Jean-Pierre Cassel
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Cassel was a French
actor
.
, the son of Louise-Marguerite (née
Fabrègue), an opera singer, and Georges Crochon, a doctor. Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly
as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road. Then Cassel gained prominence in the late 1950s as a hero in comedies by Philippe de Broca
such as Male Companion and through his role as 'Jean François Jardie' in the famous French resistance piece L' Armée des ombres .
During the 1960s and 1970s he worked with Claude Chabrol
(The Breach
), Luis Buñuel
(as Stéphane Audran
's husband in The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
1972), Ken Annakin
(as Frenchman in Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
1965), Gérard Brach
(as Claude Jade
's lover in The Boat on the Grass), Richard Lester
(as Louis XIII of France
– married to Geraldine Chaplin
– in The Three Musketeers
), Sidney Lumet
(as Pierre in Murder on the Orient Express
), Joseph Losey
(with Isabelle Huppert
in The Trout
). He also made a memorable appearance in Oh! What a Lovely War
as a French military officer singing 'Belgium put the Kibosh on the Kaiser'. In later years he appeared in Robert Altman
's Prêt-à-Porter
(1994) and also as Dr. Paul Gachet
for Vincent & Theo
(1990).
In 2006, at the age of 74, he climbed back on stage for a retrospective of Serge Gainsbourg
Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite. This homage to an old friend (he knew Gainsbourg in the 1950s) featured various songs of the famous French composer among which three unpublished songs named "Top à Cassel" – "Cliquediclac", "Ouh ! Là là là là", and "Viva la pizza" – all of which were intended for a television show aired in 1964.
In 2007, Cassel appeared in dual roles (as Père Lucien and the Lourdes souvenir vendor) in Julian Schnabel
's film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
.
He was the father of Vincent Cassel
, Mathias Cassel (also known as Rockin' Squat
, leader of the French rap crew Assassin
) and Cécile Cassel
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Life and career
Cassel was born Jean-Pierre Crochon in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the son of Louise-Marguerite (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Fabrègue), an opera singer, and Georges Crochon, a doctor. Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road. Then Cassel gained prominence in the late 1950s as a hero in comedies by Philippe de Broca
Philippe de Broca
Philippe de Broca was a French film director.Born Philippe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, the son of a photographer of noble origins. de Broca was a cinephile from an early age, and he studied at the l'École technique de photographie et de cinématographie...
such as Male Companion and through his role as 'Jean François Jardie' in the famous French resistance piece L' Armée des ombres .
During the 1960s and 1970s he worked with Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
(The Breach
The Breach (1970 film)
The Breach is a 1970 film written and directed by Claude Chabrol, based on the novel The Balloon Man by Charlotte Armstrong. The film was also known as The Breakup at times in its release in the United States...
), Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
(as Stéphane Audran
Stéphane Audran
Stéphane Audran is a French film and television actress, known for her performances in Oscar winning movies such as Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie and Babette's Feast and in critically acclaimed films like The Big Red One and Violette Nozière .She married...
's husband in The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
-External links:* at Rotten Tomatoes* * Roger Ebert's review of *...
1972), Ken Annakin
Ken Annakin
Kenneth Cooper Annakin, OBE was an English film director.- Biography :Annakin grew up in Beverley, Yorkshire where he attended the local school. He began his career in feature films following an early experience making documentaries. His first filmwork was in 1947 with the Rank Organisation...
(as Frenchman in Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes is a 1965 British comedy film starring Stuart Whitman and directed and co-written by Ken Annakin...
1965), Gérard Brach
Gérard Brach
Gérard Brach was a French screenwriter best known for his collaborations with the film directors Roman Polanski and Jean-Jacques Annaud...
(as Claude Jade
Claude Jade
Claude Marcelle Jorré, better known as Claude Jade , was a French actress, known for starring as Christine in François Truffaut's three films Stolen Kisses , Bed and Board and Love on the Run . Jade acted in theatre, film and television...
's lover in The Boat on the Grass), Richard Lester
Richard Lester
Richard Lester is an American film director based in Britain. Lester is notable for his work with The Beatles in the 1960s and his work on the Superman film series in the 1980s.-Early years and television:...
(as Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
– married to Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Leigh Chaplin is an English-American actress and the daughter of Charlie Chaplin.Chaplin first came to prominence for her Golden Globe-nominated role of Tonya in David Lean's Doctor Zhivago . She received her second Golden Globe nomination for Robert Altman's Nashville...
– in The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (1973 film)
The Three Musketeers is a 1973 film based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. It was directed by Richard Lester and written by George MacDonald Fraser . It was originally proposed in the 1960s as a vehicle for The Beatles, whom Lester had directed in two other films...
), Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director for 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon , Network and The Verdict...
(as Pierre in Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express (1974 film)
Murder on the Orient Express is a 1974 British mystery film directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, and based on the1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.-Overview:...
), Joseph Losey
Joseph Losey
Joseph Walton Losey was an American theater and film director. After studying in Germany with Bertolt Brecht, Losey returned to the United States, eventually making his way to Hollywood...
(with Isabelle Huppert
Isabelle Huppert
Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert is a French actress who has appeared in over 90 film and television productions since 1971. She has had 14 films in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and won the Best Actress Award twice, for Violette Nozière and La pianiste . She is also the most...
in The Trout
The Trout (film)
The Trout is a 1982 French drama film directed by Joseph Losey and starring Isabelle Huppert.-Cast:* Isabelle Huppert - Frédérique* Jean-Pierre Cassel - Rambert* Jeanne Moreau - Lou* Daniel Olbrychski - Saint-Genis* Jacques Spiesser - Galuchat...
). He also made a memorable appearance in Oh! What a Lovely War
Oh! What a Lovely War
Oh! What a Lovely War is a musical film based on the stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War! originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop created in 1963,...
as a French military officer singing 'Belgium put the Kibosh on the Kaiser'. In later years he appeared in Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
's Prêt-à-Porter
Prêt-à-Porter (film)
Prêt-à-Porter is a 1994 American satirical black comedy film co-written, directed, and produced by Robert Altman and shot during the Paris, France, Fashion Week with a host of international stars, models and designers...
(1994) and also as Dr. Paul Gachet
Paul Gachet
Paul-Ferdinand Gachet was a French physician most famous for treating the painter Vincent van Gogh during his last weeks in Auvers-sur-Oise. Gachet was a great supporter of artists and the Impressionist movement...
for Vincent & Theo
Vincent & Theo
Vincent & Theo is a 1990 biographical drama directed by Robert Altman, starring Tim Roth and Paul Rhys. The movie is an exploration of the relationship between Vincent van Gogh and his art dealer brother, Theo....
(1990).
In 2006, at the age of 74, he climbed back on stage for a retrospective of Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite. This homage to an old friend (he knew Gainsbourg in the 1950s) featured various songs of the famous French composer among which three unpublished songs named "Top à Cassel" – "Cliquediclac", "Ouh ! Là là là là", and "Viva la pizza" – all of which were intended for a television show aired in 1964.
In 2007, Cassel appeared in dual roles (as Père Lucien and the Lourdes souvenir vendor) in Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s, Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates....
's film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (film)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a 2007 biographical drama film based on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir of the same name. The film depicts Bauby's life after suffering a massive stroke, on December 8, 1995, at the age of 42, which left him with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. The...
.
He was the father of Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel is a Cesar award winning French actor probably best known to English-speaking audiences through his performances in the Ocean's Trilogy of films and Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.-Personal life:...
, Mathias Cassel (also known as Rockin' Squat
Rockin' Squat
Mathias Crochon, better known as Rockin' Squat, is a French MC . He is the son of the actor Jean-Pierre Cassel and the brother of Vincent Cassel and Cécile Cassel. In the mid-80s, he created the famous rap group Assassin , becoming the first artist of this scene to mention politics and social...
, leader of the French rap crew Assassin
Assassin (rap crew)
Assassin is a French hardcore rap group formed in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris. The group was formed in 1985 by Rockin' Squat and Solo. Later, Doctor L joined them, as well as DJ Clyde...
) and Cécile Cassel
Cécile Cassel
Cécile Cassel or Cécile Crochon is a French actress. She is the half-sister of Vincent Cassel and Mathias Cassel the leader of Rockin' Squat and the daughter of Jean-Pierre Cassel.-Filmography:...
.
Selected filmography
- La Famille AnodinLa Famille AnodinLa Famille Anodin , is a French TV serial, in 8 episodes of 45 minutes, from 1956, on RTF.- Cast :*Alfred Adam*Claude Albers*Blanchette Brunoy*Jean-Pierre Cassel*Colette Castel*Yvonne Clech*Pierre Dac*Louis de Funès*Pierre Destailles...
(1956) - Candide ou l'optimisme au XXe siècleCandide ou l'optimisme au XXe siècleCandide ou l'Optimisme du XXe siècle is a 1960 French comedy drama film directed by Norbert Carbonnaux and written by Carbonnaux and Albert Simonin. It stars Jean-Pierre Cassel as Candide, Pierre Brasseur as Pangloss, Louis de Funès as the officer of the Gestapo, and Daliah Lavi as Cunégonde...
(1960) - Goodbye AgainGoodbye Again (1961 film)Goodbye Again, also known as Aimez-vous Brahms?, is a 1961 Franco-American romantic drama film directed by Anatole Litvak It was produced and from a screenplay by Samuel A. Taylor, based on the novel Aimez-Vous Brahms? by Françoise Sagan. The music score was by Georges Auric with additional music...
(1961) - Napoléon II l'AiglonNapoléon II l'AiglonNapoléon II l'Aiglon is a French drama film from 1961, directed by Claude Boissol, written by Paul Andréota, starring Bernard Verley and Jean Marais. The scenario was based on a novel of André Castelot...
(1961) - The Elusive CorporalThe Elusive CorporalThe Elusive Corporal is a 1962 French film directed by Jean Renoir and starring Jean-Pierre Cassel. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.Renoir shot his film in Austria in 1961 from Jacques Perret's book based on his own prisoner of war experiences...
(1962) - High InfidelityHigh InfidelityHigh Infidelity is a 1964 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, Elio Petri, Franco Rossi and Luciano Salce.-Cast:* Nino Manfredi as Francesco * Fulvia Franco as Raffaella...
(1964) - Is Paris Burning?Is Paris Burning?Is Paris Burning? is a 1966 film dealing with the 1944 liberation of Paris by rival branches of the French Resistance and the Free French Forces.-Plot:...
(1966) - The Killing Game (1967)
- Army of Shadows (1969)
- The BreachThe Breach (1970 film)The Breach is a 1970 film written and directed by Claude Chabrol, based on the novel The Balloon Man by Charlotte Armstrong. The film was also known as The Breakup at times in its release in the United States...
(1970) - Baxter!Baxter!Baxter! is a 1973 British drama film directed by Lionel Jeffries and starring Patricia Neal, Jean-Pierre Cassel and Britt Ekland. A young boy struggles to overcome his speech problem and strained relationship with his parents.-Cast:...
(1973) - Scrambled EggsScrambled Eggs (film)Scrambled Eggs is a 1976 French comedy film directed by Joël Santoni and starring Jean Carmet.-Cast:* Jean Carmet - Marcel Dutilleul* Jean-Claude Brialy - Brumaire* Anna Karina - Clara Dutilleul* Michael Lonsdale - Le Président de la République...
(1976) - The TwistThe Twist (film)The Twist is a 1976 film co-written and directed by Claude Chabrol. Its title in French is Folies bourgeoises .-Plot:...
(1976) - Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? is a 1978 comedy mystery film starring George Segal, Jacqueline Bisset, and Robert Morley. It was based on a novel entitled Someone is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe by Nan and Ivan Lyons...
(1978) - Mister FrostMister FrostMister Frost is a 1990 psychological thriller film starring Jeff Goldblum. The film was directed by French filmmaker Philippe Setbon, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Derry Hall, Brad Lynch and Louise Vincent.-Synopsis:...
(1990) - The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big FishThe Favour, the Watch and the Very Big FishThe Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish is a 1991 comedy, directed by Ben Lewin, starring Bob Hoskins, Jeff Goldblum and Natasha Richardson. The story, set in Paris, follows the fateful meeting of Louis Aubinar with Sybil, who brings into his life her last unfortunate lover, the Pianist...
(1991) - La CérémonieLa CérémonieLa Cérémonie is a 1995 film by Claude Chabrol. It was adapted from the novel A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell.- Plot :La Cérémonie tells the story of an illiterate dyslexic young woman, Sophie Bonhomme , who is hired as a maid by the Lelièvre family. The Lelièvres live in an isolated mansion in...
(1995) - SadeSade (film)Sade is a 2000 French film directed by Benoît Jacquot, adapted by Jacques Fieschi and Bernard Minoret from the novel La terreur dans le boudoir by Serge Bramly.- Plot :...
(2000) - The Diving Bell and the ButterflyThe Diving Bell and the Butterfly (film)The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a 2007 biographical drama film based on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir of the same name. The film depicts Bauby's life after suffering a massive stroke, on December 8, 1995, at the age of 42, which left him with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. The...
(2007)