French actors who deceased in 2008
Here are 17 famous actors from France died in 2008:
Alain Robbe-Grillet
Alain Robbe-Grillet (August 18, 1922 Brest-February 18, 2008 Caen) also known as Alain RobbeGrillet was a French screenwriter, film director, actor, writer and novelist.
He is credited with being a pioneer of the Nouveau Roman or New Novel literary style which rejected traditional narrative structures and sought to break down the boundaries between fiction and reality. Robbe-Grillet's most notable works include his debut novel "The Erasers" (1953), "Jealousy" (1957), and "In the Labyrinth" (1959). In addition to his literary career, Robbe-Grillet also dabbled in film, directing the controversial and sexually charged film "Trans-Europ-Express" (1966). He continued to write and produce films until his death in 2008, leaving behind a legacy as a groundbreaking artist who challenged conventions and pushed the boundaries of literary and cinematic expression.
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Guillaume Depardieu
Guillaume Depardieu (April 7, 1971 14th arrondissement of Paris-October 13, 2008 Garches) also known as Guillaume Jean Maxime Antoine Depardieu or Guillaume was a French actor. He had one child, Louise Depardieu.
Guillaume Depardieu was born to French actors Gérard Depardieu and Élisabeth Depardieu. Despite his family's success in the acting industry, Guillaume struggled with drug addiction and legal troubles throughout his career. He began acting in the early 90s and appeared in a number of notable films such as "Les Apprentis" and "Pola X". In 1996, he won a César Award for Most Promising Actor for his role in "Les Apprentis". Tragically, Guillaume passed away at the age of 37 due to complications from pneumonia. Despite his untimely death, he is remembered as a talented and unique performer who made a significant impact on French cinema.
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Jean Delannoy
Jean Delannoy (January 12, 1908 Noisy-le-Sec-June 18, 2008 Guainville) also known as Jean-François Henri Delannoy was a French screenwriter, film director, actor and film editor.
Throughout his career, Jean Delannoy made over 70 films and is considered as one of the leading figures of French cinema. He started his career in the film industry in the 1930s, working as an assistant director for several films before embarking on his own directorial career. Delannoy's films were known for their poetic and romantic elements and often explored religious and spiritual themes. Some of his notable works include "La Symphonie Pastorale", "Les Amants de Montparnasse" and "Notre-Dame de Paris". Jean Delannoy was also awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government for his contribution to the arts.
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Carlos
Carlos (February 20, 1943 Paris-January 17, 2008 Clichy) a.k.a. Yvan-Chrysostome Dolto or Jean-Christophe Doltovitch was a French singer and actor.
He was born to a famous family, with his father being the renowned pediatrician and psychoanalyst, Françoise Dolto, and his mother being the novelist and essayist, Boris Dolto. Carlos began his career in the 1960s as a singer, popularizing the genre of music known as "yé-yé" in France. He produced many hit songs such as "Papayou", "La Cantine", and "Big Bisous" throughout his career, becoming one of the most well-known and beloved singers of his time in France.
Aside from his career in music, Carlos also acted in several films and television series throughout the years. He made his debut in cinema in 1960 with the film "Les Livreurs" and went on to act in various productions, including "Le grand bazar", "Le Péril Jeune", and "Les Cordier, juge et flic". Carlos was a beloved and influential figure in French entertainment and music scenes until his passing in 2008 at the age of 64.
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Henri Salvador
Henri Salvador (July 18, 1917 Cayenne-February 13, 2008 Paris) also known as Henri, Henry Salvador, Cording, Henry, Henri Gabriel Salvador or H.Salvador was a French singer, actor and comedian. His child is called Jean-Marie Périer.
Henri Salvador was born in Cayenne, French Guiana but moved to France in his adolescence to pursue his passion for music. In the 1930s he began performing as a guitarist and eventually joined the jazz group of Django Reinhardt.
During World War II, Salvador fought for the French Resistance and was captured by the Gestapo, but managed to escape. He later went on to become a popular singer in France, known for his suave crooner style and playful humor.
In addition to his music career, Salvador also worked in film and television, and even served as a judge on the French version of the popular talent show, "The Voice."
He continued performing and recording music until his death in Paris in 2008 at the age of 90. His legacy as one of the most beloved and influential artists in French music continues to live on today.
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Philippe Khorsand
Philippe Khorsand (February 17, 1948 Paris-January 29, 2008 Paris) otherwise known as Monsieur Khorsand, Philippe Teymour or Philippe was a French actor.
He began his acting career in the 1970s and went on to star in a number of popular French films and TV shows. Khorsand was particularly known for his work in comedy and was a regular fixture on French TV, appearing in shows such as "Les Enfants du Rock" and "Palace". He also had a successful stage career, appearing in productions of plays by Molière, Feydeau and other notable playwrights. In addition to his acting work, Khorsand was also a talented musician and singer, performing in a number of musical productions. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 59, leaving behind a legacy as one of France's most beloved comedic actors.
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Farid Chopel
Farid Chopel (December 4, 1952 Paris-April 20, 2008 Paris) was a French comedian, actor and singer.
He was of Algerian Kabyle origin and began his career in the entertainment industry as a mime artist in the early 1970s. Chopel later gained popularity as a television personality with his appearances in French TV shows like "Le Petit Théâtre de Bouvard" and "Champs Élysées".
Aside from his work in comedy, Chopel was also a talented singer and musician. He released several albums in the 1980s and 1990s, and his music blended French and North African influences. In addition to his entertainment career, Chopel was also an activist for immigrant rights and was involved in several political and social causes throughout his life.
Sadly, Chopel passed away in 2008 at the age of 55 as a result of a heart attack. Despite his premature death, he remains a beloved figure in French comedy and music, cherished for his unique talent and contributions to French culture.
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Jacques Morel
Jacques Morel (May 29, 1922 Paris-April 9, 2008 Paris) also known as Jacques Murel or Jacques Houstraete was a French actor and voice actor.
Morel began his career in the 1940s and went on to appear in over 100 films and television shows. He worked with notable directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Louis Malle. Morel is perhaps best known for his role as the French ambassador in the 1972 film The Day of the Jackal.
In addition to his on-screen work, Morel was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to numerous French-language dubbing projects for both film and television. He provided the French voice for actors such as Anthony Hopkins, Peter O'Toole, and Christopher Lee, among others.
Morel was recognized for his contributions to French cinema with several awards throughout his career, including the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit. He passed away at the age of 85 in his hometown of Paris.
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Jean Desailly
Jean Desailly (August 24, 1920 13th arrondissement-June 11, 2008 Paris) was a French actor.
Desailly began his acting career in the 1940s and went on to become a prominent figure in French cinema and theatre. He appeared in over 100 films throughout his career, including "The Soft Skin" (1964) and "A Little Romance" (1979). Desailly also worked in television, starring in the French television series "Les Cinq Dernières Minutes" from 1958 to 1973. In addition to his acting, Desailly was also a respected theatre director and co-founded the Théâtre de la Madeleine in Paris in 1950. Desailly was awarded numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Legion of Honour in 1985.
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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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Henri Labussière
Henri Labussière (March 20, 1921 Villeneuve-Saint-Georges-June 15, 2008 Paris) a.k.a. Henri La Bussière or Labussière was a French actor, voice actor and comedian.
He began his career in the 1940s as a stage actor, but gained prominence in the 1950s through his television and film work. Labussière appeared in more than 100 films, including classics like "Les Quatre Cents Coups," "Le Trou," and "Zazie dans le Métro." He was also a prolific voice actor, providing the French dubbing for such iconic characters as Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone in "The Godfather," and Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Labussière was known for his versatility and ability to move seamlessly between drama and comedy. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including the French Legion of Honor in 2002. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 87.
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Gleb Plaksin
Gleb Plaksin (August 16, 1925 Lyon-November 21, 2008 Moscow) also known as Gleb Vasilyevich Plaksin, G. Plaksin or Gleb Plaxin was a French actor.
Plaksin spent his childhood in France, and during World War II, he fought in the French Resistance against German occupation. After the war, he studied acting at the Moscow Art Theatre and later became a member of the Moscow Art Theatre's company. He appeared in numerous Russian films and TV shows, including the popular series "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed". Plaksin was also a stage actor, and his performances were highly regarded by audiences and critics alike. In addition to his acting career, Plaksin was also a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He passed away in Moscow at the age of 83.
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Michel Modo
Michel Modo (March 30, 1937 Carpentras-September 25, 2008 Vaires-sur-Marne) a.k.a. Michel Henri Louis Goi, Modo or Michael Goi Henri Louis was a French actor, humorist, screenwriter and voice actor.
He was best known for his collaborations with French filmmaker and actor, Louis de Funès, appearing in several of his films including "The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob" and "La Grande Vadrouille". Modo often played supporting comedic roles and was known for his unique voice and eccentric humor. In addition to his work in films, he was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to several animated series and films such as "Asterix and Cleopatra" and "The Jungle Book". Modo passed away at the age of 71 due to a heart attack.
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Alain Renoir
Alain Renoir (October 31, 1921 Cagnes-sur-Mer-December 12, 2008 Esparto) was a French cinematographer, professor, writer and actor.
He was the son of French film director Jean Renoir and nephew of the famous painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Alain began his career in the film industry as an assistant cameraman before eventually becoming a cinematographer himself, working on several notable French films such as Le Testament d'Orphée and Le Combat dans l'île.
In addition to his work behind the camera, Renoir was also a professor of film studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught courses on French cinema. He wrote several books on the subject of film, such as "Renoir, My Father" in which he reflects on his relationship with his famous father Jean Renoir.
Throughout his career, Alain also appeared in a number of films as an actor, most notably in his father's 1937 film "La Grande Illusion" and in Jean-Pierre Melville's 1961 film "Two Men in Manhattan".
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Gérard Lauzier
Gérard Lauzier (November 30, 1932 Marseille-December 6, 2008 Paris) a.k.a. Lauzier was a French screenwriter, film director and actor.
Lauzier started his career in the film industry as a cartoonist and illustrator for magazines such as Hara-Kiri and Pilote. He eventually transitioned to writing and directing films in the 1970s, with his directorial debut being "Plein les poches pas pleins d'argent" (1973).
Throughout his career, Lauzier directed and wrote for numerous successful films, such as "Mon père ce héros" (1991) and "Les Nouvelles Aventures de Lucky Luke" (2007). He was known for his satirical and comedic approach to storytelling, often focusing on the struggles and absurdities of modern life.
In addition to his film work, Lauzier also wrote several graphic novels, including "La Course du Rat" and "Le Sexe faible". Towards the end of his career, he became a professor at the European School of Visual Arts in Angoulême, France.
Lauzier passed away in 2008 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of influential work in both the film and comic industries.
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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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Alain Gottvallès
Alain Gottvallès (March 22, 1942 Casablanca-February 29, 2008) a.k.a. Alain Gottvalles was a French actor.
Gottvallès began his acting career in the 1970s appearing in a number of French films and television series. He is best known for his roles in the films "The Last Metro", "L'Horizon", and "L'Effrontée". His career spanned over three decades and he worked with numerous acclaimed directors including François Truffaut and Bertrand Tavernier. In addition to his acting, Gottvallès was also a writer and director, and he directed several plays for the theatre. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 65 from undisclosed causes.
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