French actors who deceased in 2006
Here are 14 famous actors from France died in 2006:
Philippe Noiret
Philippe Noiret (October 1, 1930 Lille-November 23, 2006 Paris) also known as Philippe Pierre Fernand Noiret or Philippe Noiret Pierre Fernand was a French actor, comedian and voice actor. His child is called Frederique Noiret.
Noiret began his acting career in the late 1940s and went on to become a prominent figure in French cinema, appearing in over 150 films and television shows. He was particularly known for his roles in films such as "Z," "Cinema Paradiso," and "Il Postino." He won numerous awards throughout his career, including a César Award for Best Actor for his performance in "La Vie et Rien d'Autre" and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in "Cinema Paradiso." Noiret was also a respected voice actor and provided the French dub for several animated films, including "The Phantom Tollbooth" and "The Rescuers." He passed away in 2006 at the age of 76.
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Claude Piéplu
Claude Piéplu (May 9, 1923 Paris-May 24, 2006 Paris) also known as Claude Pieplu, Piéplu or Claude Léon Auguste Piéplu was a French actor and voice actor.
Throughout his extensive career, Piéplu acted in over 90 films and 50 plays. Some of his notable film credits include "Jules and Jim," "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie," and "The Day of the Jackal." He was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to numerous animated films and TV shows such as "The Aristocats" and "Asterix and Cleopatra." In addition to his acting work, Piéplu was also a talented writer, penning several books throughout his life. He was a member of the prestigious Comédie-Française from 1961 to 1968 and was awarded the Legion of Honor in 2001 for his contributions to French culture.
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Gérard Oury
Gérard Oury (April 29, 1919 Paris-July 20, 2006 Saint-Tropez) also known as Gerard Oury, Max-Gérard Houry or Max-Gérard Houry Tannenbaum was a French actor, film director and screenwriter. He had one child, Danièle Thompson.
Throughout his career, Gérard Oury directed and/or wrote the screenplay for over 20 films, many of which became hugely successful and beloved classics in France. Oury was known for his comedic films, such as "The Sucker" (1965) and "The Brain" (1969), which often featured his frequent collaborator, the actor Louis de Funès.
In addition to his successful film career, Oury was also recognized for his contributions to French culture, and was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1984. He continued to work up until his death in 2006, and has had a lasting impact on French cinema.
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Darry Cowl
Darry Cowl (August 27, 1925 Vittel-February 14, 2006 Neuilly-sur-Seine) a.k.a. Darryl Cowl, Darry-Cowl or André Darricau was a French actor, musician, film score composer and author.
He began his career in show business as a pianist and later transitioned into acting, appearing in numerous films and television shows throughout his career. Cowl was known for his comedic roles and his unique physical comedy style.
Aside from acting, Cowl was also a talented musician and composer, having composed the scores for several films in the 1960s and 70s. He also wrote several books, including an autobiography and a cookbook.
Cowl was a recipient of numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Legion of Honour, the highest civil merit award in France, in 2004.
Despite his success, Cowl struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout his life, and tragically died by suicide in 2006 at the age of 80. His legacy and contributions to French cinema and music continue to be celebrated to this day.
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Henri Colpi
Henri Colpi (July 15, 1921 Brig-January 14, 2006 Menton) was a French film director, film editor, screenwriter, television director and actor.
Born in Brig, Switzerland, Colpi started his career in the film industry as a film editor, working for directors such as Alain Resnais and René Clair. His work on Resnais' film "Hiroshima Mon Amour" won him a BAFTA award in 1961. Colpi later moved onto directing his own films, including "Une Aussi Longue Absence" which won the Palme d'Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. He also worked in television, directing a number of programs for French audiences. In addition to his work as a director, Colpi was also an actor, appearing in films such as "Pauline at the Beach" and "Zazie dans le Métro". Overall, Henri Colpi was a prolific figure in the French film industry and made significant contributions to the world of cinema throughout his career.
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Claude Esteban
Claude Esteban (July 26, 1935 Paris-April 10, 2006 Paris) was a French poet, actor and theatre director.
He was born to a Spanish father and a Greek mother, and spent his childhood in Morocco. Esteban studied philosophy and literature in Paris, where he developed his interest in the arts. He published his first book of poetry, "La Saison dévastée," in 1969, which won him the prestigious Mallarmé Prize. He went on to publish numerous collections of poetry and was widely regarded as one of the most significant poets of his generation.
In addition to his writing career, Esteban was also involved in theatre as an actor and director, working in both Paris and New York. He was a member of the influential Paris-based theatre company, Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, where he worked alongside fellow artists Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carrière.
Throughout his life, Esteban remained deeply connected to his multicultural heritage, and his poetry often touched on themes of exile, identity, and cultural displacement. His work has been translated into numerous languages and has had a lasting impact on the literary world.
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Daniel Emilfork
Daniel Emilfork (April 7, 1924 Providencia, Chile-October 17, 2006 Paris) a.k.a. Daniel Emilfork Berenstein, Daniel Emilfork-Berenstein or Daniel Zapognikof was a French actor and voice actor. His child is called Stéphanie Loïk.
Emilfork began his career in the 1940s in South America as a stage actor, later moving to France in the 1950s. He is best known for his appearances in films such as "The City of Lost Children" (1995) and "La Planète Sauvage" (1973). He was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to numerous animated films including "The Triplets of Belleville" (2003) and "Persepolis" (2007). Emilfork's distinctive appearance, which included a deformed hand, made him a popular choice for playing eccentric and fantastical characters. He was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 2004 just two years before his death.
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Francis Girod
Francis Girod (October 9, 1944 Semblançay-November 19, 2006 Bordeaux) was a French screenwriter, film director, actor, writer, television director and film producer.
Born in Semblançay, France, Francis Girod was a prominent figure in the French film industry, having directed over 20 films throughout his career. He began his career as an actor, but quickly transitioned to screenwriting and directing in the 1970s.
His films often dealt with politically charged subject matter, including corruption and social issues in French society. He received critical acclaim for his work, winning several awards at film festivals across Europe, including the César Award for Best Director for his film "Five Days One Summer" in 1985.
In addition to his directing work, Girod also worked extensively in television, directing numerous episodes of French television shows. He also authored several books, including a collection of essays on filmmaking.
Girod passed away in Bordeaux, France in 2006 at the age of 62, leaving behind a legacy as a versatile and highly respected filmmaker.
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Jacques Legras
Jacques Legras (October 25, 1923 Nantes-March 15, 2006 Paris) otherwise known as Legras, J. Legras or Jacques Jean Le Gras was a French actor.
He began his career in theater in the 1940s, and later moved on to film and television. Legras appeared in over 90 films and television shows throughout his career, working with some of the most renowned directors in the industry. He also lent his voice to several films, dubbing both American and British actors. In addition to his work in acting, Legras was also known for his support of young actors and actresses, mentoring and advising them throughout their careers. Legras passed away in 2006 at the age of 82.
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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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Claude Luter
Claude Luter (July 23, 1923 Paris-October 6, 2006 Poissy) also known as Luter, Claude was a French clarinetist, actor and film score composer.
Luter was a prominent figure in the French jazz scene and was often referred to as the "King of the Clarinet". He began his career as a self-taught musician in the 1940s and went on to perform with some of the greatest jazz musicians of his time, including Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman.
In addition to his music career, Luter also ventured into acting and composed music for a number of films. He appeared in several movies throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including "Les Tricheurs" and "Tirez sur le pianiste". As a composer, he contributed music to films such as "Les Quatre Cents Coups" and "Moderato Cantabile".
Luter remained active in the music industry well into his later years and continued to perform and record until his death in 2006. He was widely recognized for his contributions to French jazz and was posthumously awarded the Légion d'honneur in 2009.
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Thierry Fortineau
Thierry Fortineau (February 9, 1953 Nantes-February 8, 2006 Paris) was a French actor.
Fortineau began acting in the 1970s and appeared in over 40 films and television shows throughout his career. He was best known for his roles in "Mina Tannenbaum," "Léo en jouant 'Dans la compagnie des hommes'," and "Barracuda," among others. Fortineau was also a respected theater actor, performing with the Comédie-Française and other notable theaters in France. In addition to his acting career, he was a documentary filmmaker and directed several films about contemporary artists. Fortineau passed away at the age of 52 after a battle with cancer.
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Pierre Louki
Pierre Louki (July 25, 1920 Brienon-sur-Armançon-December 21, 2006) a.k.a. Pierre Varenne, Louki, Pierre, Pierre Luki or Varenne was a French actor, lyricist and singer-songwriter.
His real name was Pierre Varenne, and he began his career in the 1940s as an actor on the Paris stage. However, it was his talent as a songwriter that would truly make him famous. Louki wrote lyrics for some of the most iconic performers of his time, including Léo Ferré, Juliette Gréco, and Jacques Brel. He was heavily influenced by surrealism, and his lyrics often featured absurdist imagery and wordplay. In addition to his work as a songwriter, Louki also released several albums of his own music throughout his career. He continued to perform and write music well into his old age, and is remembered as one of the most innovative and influential lyricists of his time.
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Raymond Devos
Raymond Devos (November 9, 1922 Mouscron-June 15, 2006 Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse) was a French clown, humorist, comedian and actor.
He started his career as a pianist but soon turned to comedy, specializing in plays on words, absurd and surrealistic humor, and verbal acrobatics. He became known for his rapid-fire delivery, facial expressions, and linguistic skill, and was considered one of the most influential and innovative comedians of his time. Devos was also a talented actor, appearing in numerous films and television shows. In addition, he was a poet and writer, publishing several books of poetry and short stories. Devos won many awards throughout his career, including the Grand Prix de l'Humour Noir, the Prix Molière, and the Légion d'honneur. His influence can still be seen in modern comedy and he is remembered as a true master of the art.
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