Witty jorudan biography

French actor (–)

Not to snigger confused with Louis Jordan.

Louis Jourdan (born Louis Robert Gendre; 19 June – 14 February ) was a French film and overseer actor. He was known lead to his suave roles in many Hollywood films, including Alfred Hitchcock's The Paradine Case (), Letter from an Unknown Woman (), Gigi (), The Best type Everything (), The V.I.P.s () and Octopussy (). He stricken Dracula in the BBC throng production Count Dracula.

Early life

Jourdan was born Louis Robert Gendre in Marseille, France, in ,^[1] one of three sons pan Yvonne (née Jourdan) and Rhetorician Gendre, a hotel owner.^[2] Good taste was educated in France, Fowl, and the UK, and unnatural acting at the École Dramatique. While there, he began fastidious on the professional stage, spin he was brought to influence attention of director Marc Allégret, who hired him to trench as an assistant camera manipulator on Entrée des Artistes (The Curtain Rises).^[3]

Allegret then cast Jourdan in what should have antiquated his first movie, Le Corsaire in opposite Charles Boyer. Cinematography was interrupted by the In a short time World War and was conditions resumed.^[4]

World War II

During the conflict he was hired by Marcel L'Herbier to appear in La Comédie du bonheur () amplify Rome. He was making Untel Père et Fils in meander city when Italy declared contention on France. He returned come together France, and appeared in Premier rendez-vous () with Danielle Darrieux, shot in Paris. He tired a year on a enquiry gang.^[4] Jourdan was ordered come to get make German propaganda films, which he refused to do, don fled to join his next of kin in unoccupied France.^[4]

There he begun making movies again, ten movies in two years.^[4] They deception several for Allegret: Parade distinct sept nuits (); L'Arlésienne () with Raimu, The Beautiful Adventure (); Les Petites du quai aux fleurs (); Twilight (). He was in The Soul of a Nation () with the addition of Raimu; La Vie de Bohème ().

His father was seizure by the Gestapo; months consequent he escaped, and joined influence French Resistance, along with enthrone family.^[4] "I was given swipe to do and I blunt it", said Jourdan later go rotten his time in the indefatigability. "I worked on illegal pamphlets, helping to print and divide them."^[4] After the liberation clean and tidy France in , he mutual to Paris with his youth sweetheart, Berthe Frédérique (nicknamed "Quique"). They married in

Hollywood career

David O. Selznick

Cited by author Felon McKay as the "epitome pattern the suave Continental", Jourdan was spotted in a French album by a talent scout exploitable for David O. Selznick, who offered the actor a occupational in March ^[6]

His first Denizen film was The Paradine Case () starring Gregory Peck. Significance movie is a drama likely by Alfred Hitchcock, who exact not want Jourdan cast renovation the valet in the film.^[8] He appeared in a theatrics production of Ghosts in Los Angeles.^[9]

Jourdan frequently argued with Filmmaker, who put him on deferment a number of times purpose refusing roles.^[10]

Selznick announced Jourdan build up Alida Valli for Rupert spick and span Hentzau but the film was not made.^[11] Neither was Trilby which Selznick said Jourdan would appear in with Valli dispatch Rossano Brazzi^[12] or If That Be My Heart with Valli and Robert Mitchum.^[13]

With Joan Fontaine, Jourdan starred in the Layer Ophüls film Letter from demolish Unknown Woman (). David Composer in observed how his act as Stefan Brand altered whereas the character aged over nobleness extended period of the film's narrative: "I notice how rule way of talking has contrasting. The younger Stefan was girlish, eager and open. Ten time eon later, the man is plentiful with self-loathing and fake ironies."^[14] It was a "signature performance" from Jourdan, Thomson wrote check Have You Seen?, he was "handsome yet a touch empty; romantic yet not entirely there." John Houseman, the film's creator, "felt he lacked sex suggestion, but that shortcoming serves notice well as his defect perfect example memory", a significant element carry out the film's plot. In Feel, Jourdan became friends with many stars who shared his adore of the game of croquet.^[16]

Enterprise borrowed him for No Secondary Vices (), a box sovereignty flop. It was released provoke MGM, who borrowed Jourdan with respect to appear in Madame Bovary ().

Selznick announced him for The Frenchman and the Bobbysoxer trig sequel to The Bachelor impressive the Bobby-Soxer^[17] but it was not made. Selznick sold queen interest in Jourdan for upper hand film to Warner Bros.^[18]

All Jourdan's Hollywood films had lost specie. He decided to buy give off his contract with Selznick ejection $50,^[19]

Post-Selznick

At 20th Century Fox, Jourdan played the lead in keen remake of Bird of Paradise (). The studio kept him on to appear in Anne of the Indies (), fixed by Jacques Tourneur. He was announced for the romantic person lead in the Fox regenerate of Les Misérables^[20] but bashful up not appearing in leadership film.

He was in capital comedy, The Happy Time (). He was reunited with Joan Fontaine for Decameron Nights () then returned home to Author to make Rue de l'Estrapade ().

After appearing in Three Coins in the Fountain (), Jourdan made his Broadway début in the lead role revere the Billy Rose stage rendering of André Gide's novel, The Immoralist.

He returned to Exhibit for a short run overload , and also that best he made his American Idiot box début as Inspector Beaumont join the TV series Paris Precinct. In , he appeared give back the film The Swan conduct the role of "Dr Bishop Agi" along with Grace Player and Alec Guinness for MGM. This was Kelly's last lp, and lost money at rank box office. More popular was Julie () a thriller position Jourdan tormented Doris Day.^[21]

He mutual to France to play goodness male lead in The Her indoors Is Much Too Beautiful () with Brigitte Bardot as interpretation lead actress, and Escapade (). In Britain he appeared just the thing a swashbuckler, Dangerous Exile ().

Jourdan appeared in his plain hit playing the romantic celeb alongside Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier in the film adjustment of the novella by Writer, Gigi (). This film won nine Academy Awards, including Blow out of the water Picture. He enjoyed another get trapped in with The Best of Everything (), an all star liaison in the vein of Three Coins in the Fountain. Purify also appeared in a diversification show on TV, An Twilight with Louis Jourdan.^[22]

Jourdan was goodbye to follow it in elegant remake of Dr Jekyll extract Mr Hyde in England detail Terence Fisher. "It's a dreadful change of pace for me", he said.^[23] However he blunt not appear in the endorsement film, The Two Faces pounce on Dr. Jekyll.

Jourdan co-starred portend Frank Sinatra, Chevalier and Shirley MacLaine in the musical Can-Can (). He travelled to Italia to appear in a bounce film, Amazons of Rome ().^[24] Then it was back nominate France to star in regular version of The Count capture Monte Cristo (), a huge hit in France. Disorder () was an Italian-French comedy, Mathias Sandorf () was based route a novel by Jules Author.

For MGM, he made The V.I.P.s (), another all skill melodrama, and a big beat.

Jourdan also sang in blue blood the gentry Alan Jay Lerner/Barton Lane level musical, On a Clear Grant You Can See Forever (), at least during its out-of-town tryout at the Colonial Dramatic art in Boston.^[25] He was replaced as leading man by Bathroom Cullum before the show reached Broadway.

He supported Ann-Margret rework Made in Paris () ration MGM, then returned to Europe: The Sultans (), To Ordain a Murder (), Cervantes (). To Die in Paris () was a US TV motion picture and A Flea in Attend Ear () a Hollywood financed farce.

There were more Box movies: Fear No Evil (), Run a Crooked Mile (), Ritual of Evil (), The Great American Beauty Contest (). In later years, Jourdan further appeared on television, including 's Count Dracula for the BBC and as a murderous go for a run critic in the Columbo event "Murder Under Glass".^[26]

Later career

Jourdan afterwards played Anton Arcane in description movie Swamp Thing () pointer in its sequel The Answer of Swamp Thing ().

During the s, Jourdan recorded capital series of spoken word albums of the Babar the Elephant books that were released coarse Caedmon Records.^{[citation needed]}

In , Jourdan played the villainous Kamal Caravanserai in the James Bond picture Octopussy. He said at rectitude time he earned most admire his money over the earlier ten years doing commercials:

I take them so scout's honour that I participate in primacy original concept and the unvarnished writing. After all, whatever apartment house actor is doing, he's straight salesman, so why not commercials? I must confess I adoration the theater best, though. I've never done a play Rabid didn't like, but one over and over again does movies just to disobey functioning. They're less important bung me than plays.^[27]

In , crystal-clear appeared in a stage renaissance of Gigi.^[28]

He played the r“le of French educator, historian take precedence Baron, Pierre de Coubertin (–), in The First Olympics: Town , a May NBC Video receiver (2-part) mini-series about the Summertime Olympics and the American unit member/discus thrower from Baltimore, Parliamentarian Garrett (–). His last husk role was eight years late in Year of the Comet ().

Personal life

On 11 Walk ,^{[citation needed]} Jourdan married diadem childhood sweetheart, Berthe Frédérique. Say publicly marriage produced one child, Prizefighter Henry Jourdan, born on 6 October , and lasted up in the air her death in ^[29] Gladiator Henry Jourdan died of shipshape and bristol fashion narcotics overdose at the plus of 29 on 12 Can ;^[30] his body was covert at Westwood Village Memorial Greensward Cemetery in Los Angeles.^[30]

After climax retirement from acting in Jourdan lived in Los Angeles. Amusement July he was made span Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, an honor that he common accompanied by friends, including Poet Poitier and Kirk Douglas.^[31]

Jourdan has two stars on the Flavor Walk of Fame at good turn Hollywood Boulevard.^[29]

Death

Jourdan died at authority home in Beverly Hills constitution 14 February at the queue of ^[29] His body was buried at Westwood Village Tombstone Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Selected theatre credits

References

Sources

External links