Here are 11 famous actors from France died in 1996:
Robert Benayoun (November 27, 2014 Kenitra-October 20, 1996 Paris) was a French writer, film critic, actor, film director and screenwriter.
He was a prominent figure in the French New Wave film movement and was known for his critical and analytical writing on film. Benayoun was also an accomplished filmmaker, directing several films and documentaries throughout his career. In addition to his work in film, he wrote several books and was a respected cultural commentator in France. Despite his accomplishments, Benayoun remained a relatively obscure figure outside of France, but his legacy has had a lasting impact on film criticism and French cinema.
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Jean Aurel (November 6, 1925 Răstolița-August 24, 1996 Paris) also known as J. Aurel was a French film director, screenwriter and actor.
He was born in Romania and moved to France when he was a teenager. He started his career as an actor, appearing in films such as "Sous le ciel de Paris" and "Razzia sur la chnouf." He later transitioned into directing, and his directorial debut was the film "Les pas perdus" in 1964. He went on to direct notable films such as "Les Mauvais coups" and "Le Chat" which was based on a play by Georges Simenon. Aurel also received critical acclaim for his documentary films about famous artists such as Edgar Degas, Pierre Auguste Renoir, and Paul Cézanne. Throughout his career, he was known for his unique visual style and his ability to capture the complexities of human emotions in his films.
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René Clément (March 18, 1913 Bordeaux-March 17, 1996 Monte Carlo) a.k.a. Rene Clement or M. Clement was a French film director, screenwriter and actor.
Throughout his career, René Clément directed over 35 films, establishing himself as one of the most important and versatile filmmakers of the French New Wave movement. He began his career working on documentaries before rising to fame for his films such as "Jeux Interdits" (Forbidden Games) which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, "The Battle of the Rails" and "Gervaise".
Clément's films often explored themes such as war, social injustice, and human relationships while incorporating visually arresting cinematography, atmospheric soundtracks, and grounded performances from his actors. He worked with some of the biggest stars of French cinema, including Alain Delon, Jean Gabin, and Simone Signoret, to name a few.
Clément's influence on French cinema continues to be felt today, with his innovative techniques and storytelling style inspiring a new generation of filmmakers. He passed away at the age of 82 in Monte Carlo, leaving behind a rich legacy of cinematic achievement.
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Georges Géret (October 18, 1924 Lyon-April 7, 1996 Paris) also known as Georges Geret, Géret or George Géret was a French actor.
He was known for his charming and distinctive voice, and his skill at playing suave and sophisticated roles. Géret began his acting career in the 1950s, appearing in a number of French films, including "Le Trou" and "The 400 Blows". In the 1960s, he gained international recognition for his role in the classic film "The Trial", directed by Orson Welles.
Géret worked with many other respected directors in his career, including Claude Chabrol, Jean-Pierre Melville, and Costa-Gavras. He also appeared in several English-language films, including "The Day of the Jackal" and "The Pink Panther Strikes Again". In addition to his film work, Géret was also a familiar face on French television, appearing in numerous miniseries and TV movies.
Despite his success, Géret was known for being a private person, rarely granting interviews or discussing his personal life in public. He died in Paris in 1996, at the age of 71.
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Marc de Jonge (February 16, 1949 Nancy-June 6, 1996 Paris) also known as Marc Louis Maxime de Jonge or Jonguer was a French actor.
He was born in Nancy, France, and raised in Strasbourg. He began his career as an actor in the late 1970s and gained recognition for his role in the cult French film "La Balance" (The Informant) in 1982. He also appeared in several Hollywood films such as "Octopussy" and "Le Grand Bleu".
De Jonge was known for his versatility and ability to portray a wide range of characters, from suave villains to sympathetic protagonists. He was also a talented stage actor, performing in numerous productions in France and other countries.
Despite his success, de Jonge struggled with addiction throughout his career. He passed away in 1996 in Paris at the age of 47, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and dynamic actor.
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François Chaumette (September 8, 1923 Paris-February 27, 1996 Paris) also known as François Chaumette sociétaire de la Comédie Française or Jean Paul Maurice François Chaumette was a French actor. He had three children, Sarah Chaumette, Thomas Chaumette and Mary Chaumette.
François Chaumette studied at the prestigious Paris Conservatory and began his acting career in the 1940s. He acted in over 100 films throughout his career, including the critically acclaimed film "The Wages of Fear" (1953) directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Chaumette also worked extensively in theater, and became a sociétaire, or full member, of the Comédie-Française in 1961. He was known for his versatility as an actor, and his range allowed him to play both comedic and dramatic roles with equal skill. In addition to his work on stage and in film, Chaumette also appeared on television, including in the popular French series "Les Cinq Dernières Minutes." He died in Paris in 1996 at the age of 72.
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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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Gilles Grangier (May 5, 1911 Paris-April 27, 1996 Suresnes) also known as Gill Gaston Grangier was a French screenwriter, film director, television director and actor.
Born in Paris, France in 1911, Gilles Grangier started his career as an actor in the 1930s before moving on to become a screenwriter and film director. Grangier became known for his work in the film industry in France during the 1940s and continued to make films in the following decades, directing over 70 feature films throughout his career. Some of his notable works include "Le sang à la tête" (1956), "Gas-Oil" (1955), and "Le cave se rebiffe" (1961).
Aside from his work in film, Gilles Grangier also directed numerous television series in the 1960s and 1970s. He was married twice and had two children. He died at the age of 84 in Suresnes, France.
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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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Jacques Toja (September 1, 1929 Nice-March 23, 1996 Neuilly-sur-Seine) was a French actor.
He performed on stage, television and in films, appearing in over 80 productions throughout his career. Toja began his acting career in the 1950s, studying at L'École du Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. He went on to become a member of the Comédie-Française, one of the most prestigious theatre companies in France, and also performed at other renowned theatres such as the Théâtre de l'Atelier and the Théâtre de Paris.
Toja appeared in several films throughout his career, including "Pouic-Pouic", "Three Men to Kill", and "La Vieille qui marchait dans la mer". He was also a prolific voice actor, dubbing foreign films and television shows into French.
Throughout the 1970s, Toja became a well-known television personality in France, hosting and appearing on several popular programs. He was also an accomplished writer, publishing several novels and plays.
Toja was a recipient of the Legion d'Honneur, one of France's highest honors, and was recognized for his contributions to French culture and the arts.
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Léo Malet (March 7, 1909 Montpellier-March 3, 1996 Châtillon) also known as Lèo Malet, Leo Malet or Malet, Léo was a French writer and actor.
Malet is best known for his contributions to French detective and crime fiction. His most famous creation is the private investigator Nestor Burma, who appears in a series of detective novels. Malet's writing reflected the post-World War II era and addressed social issues such as political corruption and the hardships faced by immigrants in France. In addition to his writing career, Malet acted in films and worked as a journalist. He was awarded the Grand Prix de littérature policière in 1953 for his novel "Les eaux troubles de Javel".
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