The Chess Player" (1927).
With the arrival of sound in the late 1920s, Prejean successfully made the transition to talkies. He appeared in more than 90 films throughout his career, including comedies, dramas, and musicals. He was known for his charming on-screen persona and had a particular talent for singing and dancing.
Prejean's career was interrupted during World War II when he was imprisoned in a German concentration camp. After the war, he returned to filmmaking but struggled to regain his former popularity. However, he continued to act in films and on stage until his retirement in the 1960s.
In addition to his successful career as an actor, Albert Prejean was also a talented composer, having written music for several films in which he starred. He also wrote books about his experiences in the concentration camp. He passed away on November 1, 1979, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy as one of France's most beloved actors.
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Alfred Rode
Alfred Rode (June 4, 1905 Torre del Greco-July 22, 1979 Lisieux) also known as Alfred Rode and His Royal Tzigane Band, Alfred Rode and his Tzigane Band, Alfred Rode et son grand Orchestre or Alfred Spedaliere was a French actor, film producer, film director, screenwriter, film score composer and musician.
He was born in Italy and raised in France where he began his career as a musician playing in various bands. He gained fame in the 1930s and 1940s for his performances with his Tzigane bands, which combined Roma music with French classical influences. In addition to his successful music career, Rode also acted in over a dozen films and produced and directed several others. He often composed the scores for the films he was involved in, showcasing his versatile musical talent. Despite his success, Rode's career was interrupted by World War II, during which he was imprisoned for his Roma heritage. He continued to perform and produce films after the war until his death in 1979. Rode was a significant figure in the French music and film industry, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by fans of his work.
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