Jean Rochefort
Encyclopedia
Jean Rochefort is a French
actor, with a career that has spanned over five decades.
Rochefort was born in Paris
, France. He was educated at the Lycée Pierre Corneille
in Rouen He was 19 years old when he entered the Centre d'Art Dramatique de la rue Blanche. Later he joined the Conservatoire National
. After his national service
, in 1953, he worked with the Compagnie Grenier Hussenot as a theatre actor for seven years. There he was noticed for his ability to play both drama
and comedy
. He then became a television and cinema actor. He has also worked as director.
In his 30s during the shooting of Cartouche
, he discovered his passion for horses and equestrianism
. He has been a horse breeder
since then and now owns Le Haras de Villequoy. His passion led him to become a horse consultant for French television in 2004. He has won two César Award
s: In 1976, Best Supporting Actor
for Que la fête commence
; and in 1978, Best Actor
for Le Crabe-tambour
.
He was to play the title character in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
, after being found as "the perfect Quixote" by director Terry Gilliam
. Rochefort learned English just for the part. Unfortunately, amongst other production problems, he began suffering from a herniated disc. Unable to film for months, production was cancelled. A documentary, Lost in La Mancha
, was made about the failed production. With recent news of the film's possible restart, Rochefort has been recast with Robert Duvall
, due to his inability to ride a horse.
In 1960 he married Alexandra Moscwa, with whom he fathered two children: a girl, Marie (1962), and a boy, Julien (1965).
In 2007, he sang with the French band Dionysos a short verse in l'homme sans trucage: « Vas-y, saute, monte, grimpe à ton cœur, sauve-toi, n'aie pas peur, ouvre grand, mon petit, il est temps d'avaler une énorme bouffée d'air frais, andalucia, anda, anda, andalucia... » (Go ahead, jump, climbs to your heart, save yourself, don't be afraid, open wide, my boy, it's time to swallow a huge breath of fresh air, andalucia, anda, anda, andaluci...)
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, with a career that has spanned over five decades.
Rochefort was born in Paris
Paris
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...
, France. He was educated at the Lycée Pierre Corneille
Lycée Pierre Corneille (Rouen)
The Lycée Pierre-Corneille is a school in Rouen, France. It was founded by the Archbishop of Rouen, Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon and run by the Jesuits to educate the children of the aristocracy and bourgeoisie in accordance with the purest doctrinal principles of Roman Catholicism...
in Rouen He was 19 years old when he entered the Centre d'Art Dramatique de la rue Blanche. Later he joined the Conservatoire National
Conservatoire National
Conservatoire National may refer to one of the following:* Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique , a college for acting, theatre and drama in Paris, France...
. After his national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, in 1953, he worked with the Compagnie Grenier Hussenot as a theatre actor for seven years. There he was noticed for his ability to play both drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
and comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
. He then became a television and cinema actor. He has also worked as director.
In his 30s during the shooting of Cartouche
Cartouche (film)
Cartouche is a 1962 French film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale.- Plot :In the 18th century, Louis Dominique Bourguignon is working with Malichot's gang, but their ways are too 'unethical' for him. He hides out from Malichot and joins the army,...
, he discovered his passion for horses and equestrianism
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
. He has been a horse breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
since then and now owns Le Haras de Villequoy. His passion led him to become a horse consultant for French television in 2004. He has won two César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
s: In 1976, Best Supporting Actor
César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
List of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Supporting Actor .-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-References:...
for Que la fête commence
Que la fête commence
Que la fête commence... is a 1975 French film directed by Bertrand Tavernier and starring Philippe Noiret...
; and in 1978, Best Actor
César Award for Best Actor
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor .-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
for Le Crabe-tambour
Le Crabe-tambour
Le Crabe-tambour is a 1977 film directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer based on the novel he published in 1976. The title character played by Jacques Perrin is based on the famous French Navy officer Pierre Guillaume.-Cast:...
.
He was to play the title character in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is a planned feature film by director Terry Gilliam. As documented in Lost in La Mancha, production originally commenced in October 2000, but stopped within a week due to a serious injury to Jean Rochefort, who had been cast for the title role of Don Quixote...
, after being found as "the perfect Quixote" by director Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
. Rochefort learned English just for the part. Unfortunately, amongst other production problems, he began suffering from a herniated disc. Unable to film for months, production was cancelled. A documentary, Lost in La Mancha
Lost in La Mancha
Lost in La Mancha is a documentary film narrated by Jeff Bridges about Terry Gilliam's failed first attempt to make The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, a film adaptation of the novel Don Quixote...
, was made about the failed production. With recent news of the film's possible restart, Rochefort has been recast with Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
, due to his inability to ride a horse.
In 1960 he married Alexandra Moscwa, with whom he fathered two children: a girl, Marie (1962), and a boy, Julien (1965).
In 2007, he sang with the French band Dionysos a short verse in l'homme sans trucage: « Vas-y, saute, monte, grimpe à ton cœur, sauve-toi, n'aie pas peur, ouvre grand, mon petit, il est temps d'avaler une énorme bouffée d'air frais, andalucia, anda, anda, andalucia... » (Go ahead, jump, climbs to your heart, save yourself, don't be afraid, open wide, my boy, it's time to swallow a huge breath of fresh air, andalucia, anda, anda, andaluci...)
Filmography
French title / English title when available (year)- Rencontre à Paris / Meeting in Paris (1942)
- Une balle dans le canon / A Bullet in the Gun Barrel (1958)
- Vingt mille lieues sur la terre / 20,000 Leagues Across the Land (1961)
- Capitaine Fracasse (1961)
- CartoucheCartouche (film)Cartouche is a 1962 French film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale.- Plot :In the 18th century, Louis Dominique Bourguignon is working with Malichot's gang, but their ways are too 'unethical' for him. He hides out from Malichot and joins the army,...
/ Swords of Blood (1962) - Climats / Climates of Love (1962)
- Le Soleil dans l'oeilSun in Your EyesSun in Your Eyes is a 1962 French romance film directed by Jacques Bourdon and starring Anna Karina.-Cast:* Anna Karina - Dagmar* Georges Descrières - Denis* Jacques Perrin - Frédéric* Nadine Alari* Charles Blavette* Jean-Luc Godard* Jean Rochefort...
/ Sun in Your Eyes (1962) - Le Masque de fer / The Iron Mask (1962)
- Fort-du-fou / Outpost in Indo-china (1963)
- Symphonie pour un massacre / Symphony for a Massacre (1963)
- La Porteuse de pain / The Bread Peddler (1963)
- La Foire aux cancres / The Blockhead Fair (1963)
- Du grabuge chez les veuves / Trouble Among Widows (1964)
- Les Pieds nickelés (1964)
- AngéliqueAngélique, Marquise des AngesAngélique, Marquise des Anges is a French film, based on the novel of the same name by Anne and Serge Golon.-Synopsis:In Mid-17th century France: young Louis XIV is struggling for his throne, beggars and thieves haunt Paris and brigands roam the countryside. Fifth child of an impoverished country...
(1964) - Trouble Among Widows (1964)
- Merveilleuse Angélique / Angelique: The Road to Versailles (1965)
- Les Tribulations d'un chinois en Chine / Chinese Adventures in China (1965)
- Angélique et le roy / Angelique and the King (1966)
- Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo? / Who Are You, Polly Magoo? (1966)
- Le Facteur s'en va-t-en guerre / The Postman Goes to War (1966)
- À coeur joie / Two Weeks in September (1967)
- Ne jouez pas avec les MartiensNe jouez pas avec les MartiensNe jouez pas avec les Martiens is a 1968 comedy film starring Jean Rochefort and Macha Méril...
/ Don't Play with Martians (1967) - Le Diable par la queue / The Devil by the Tail (1969)
- Le Temps de mourirThe Time to DieThe Time to Die is a 1970 French crime film directed by André Farwagi and starring Anna Karina. It was entered into the 20th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Anna Karina - La jeune fille* Bruno Cremer - Max Topfer...
/ The Time to Die (1970) - La Liberté en croupe (1970)
- Céleste (1970)
- Le Grand blond avec une chaussure noire / The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (1972)
- L'Oeuf / The Egg (1972)
- Hearth Fires (Les Feux de la chandeleur) (1972)
- L'Héritier / The Inheritor (1973)
- Bel ordure / Lovely Swine (1973)
- Le Complot / The Conspiracy (1973)
- Salut l'artisteHail the Artist-Cast:* Marcello Mastroianni - Nicolas* Françoise Fabian - Peggy* Jean Rochefort - Clément* Evelyne Buyle - Bérénice* Henri-Jacques Huet - Le metteur en scène au bord de l'eau* Lise Delamare - Lady Rosemond* Sylvie Joly - La femme du photographe...
/ Hail The Artist (1973) - L'Homme aux nerfs d'acier / Escape from Death Row (1973)
- L'Horloger de Saint-Paul / The Clockmaker of St. Paul (1974)
- Comment réussir quand on est con et pleurnichardComment réussir quand on est con et pleurnichardComment réussir quand on est con et pleurnichard is a French comedy film directed by Michel Audiard, released in 1974....
/ How to Make Good When One Is a Jerk and a Crybaby (1974) - Le fantôme de la libertéLe fantôme de la libertéThe Phantom of Liberty is a 1974 film by Luis Buñuel, produced by Serge Silberman and starring Adriana Asti, Julien Bertheau and Jean-Claude Brialy.-Plot:...
/ The Phantom of Liberty (1974) - Retour du grand blond / The Return of the Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (1974)
- Que la fête commence... / Let Joy Reign Supreme (1974)
- Les innocents aux mains sales aka Innocents with Dirty HandsInnocents with Dirty HandsInnocents with Dirty Hands aka Dirty Hands. is a 1975 film written and directed by Claude Chabrol. Its title in French is Les innocents aux mains sales. The film was based on the novel The Damned Innocents by Richard Neely...
(1975) - Un divorce heureux / A Happy Divorce (1975)
- Isabelle devant le désir / Isabelle and Lust (1975)
- Les vécés étaient fermés de l'interieur (1976) by Patrice LecontePatrice LecontePatrice Leconte is a French film director, actor, comic strip writer, and screenwriter.-Biography:...
- CalmosCalmosCalmos is a 1976 French film directed by Bertrand Blier.-Plot:Two men, fortyish, worn out by their wives, abandon everything to go and live in the back of beyond. There they meet a truculent priest, a boozer, Émile who recalls them to life's simple pleasures. Calm, that's what they want...
/ Cool, Calm and Collected (1976) - Les Magiciens / Death RiteDeath Rite-Plot:At a luxury hotel in Djerba, Tunisia, psychic magician Vestar meets the dark Edouard . Heading to the hotel, Vestar has a vision of a woman being murdered in the desert. Edouard, a member of the leisure class, decides to use his influence to make the dream become a reality...
(1976) - Un éléphant ça trompe énormément / An Elephant Can Be Extremely Deceptive (1976)
- Nous irons tous au paradisNous irons tous au paradisNous irons tous au paradis is a French film, directed by Yves Robert, released in 1977.The film is the immediate continuation of Un éléphant ça trompe énormément, released the previous year.- Synopsis :...
/ We Will All Meet in Paradise (1977) - Le Crabe-tambourLe Crabe-tambourLe Crabe-tambour is a 1977 film directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer based on the novel he published in 1976. The title character played by Jacques Perrin is based on the famous French Navy officer Pierre Guillaume.-Cast:...
/ Drummer-Crab (1977) - Le Diable dans la boîte / The Devil in the Box (1977)
- La Grande Cuisine / 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) - Le Cavaleur / Practice Makes Perfect (1979)
- Grandison (1979)
- Courage fuyons / Courage - Let's Run (1979)
- French Postcards (1979)
- Chère inconnue (1980)
- Je hais les blondes / I Hate Blondes (1980)
- Un étrange voyageUn étrange voyageUn étrange voyage is a 1981 French film directed by Alain Cavalier, starring Jean Rochefort and writer/filmmaker Camille de Casabianca. The film won the Prix Louis Delluc award.-Plot summary:...
(1981) - Il faut tuer Birgit Haas / Birgit Haas Must Be Killed (1981)
- L'Indiscrétion (1982)
- Le Grand frère / The Big Brother (1982)
- L'Honneur d'un capitaine / A Captain's Honor (1982)
- Un dimanche de flic / A Cops' Sunday (1983)
- L'Ami de Vincent / A Friend of Vincent (1983)
- Frankenstein 90 (1984)
- Réveillon chez Bob (1984)
- David, Thomas et les autres / A Volley for a Black Buffalo (1985)
- La Galette du roi (1986)
- Tandem (1987) by Patrice LecontePatrice LecontePatrice Leconte is a French film director, actor, comic strip writer, and screenwriter.-Biography:...
- Le Moustachu / The Field Agent (1987)
- Je suis le seigneur du châteauJe suis le seigneur du châteauJe suis le seigneur du château is a 1989 French motion picture, directed by Régis Wargnier, loosely based on the novel I'm the King of the Castle by the English writer Susan Hill.-Plot:...
/ I'm the King of the Castle (1989) - The Hairdresser's Husband (1990) by Patrice LecontePatrice LecontePatrice Leconte is a French film director, actor, comic strip writer, and screenwriter.-Biography:...
- Le Château de ma mère / My Mother's Castle (1990)
- Amoureux fou / Madly in Love (1991)
- Le Bal des casse-pieds (1992)
- Le Visionarium / The Timekeeper (1992)
- L'Atlantide (1992)
- Tango (1993) by Patrice LecontePatrice LecontePatrice Leconte is a French film director, actor, comic strip writer, and screenwriter.-Biography:...
- Cible émouvante / Wild Target (1993)
- Tombés du cielTombés du cielTombés du ciel is a 1994 French film directed by Philippe Lioret. Tombés du ciel won the Grand Prize at the 6th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival held in February 1995.-Cast and roles:...
/ Lost in Transit (1993) - Et ensuite, le feu / Next Time the Fire (1994)
- Ready to Wear (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) - Tom est tout seul (1995)
- Même heure, l'année prochaine / Once a Year, Every Year (1995)
- Palace (1996)
- Les Grands ducs (1996) by Patrice Leconte
- RidiculeRidiculeRidicule is a 1996 French film set in the 18th century at the decadent court of Versailles, where social status can rise and fall based on one's ability to mete out witty insults and avoid ridicule oneself...
(1996) by Patrice Leconte - Never Ever (1996)
- Barracuda (1997)
- Le Serpent a mangé la grenouille (1998)
- Le Vent en emporte autant / Wind with the Gone (1998)
- Rembrandt (1999)
- Le PlacardThe ClosetThe Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
(2001) - Honolulu Baby (2001)
- La Vie sans secret de Walter Nions (2001)
- L'homme du trainL'homme du trainL'homme du train is a 2002 French crime-drama film directed by Patrice Leconte, starring Jean Rochefort and Johnny Hallyday...
(The Man on the Train) (aka Man on the Train in the USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) (2002) by Patrice Leconte - Blanche (2002)
- Lost in La ManchaLost in La ManchaLost in La Mancha is a documentary film narrated by Jeff Bridges about Terry Gilliam's failed first attempt to make The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, a film adaptation of the novel Don Quixote...
(2002) - Fanfan la tulipe (2003)
- Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003)
- Les Clefs de bagnole / The Car Keys (2003)
- RRRrrrr!!!RRRrrrr!!!RRRrrrr!!! is a 2004 French comedy film set in 35,000 BC. It features two tribes, the Clean Hairs and the Dirty Hairs, who have been battling for control of shampoo for 800 years. The Dirty Hairs concocts a plan to steal the secret of shampoo, sending someone to infiltrate the enemy...
(2004) - Les DaltonLes DaltonLes Dalton is a 2004 French Western comedy film directed by Philippe Haïm. It was inspired by the characters The Daltons in the comic Lucky Luke. It was filmed in France, Germany, and Spain. It was released 8 December 2004....
/ The Daltons (2004) - Désaccord parfait (2006)
- Tell No OneTell No OneTell No One is a 2006 French thriller film directed by Guillaume Canet and based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It was written by Guillame Canet and Philippe Lefèbvre and stars François Cluzet...
- (2006) - Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)
- id - Identity of the SoulId identity of the soulid - Identity of the Soul is a work of performance art produced byMartine Rød and directed by Thomas Hoegh. The first version of this work, Terje, was performed in Yokohama, Japan in 2006 with Paal Ritter Schjerven as Co-Director and Director of Cinematography.and the latest version premiered in...
(2008) - Agathe CléryAgathe CléryAgathe Cléry is a French film released in 2008. Directed and co-written by Etienne Chatiliez, with co-writer Laurent Chouchan, this caustic musical is his sixth film.-Cast:* Valérie Lemercier - Agathe Cléry* Anthony Kavanagh - Quentin Lambert...
(2008)