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French actor Louis Jourdan, star of 'Gigi' dies aged 93 | French actor Louis Jourdan, star of 'Gigi' dies aged 93 |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The French actor Louis Jourdan, best known for his role in the multi-Oscar winning 1958 musical Gigi, has died in California aged 93. | The French actor Louis Jourdan, best known for his role in the multi-Oscar winning 1958 musical Gigi, has died in California aged 93. |
Born in Marseilles, he began his career acting in French films before being lured to the US. | Born in Marseilles, he began his career acting in French films before being lured to the US. |
Often seen in roles that capitalised on his Gallic charm, he described himself as Hollywood's "French cliche". | Often seen in roles that capitalised on his Gallic charm, he described himself as Hollywood's "French cliche". |
His later years saw him play evil villains, including in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy. | His later years saw him play evil villains, including in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy. |
Jourdan died at his home in Los Angeles, his official biographer Olivier Minne said. | Jourdan died at his home in Los Angeles, his official biographer Olivier Minne said. |
"He embodied French elegance and Hollywood offered him the parts to go with that," he told the AFP news agency. | "He embodied French elegance and Hollywood offered him the parts to go with that," he told the AFP news agency. |
Gigi was one of the biggest films of the 1950s. | Gigi was one of the biggest films of the 1950s. |
Despite this, Jourdan did not consider Gigi his best achievement, reportedly saying in 1957: "It was a wonderful story for Leslie and Maurice Chevalier, but I played a colourless leading man. You'll note that none of the actors was nominated for Academy Awards." | |
As one of Hollywood's favourite French actors, Jourdan played opposite leading ladies Joan Fontaine, Jennifer Jones, Grace Kelly and Shirley MacLaine in films during the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s. | |
Other key roles included a part in Alfred Hitchcock's 1947 film The Paradine Case, and with Grace Kelly in The Swan. | |
He played concert pianist Stefan Brand opposite actress Joan Fontaine in the 1948 film Letter from an Unknown Woman. | |
He also showed that he could play a villain in the 1956 film Julie, in which he played Doris Day's husband, a psychopathic killer. | |
But despite his 15 years as a leading man, Jourdan felt he was often subject to Hollywood typecasting. | |
"Any actor who comes here with an accent is automatically put in roles as a lover," the Associated Press news agency reported him as once saying. "I didn't want to be perpetually cooing in a lady's ear." | |
His early career in France was interrupted by World War Two. He refused to star in Nazi propaganda films and joined the resistance. | His early career in France was interrupted by World War Two. He refused to star in Nazi propaganda films and joined the resistance. |
In 2010 he was given France's top award, Legion D'Honneur. | |
His wife of more than 60 years, Berthe Frederique Jourdan, died last year. |