Most famous French film actors – Part I

• Gérard Depardieu (born on 27th December, 1948)

Depardieu is one of France’s most prominent actors. He won a number of honors including a nomination for an Academy Award for the title role in “Cyrano de Bergerac” and the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in “Green Card”.
Depardieu spent more time in the street than in the classroom and left school at 13. At the age of 16, Depardieu left Châteauroux for Paris. There, he started acting under Jean-Laurent Cochet, and went on to become one of famous French actors. In 1986, his fame grew as a result of his performance as a doomed, hunchbacked farmer in the film “Jean de Florette”. Five years later he won a César for his starring role in “Cyrano de Bergerac”. More recently, he played the role of Obélix in the three Astérix movies.
Awards:
* 1981: César Award for Best Actor for his role in The Last Metro (Le dernier métro)
* 1985: Venice Film Festival: Award for Best Actor for his role in Police
* 1990: Cannes Film Festival: Award for famous French actors for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac
* 1991: César Award for Best Actor for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac
* 1991: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Green Card
* 1997: Venice Film Festival: Golden Lion Honorary Award for career achievement
* 2006: Moscow International Film Festival: Stanislavsky Award for the outstanding achievement in the career of acting.
Filmography:
* Maîtresse (1973)
* Au rendez-vous de la mort joyeuse (1973)
* Les valseuses (Going Places) (1974)
* Sept morts sur ordonnance (1975)
* Je t’aime… moi non plus (1976)
* 1900 (1976)
* La Dernière femme (1976)
* Dites-lui que je l’aime (1977)
* Préparez vos mouchoirs (Get Out Your Handkerchiefs) (1978)
* Rêve de singe (Bye Bye Monkey) (1978)
* Le Sucre (1978)
* Buffet froid (1979)
* Mon oncle d’Amérique (My American Uncle) (1980)
* Loulou (1980)
* Le Dernier métro (The Last Metro) (1980)
* La Femme d’à côté (The Woman Next Door) (1981)
* La Chèvre (1981)
* Le Retour de Martin Guerre (The Return of Martin Guerre) (1982)
* Danton (1983)
* Les Compères (1983)
* Fort Saganne (1984)
* Tartuffe (1984)
* Police (1985)
* Une femme ou deux (1985)
* Tenue de soirée (1986)
* Les Fugitives (1986)
* Jean de Florette (1986)
* Manon des Sources (1986)
* Sous le soleil de Satan (Under the Sun of Satan) (1987)
* Drôle d’endroit pour une rencontre (1988)
* Camille Claudel (1988)
* Le choix des armes (1989)
* Trop belle pour toi (1989) by Alain Corneau
* Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
* Uranus (1990)
* Green Card (1990)
* Mon père, ce héros (1991)
* Tous les matins du monde (1991)
* Merci la vie (1991)
* 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) by Ridley Scott
* Le Visionarium (1992)
* Germinal (1993)
* Le Colonel Chabert (1994)
* My Father the Hero (1994)
* A Pure Formality (1994)
* Élisa (1995)
* Les Anges gardiens (Guardian Angels) (1995)
* Unhook the Stars (1996)
* Hamlet (1996)
* Bogus (1996)
* The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
* The Count of Monte Cristo (1998) (TV)
* Asterix & Obelix vs Caesar (1999)
* Vatel (2000)
* Tutto l’amore che c’è (2000)
* Zavist’ bogov (Gods Envy) (2000) (Russian movie directed by V. Menshov)
* Les Misérables (2000) (TV) (co-produced by Depardieu)
* 102 Dalmatians (2000)
* Le Placard (The Closet) (2001)
* CQ (2001)
* Vidocq (2001)
* Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002)
* Napoléon (2002) (TV)
* I Am Dina (2002)
* City of Ghosts (2002)
* A Loving Father (2002)
* Le Pacte Du Silence (2003)
* Crime Spree (2003)

* Bon voyage (2003)
* Nathalie… (2003)
* Tais-toi! (2003)
* 36 Quai des Orfèvres (2004)
* RRRrrrr!!! (2004)
* Olé! (2005) with Gad Elmaleh
* Last Holiday (2006)
* Quand j’étais chanteur (2006)
* Paris, je t’aime (2007)
* La Vie en Rose (La Môme) (2007)
* Michou d’Auber (2007)
* L’abbuffata (2007)
* Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008)
* Disco (2008)
* Babylon A.D. (2008)
A few film extracts:

Jean de Florette: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF3vhPorxc8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB-NsyIFfpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpcEoGpT8Qg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQSe9heAdGs

La chèvre : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ur_M2q_gvk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzGq74wcyko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whi3opbbTwM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duuLn3JHrY4

• Jean-Paul Belmondo (born on 9th April, 1933)

Belmondo is a French actor initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s.
Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of Paris, Belmondo did not perform well in school, but developed a passion for boxing and football.
His breakthrough role was in Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless (1960), which made him a major figure in the French New Wave. Later he acted in Jean-Pierre Melville’s philosophical movie Leon Morin, Priest (1960) and in Melville’s Film Noir crime film The Fingerman (Le Doulos, 1963) and Godard again with Pierrot le fou. With That Man From Rio (1965) he switched to commercial, mainstream productions, mainly comedies and action films. Until the mid-1980s, when he ceased to be one of France’s biggest box-office stars, Belmondo’s typical characters were either dashing adventurers or more cynical heroes. As he grew older, Belmondo preferred concentrating on his stage work, where he encountered success. He suffered a stroke in 2001 and has since been absent from the stage and the screen.
Filmography:
* Molihre (1956)
* On Foot, on Horse, and on Wheels (1957)
* Les Copains du dimanche (1958)
* Sois belle et tais-toi (1958)
* Sunday Encounter (1958)
* Les Tricheurs (1958)
* Ein Engel auf Erden (1959)
* Les trois mousquetaire (1959)
* À double tour (1959)
* Breathless (1960)
* The Big Risk (1960)
* Moderato Cantabile (1960)
* Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) (segment “L’Adultère”)
* Trapped by Fear (1960)
* Charlotte et son Jules (1960)
* Rita (1960)
* Two Women (1960)
* The Lovemakers (1961)
* A Woman Is a Woman (1961)
* Leon Morin, Priest (1961)
* Famous Love Affairs (1961) (segment “Lauzun”)
* Un nommi La Rocca (1961)
* Cartouche (1962)
* Un singe en hiver (1962)
* Le Doulos (1962)
* Beach Casanova (1962) (uncredited)
* The Shortest Day (1962)
* Banana Peel (1963)
* L’Ainé des Ferchaux (1963)
* Dragées au poivre (1963)
* Mare matto (1963)
* That Man from Rio (1964)
* Cent mille dollars au soleil (1964)
* Backfire (1964)
* La Chasse à l’homme (1964)
* Weekend at Dunkirk (1964)
* Crime on a Summer Morning (1965)
* Pierrot le fou (1965)
* Chinese Adventures in China (1965)
* Is Paris Burning? (1966)
* Tender Scoundrel (1966)
* The Thief of Paris (1967)
* Casino Royale (1967)
* Ho! (1968)
* The Brain (1969)
* Mississippi Mermaid (1969)
* Un homme qui me plaît (1969)
* Dieu a choisi Paris (1969)
* Borsalino (film) (1970)
* The Burglars (1971)
* Les Mariés de l’an II (1971)
* Docteur Popaul (1972)
* La Scoumoune (1972)
* L’Héritier (1973)
* Le Magnifique (1973)
* Stavisky (1974)
* Peur sur la ville (1975)
* L’Incorrigible (1975)
* Hunter Will Get You (1976)
* Body of My Enemy (1976)
* L’Animal (1977)
* Cop or Hood (1979)
* Le Guignolo (1980)
* The Professional (1981)
* L’As des as (1982)
* Danton (1983)
* The Outsider (1983)
* Les Morfalous (1984)
* Happy Easter (1984)
* Rufianes Y Tramposos (1984)
* Hold-Up (1985)
* The Loner (1987)
* Itinéraire d’un enfant gâté (1988)
* Stranger in the House (1992)
* Les Cent et une nuits de Simon Cinima (1995)
* Les Misérables (1995)
* Désiré (1996)
* Half a Chance (1998)
* Peut-être (1999)
* Actors (2000)
* Amazon (2000)
* Un homme et son chien (2009) post-production
A few extracts from the movie “Le Marginal trailer”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLejv4CCli8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMhQLw3XJc

• Christian Clavier (born on 6th May, 1952 in Paris)

Clavier started his acting career with the theatre troupe “Splendid” and participated in a number of burlesque films, which became hits with films such as “Les Bronzés font du ski” and “Le Père Noël est une ordure“.
His most notable success without the Splendid group, and by far his biggest hit to date, was in the 1993 film “Les Visiteurs”, in which he played a character known as Jacquouille la fripouille.
After “Les Visiteurs” he was a certified star, participating in big-budget films like “Astérix et Obélix contre César”, “Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre”, and the sequel and remake of Visiteurs. He also played several dramatic roles on television, including Mr. Thénardier in “Les Misérables” (2000 television version) and “Napoléon” in a biographical television film.
Clavier has played in notable duos with:
• Jean Reno in Les Visiteurs (the Visitors), L’Opération Corned-Beef and L’Enquête corse (The Corsica investigation).
• Gérard Depardieu in Astérix et Obélix (Asterix and Obelix).
He also runs a production company, Ouille Production.
Filmography:
• 1973 : L’An 01
• 1974 : Que la fête commence
• 1975 : C’est pas parce qu’on a rien à dire qu’il faut fermer sa gueule (not credited)
• 1975 : Le Bol d’air
• 1976 : Attention les yeux !
• 1976 : F… comme Fairbanks
• 1977 : Des enfants gâtés
• 1977 : L’Amour en herbe
• 1977 : Dites-lui que je l’aime
• 1977 : Vous n’aurez pas l’Alsace et la Lorraine
• 1977 : Le Diable dans la boîte
• 1978 : La Tortue sur le dos
• 1978 : Les Bronzés
• 1979 : Les héros n’ont pas froid aux oreilles
• 1979 : Les Bronzés font du ski
• 1980 : Cocktail Molotov
• 1980 : Je vais craquer !!!
• 1981 : Clara et les Chics Types
• 1981 : Les Babas Cool
• 1982 : Elle voit des nains partout !
• 1982 : Le Père Noël est une ordure
• 1982 : Merci Bernard (TV serial)
• 1983 : Rock ‘n Torah
• 1983 : Papy fait de la résistance
• 1985 : L’Été 36 (TV serial)
• 1986 : Twist again à Moscou
• 1987 : La Vie dissolue de Gérard Floque
• 1988 : Sueurs froides (TV serial 1988)
• 1988 : Palace ou Ça c’est palace (TV serial)
• 1989 : Les Cigognes n’en font qu’à leur tête
• 1989 : Fantômes sur l’oreiller (TV serial)
• 1989 : Mieux vaut courir (TV serial)
• 1989 : Mes meilleurs copains
• 1990 : Les gens ne sont pas forcément ignobles (TV serial)
• 1991 : L’Opération Corned-Beef
• 1991 : Les Secrets professionels du Dr. Apfelglück
• 1993 : Les Visiteurs
• 1993 : La Soif de l’or
• 1994 : La Vengeance d’une blonde
• 1994 : Grosse fatigue
• 1995 : Les Anges gardiens
• 1997 : Les Sœurs Soleil
• 1998 : Les Couloirs du temps : Les visiteurs 2
• 1999 : Astérix et Obélix contre César
• 2000 : Les Misérables (TV serial)
• 2001 : Les Visiteurs en Amérique (Just Visiting)
• 2002 : Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre
• 2002 : Napoléon
• 2003 : Lovely Rita, sainte patronne des cas désespérés
• 2004 : Albert est méchant
• 2004 : L’Enquête corse
• 2005 : L’Antidote
• 2006 : Les Bronzés 3, Amis pour la vie
• 2007 : L’Auberge rouge
Producer:
• Les Visiteurs 2 : Les Couloirs du temps (1998)
• Les Visiteurs en Amérique (2001)
• Le Cœur sur la main (2001)
• Lovely Rita, sainte patronne des cas désespérés (2003)

A few extracts from the film “Les bronzés font du ski”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujgyGlT18AE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL0Zh-fpRts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq2wtFWbJLc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXvzYtez6ds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-a52UqZAwk

• Thierry Lhermitte (born on 24th November, 1952)

Thierry Lhermitte is famous French actors, famous for his roles as a comedian. He was one of the founders of the comedy troupe “Le Splendid” in the 1970s, along with, among others, his high-school friends Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot and Michel Blanc. That group adapted a number of its stage hits for the cinema, and scored major successes with films such as “Les Bronzés” (1978), “Les Bronzés font du ski” (1979) and “Le Père Noël est une ordure” (1982).
He has also had a successful career away from Le Splendid, particularly with the films “Les Ripoux” (1984), “La Totale” (1990; remade as True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Lhermitte’s role) and “Le Dîner de cons” (1998, with Jacques Villeret), among many others.
Filmography:
* 1973 : L’An 01 by Jacques Doillon
* 1975 : Que la fête commence by Bertrand Tavernier
* 1977 : Vous n’aurez pas l’Alsace et la Lorraine by Coluche
* 1978 : Le Dernier Amant romantique
* 1978 : Les Bronzés by Patrice Leconte
* 1978 : Les héros n’ont pas froid aux oreilles
* 1979 : Les Bronzés font du ski by Patrice Leconte
* 1980 : Alors heureux ?
* 1981 : Clara et les chics types with Isabelle Adjani
* 1981 : L’année prochaine… si tout va bien with Isabelle Adjani
* 1981 : Les hommes préfèrent les grosses
* 1982 : Elle voit des nains partout
* 1982 : Légitime Violence
* 1982 : Le Père Noël est une ordure
* 1983 : La Femme de mon pote by Bertrand Blier
* 1983 : La Fiancée qui venait du froid
* 1983 : Stella
* 1984 : Les Ripoux
* 1984 : Until September
* 1985 : Le Mariage du siècle
* 1985 : Les Rois du gag
* 1986 : Nuit d’ivresse
* 1990 : Les 1001 Nuits by Philippe de Broca
* 1990 : La Fête des pères
* 1990 : Promotion canapé
* 1990 : Ripoux contre ripoux
* 1991 : Les Secrets professionnels du Dr Apfelglück
* 1991 : La Totale ! by Claude Zidi
* 1992 : Le Zèbre by Jean Poiret
* 1993 : Tango by Patrice Leconte
* 1994 : Un indien dans la ville
* 1995 : Tous les jours dimanche
* 1996 : Fallait pas !…
* 1997 : Marquise with Sophie Marceau
* 1997 : Quatre garçons plein d’avenir
* 1998 : Le Dîner de cons by Francis Veber
* 2000 : Meilleur Espoir féminin by Gérard Jugnot
* 2000 : Le Prince du pacifique
* 2000 : Le Prof
* 2001 : And now… Ladies and Gentlemen by Claude Lelouch
* 2001 : La Bande du drugstore
* 2001 : Le Placard
* 2001 : Le Roman de Lulu
* 2001 : Une affaire privée
* 2002 : Le Divorce by James Ivory
* 2002 : Effroyables Jardins
* 2002 : Snowboarder
* 2003 : Cette femme-là
* 2003 : Mauvais Esprit
* 2003 : Ripoux 3
* 2004 : L’Américain
* 2004 : Qui perd gagne !
* 2005 : L’Ex-femme de ma vie
* 2005 : L’Antidote
* 2005 : Foon
* 2006 : Les Bronzés 3 – Amis pour la vie – by Patrice Leconte
* 2006 : Incontrôlable by Raffy Shart
* 2006 : Comme tout le monde

A few extracts from the movie “Les bronzés font du ski”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmHJM0IcU_8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-a52UqZAwk

“Le dîner de cons” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1JdnlrZSk8

• Gérard Jugnot (born on 4th May, 1951 in Paris)

Jugnot is a French actor, film director, screenwriter and producer.
He was one of the founders of the comedy troupe “Le Splendid” in the 1970s, along with his high-school friends Christian Clavier, Thierry Lhermitte, and Michel Blanc. That group adapted a number of its stage hits for the cinema, and scored major successes with films such as “Les Bronzés” (1978), “Les Bronzés font du ski” (1979) and “Le Père Noël est une ordure” (1982).
He gained international fame for his leading role in “Les Choristes” in which he played Clément Mathieu. He’s directing two movies in 2008-2009: “Faubourg 36″ and “Rose et Noir”.