French actors who deceased in 2004
Here are 14 famous actors from France died in 2004:
Serge Reggiani
Serge Reggiani (May 2, 1922 Reggio Emilia-July 23, 2004 Boulogne-Billancourt) also known as Sergio Reggiani was a French singer, actor and painter. He had five children, Simon Reggiani, Karine Reggiani, Celia Reggiani, Maria Reggiani and Stéphan Reggiani.
Reggiani was born in Italy but his family moved to France when he was just five years old. He began his career as an actor in the early 1940s, appearing in a number of French films throughout the decade. However, he is perhaps best known for his work in music, having released over 20 albums during his career.
Reggiani's music was characterized by his deep and gravelly voice, as well as his often melancholic lyrics. He was particularly popular in France during the 1960s and 70s, and was known for his collaborations with other famous French musicians such as Serge Gainsbourg.
In addition to his work as a singer and actor, Reggiani was also a talented painter. He held a number of exhibitions throughout his life, and his artwork was praised for its bold use of color and sense of emotional depth.
Reggiani passed away in 2004 at the age of 82, but his legacy as one of France's most beloved and versatile entertainers lives on.
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Jean Lefebvre
Jean Lefebvre (October 3, 1919 Valenciennes-July 9, 2004 Marrakesh) also known as Jean Lefevbre, Jean Lefèvre, Jean Lefevre or Jean Marcel Lefebvre was a French actor. He had five children, Catherine Lefebvre, Pascal Lefebvre, Bernard Lefebvre, Carole Lefebvre and Marie-Christine Lefebvre.
Jean Lefebvre appeared in over 180 films and was known for his comedic roles. He began his acting career in the 1940s and gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Some of his most famous films include "La Grande Vadrouille" and "Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob". Lefebvre was awarded the National Order of Merit in 1986 and continued to act in films and on television until his death in 2004. Outside of acting, Lefebvre was also a talented singer and released several albums throughout his career.
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Sacha Distel
Sacha Distel (January 29, 1933 Paris-July 22, 2004 Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer) also known as Sascha Distel or Distel, Sacha was a French singer, actor and film score composer. His children are called Julien Distel and Laurent Distel.
Distel began his music career as a jazz guitarist, and later gained popularity as a crooner in France and other parts of Europe. Some of his most popular songs include "Scoubidou", "La Belle Vie" and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head". He also appeared in several films and television shows, including "The Visit" and "Nini Pinson". In addition to his music and acting career, Distel was a talented songwriter and composed the scores for several films, including the French hit "L'Homme orchestre". He was awarded the prestigious Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1997.
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Ticky Holgado
Ticky Holgado (June 24, 1944 Toulouse-January 22, 2004 Paris) a.k.a. Joseph Holgado, Tiky Holgado, Rocky James, Tiki Olgado, Ticky, Joseph Tiky, Tiki or Tiky was a French actor and singer. His child is called Jessica Holgado.
Holgado started his career as a singer in the 60s before transitioning to acting in the 80s. He appeared in numerous French films, including "Diva" (1981), "The Big Blue" (1988), "Cyrano de Bergerac" (1990), "Delicatessen" (1991), "The City of Lost Children" (1995), and "Amélie" (2001). He was known for his distinctive gravelly voice, his imposing physical presence, and his versatility as an actor, able to play both comic and dramatic roles with equal skill. Holgado was a frequent collaborator of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, appearing in four of his films. He was also a prolific voice actor, dubbing foreign films into French and providing voices for animated films, including "Asterix and Cleopatra" (1968). Tragically, Holgado died of a heart attack at the age of 59, shortly after completing his role in the film "Blueberry" (2004).
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Philippe de Broca
Philippe de Broca (March 15, 1933 Paris-November 26, 2004 Neuilly-sur-Seine) a.k.a. Phillippe De Broca, Phillipe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac or Philippe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac was a French film director, actor, screenwriter, film producer and cinematographer. He had one child, Alexandre de Broca.
Philippe de Broca was known for his playful and comedic style in filmmaking. He made over 30 feature films throughout his career, including "That Man from Rio" (1964) and "King of Hearts" (1966), which were both successful internationally. De Broca was also a member of the French New Wave movement, which revolutionized cinema in the 1960s. Aside from his film work, he was also a published author, having written the novel "Le Mystère de Saint-Val" in 1980. De Broca passed away in 2004 at the age of 71.
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Jacques Dynam
Jacques Dynam (December 30, 1923 Paris-November 12, 2004 Paris) also known as Jacques André François Joseph Dynam-Barbe, Dynam or Jaques Dynam was a French actor and voice actor.
He started his career in the 1940s as a stage actor before transitioning to film acting in the 1950s. Dynam appeared in over 100 films throughout his career and was best known for his comedic roles in movies like "Les Grandes vacances" and "Les Tontons flingueurs". He also had a successful career as a voice actor, lending his voice to French dubs of popular American films and TV shows such as "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "The Addams Family". Dynam passed away in 2004 at the age of 80 in his hometown of Paris.
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Serge Marquand
Serge Marquand (March 12, 1930 Marseille-September 4, 2004 Paris) was a French actor and film producer.
Marquand began his career as a child actor before transitioning to adult roles. He appeared in over 80 films throughout his career, including "The Battle of Algiers," "Camille Claudel," and "Cousin, Cousine." In addition to his work on screen, Marquand was a successful film producer, and his production company, S.N. Prodis, was responsible for films such as "Revanche" and "Un oiseau rare." Marquand was also a talented painter and sculptor, and his artwork was exhibited in galleries throughout France. He passed away in Paris in 2004 at the age of 74.
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José Giovanni
José Giovanni (June 22, 1923 Paris-April 24, 2004 Lausanne) also known as Joseph Damiani or Jose Giovanni was a French screenwriter, film director, writer, actor and television director.
Born to Corsican parents, Giovanni grew up in poverty and turned to a life of crime as a young man. He was convicted of several offenses and spent a total of 17 years in prison. While behind bars, he discovered a love for literature and began to write. After his release, he turned to filmmaking, adapting some of his own novels for the screen. He became known for his tough and gritty crime dramas, often drawing on his own experiences with the criminal underworld. His films include highly-regarded works like "Le Trou", "Two Men in Town" and "The Professional". In addition to his work on screen, Giovanni wrote several novels and memoirs. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1997.
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Georges de Caunes
Georges de Caunes (April 26, 1919 Toulouse-June 28, 2004 La Rochelle) was a French journalist, actor, writer, film producer, sports commentator, newscaster and presenter. He had five children, Antoine de Caunes, Blandine de Caunes, Lison de Caunes, Marie de Caunes and Pierre de Caunes.
Georges de Caunes began his career as a sports reporter for a radio station in Toulouse during the 1940s. He later moved to Paris and joined Radio Luxembourg where he became known for his lively and engaging style. In 1959, he was chosen to host the first French television program to be broadcast in color, a show called "La Piste aux Etoiles".
Throughout his career, de Caunes interviewed many famous figures, such as Brigitte Bardot, Bob Dylan, and Salvador Dali. He was also known for his work as a war correspondent, covering conflicts in Algeria and Vietnam.
Aside from his journalism work, Georges de Caunes also acted in several films and produced documentaries. He wrote several books including an autobiography entitled "Le Foulard rouge" (The Red Scarf). He remained active in his later years, hosting a weekly TV show until shortly before his death.
Georges de Caunes was widely respected in France for his contributions to journalism and the arts. His son, Antoine de Caunes, also became a prominent television host and presenter.
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Philippe Lemaire
Philippe Lemaire (March 14, 1927 Moussy-le-Neuf-March 15, 2004 1st arrondissement) also known as Philippe Le Maire or Lemaire was a French actor. He had two children, Laurence-Marie Lemaire and Eric Lemaire.
Lemaire began his acting career in the 1940s, and gained fame through his performances in French cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. He appeared in over 80 films, working with renowned directors such as Jean-Luc Godard and Henri-Georges Clouzot. He was also well-known for his roles in television series, including Les Cinq Dernières Minutes and Les Cinq Parties du Monde.
Aside from acting, Lemaire was actively involved in politics, and was a supporter of the French Socialist Party. He was a close friend and supporter of French President François Mitterrand. Later in life, he suffered from health issues and passed away in Paris in 2004 at the age of 77.
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Robert Dhéry
Robert Dhéry (April 27, 1921 France-December 5, 2004 Paris) also known as Robert Fouilley or Dhéry, Robert was a French actor, film director, screenwriter and writer.
He is best known for his work in the field of comedy, having created and starred in several successful comedic acts and films including the iconic play and film "La Plume de ma Tante".
Dhéry's career began with his involvement in the French Resistance during World War II, after which he pursued a career in the entertainment industry. With his comic genius, he quickly rose to fame and became a household name in France. He collaborated with famous French comedian Louis de Funès and directed him in his first leading role in the film "Poisson d'avril" in 1954.
Dhéry wrote and directed several successful films and plays, including "La Belle Américaine", "La Brebis Galante" and "Allez France!" among others. He also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films in French.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Dhéry was also a prolific writer, having written several books including a memoir titled "Robert Dhéry raconte" and a biography of his friend and collaborator Louis de Funès.
Dhéry's work in comedy and entertainment had a profound impact on French culture and remains influential to this day. He was posthumously awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour, one of France's highest awards, in recognition of his contributions to the arts.
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Didier Bienaimé
Didier Bienaimé (June 9, 1961 Troyes-August 7, 2004 Laguépie) also known as Didier Jean-Michel Serge Bienaimé was a French actor. He had three children, Maïlis Bienaimé, Mathis Bienaimé and Mégane Bienaimé.
Bienaimé began his acting career in the 1980s, starring in French films such as "La Passante du Sans-Souci" and "L'été en pente douce." He later expanded his work to include television, appearing in popular French shows like "Julie Lescaut" and "Maigret."
Despite being a well-known actor in France, Bienaimé never achieved the same level of international recognition as some of his contemporaries. He continued to work in the entertainment industry up until his untimely death in 2004 at the age of 43, while on vacation in the south of France with his family.
Outside of acting, Bienaimé was known for his love of nature and the outdoors, often spending his free time hiking and exploring the French countryside. His legacy as an actor and family man continues to be celebrated by his fans and loved ones.
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Jacques Seiler
Jacques Seiler (March 16, 1928 Paris-April 1, 2004 Paris) also known as J. François Seiler, Jean-François Seiler or Jacques Seilers was a French actor.
He began his acting career in the 1950s and appeared in over 80 films throughout his career. Seiler often played supporting roles in French cinema and worked alongside prominent directors such as François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and Claude Chabrol. Some of his notable film credits include "La Peau Douce" (1964), "Le Voyou" (1970), and "La Grande Bouffe" (1973). Seiler also made appearances in several TV shows and theater productions. In addition to his acting career, he served as the general secretary for La Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers) from 1978 to 1987. Seiler passed away in Paris in 2004 at the age of 76.
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Gérard Darrieu
Gérard Darrieu (September 11, 1925 Arnicourt-January 22, 2004 Paris) otherwise known as Gérard Raoul Julien Darrieumerlou was a French actor.
He began his acting career in the 1940s and appeared in over 60 films throughout his career. Darrieu was known for his versatile acting abilities, and he played a variety of roles ranging from comedic to dramatic. Some of his most notable roles include appearances in "Les Enfants Terribles" (1950), "Le Comte de Monte Cristo" (1954), and "L'Archipel des amours" (1982). In addition to his work on the big screen, Darrieu also acted in several stage productions and television shows. He received numerous accolades for his work in the entertainment industry, including the National Order of Merit in 1986. Darrieu died in Paris at the age of 78.
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