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Bourvil
Actor

Bourvil

27 Jul 1917Born
23 Sep 1970Died
53Age at death
60Credits

Biography

André Robert Raimbourg (27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil, and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in the films Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). For his performance in Le Corniaud, he won a Special Diploma at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival.

Bourvil's father was killed in the First World War before he was born. As a result, he spent his entire childhood in the village of Bourville, from which he took his stage name. He married Jeanne Lefrique on 23 January 1943.

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After a battle with Kahler's syndrome, which attacks the bone marrow, he died at the age of 53. He is buried in Montainville, Yvelines.

In his comic performances Bourvil principally played roles of gentle and well-meaning characters who were often a bit obtuse or naïve, such as his roles opposite the hyperactive, dishonest and bossy ones played by Louis de Funès. Bourvil's characters not only managed to make viewers laugh, but also to save themselves, often unwittingly, from the Machiavellian designs of his adversaries.

Bourvil was, however, also capable of more dramatic roles such as the handyman in L'Arbre de Noël (1969). In this role he observes the relationship between a man he works for and the young son who has fallen ill. The audience can identify with the character played by Bourvil, just as they can in his comic roles, so often as a simple man. One can also note his role of Monsieur Thénardier in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (1958), and his penultimate role as the policeman Mattei in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Cercle rouge (1970).

In March 1948, Bourvil took part in the complete recording of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann with artists of the Paris Opéra-Comique conducted by André Cluytens, playing the four 'servant' roles.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Bourvil, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2022Belmondo: The IncorrigibleFilm
  2. 1971ClodoFilm: Gaston (uncredited)
  3. 1970Le Cercle RougeFilm: Commissioner François Mattei
  4. 1970Atlantic WallFilm: Léon Duchemin, Norman restaurateur
  5. 1970The StudFilm: William Chaminade
  6. 1969The Christmas TreeFilm: Verdun
  7. 1969Monte Carlo or Bust!Film: Monsieur Dupont
  8. 1969The BrainFilm: Anatole
  9. 1968The Big WashFilm: Armand Saint-Just
  10. 1968The HotshotsFilm: Jules Auguste Duroc
  11. 1967Les ArnaudFilm: Judge Henri Arnaud
  12. 1966Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!Film: Augustin Bouvet
  13. 1966Three Disordered ChildrenFilm: Eugène Laporte, entrepreneur de travaux publics
  14. 1965The Wise GuysFilm: Hector Valentin
  15. 1965The Big SwagFilm: Louis Bourdin, metro ticket puncher and writer
  16. 1965The Dirty GameFilm: Lalande
  17. 1965The SuckerFilm: Antoine Maréchal
  18. 1964The Big ScareFilm
  19. 1964La Bonne PlanqueFilm: Antoine Perrin
  20. 1963My Wife's HusbandFilm: André Colombey
  21. 1963Light-Fingered GeorgeFilm: Georges Lachaunaye
  22. 1963Josefa's LootFilm: Pierre Corneille
  23. 1963Don't Tempt the DevilFilm: Albert Gaudet, investigating judge
  24. 1962Un clair de Lune à MaubeugeFilm: Le chanteur à la télévision
  25. 1962Les Culottes rougesFilm: Fendard
  26. 1962Tartarin de TarasconFilm: Priest who reinflates the tire of his moped
  27. 1962The Longest DayFilm: Mayor of Colleville
  28. 1961The BusybodyFilm: André Loriot
  29. 1961All the Gold in the WorldFilm: Mathieu Dumont / Antoine Dumont / Martial Dumont
  30. 1960FortunateFilm: Noël Fortunat
  31. 1960Captain BloodFilm: Baladin Cogolin
  32. 1959The Hunchback of ParisFilm: Passepoil
  33. 1959The Green MareFilm: Honoré Haudouin
  34. 1959Way of YouthFilm: Charles Michaud, père
  35. 1958Serenade of TexasFilm: Me Jérôme Quilleboeuf
  36. 1958Sunday EncounterFilm: Jean Brévent
  37. 1958The Mirror Has Two FacesFilm: Pierre Tardivet
  38. 1958Les MisérablesFilm: Thénardier
  39. 1957The Singer from MexicoFilm: Bilou
  40. 1956La Traversée de ParisFilm: Marcel Martin, unemployed taxi driver
  41. 1955The HussarsFilm: le trompette Flicot Jean-Louis
  42. 1954Le Fil à la patteFilm: Camille Bouzin, clerc de notaire et auteur de chansonnettes lestes
  43. 1954Cadet RousselleFilm: Jérôme Baguindet
  44. 1954April Fools' DayFilm: Émile Dupuy
  45. 1953Royal Affairs in VersaillesFilm: Museum guard
  46. 1953The Three MusketeersFilm: Planchet
  47. 1952Crazy for LoveFilm: Hippolyte Lemoine, neveu d'Augustine
  48. 1952Grrr....Film: Lui-même, Writer
  49. 1951Alone in ParisFilm: Henri Milliard, le jeune marié campagnard
  50. 1951Mr. Peek-a-BooFilm: Léon Dutilleul
  51. 1950The PrizeFilm: Isidore Pastouret
  52. 1950MiquetteFilm: Urbain de la Tour-Mirande
  53. 1950Le Roi PandoreFilm: Léon Ménard, le gendarme
  54. 1949Wear His Heart on His SleeveFilm: Leon Ménard
  55. 1948White as SnowFilm: Léon Ménard
  56. 1948By the WindowFilm: Gaston 'Pilou'
  57. 1947Not So StupidFilm: Léon Ménard
  58. 1945Hanged Man's FarmFilm: Le bourrelier, le chanteur à la noce
  59. 1943A Star to the SunFilm: (uncredited)
  60. 1942Sideral CruisesFilm: Scientist

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.