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| Louis Jourdan, French actor and star of Gigi, dies aged 93 | |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| Among those paying tribute on Twitter was Indian film star Kabir Bedi, who played Jourdan's bodyguard Gobinda in Octopussy. | Among those paying tribute on Twitter was Indian film star Kabir Bedi, who played Jourdan's bodyguard Gobinda in Octopussy. |
| "Deeply saddened to hear, from @twitter friends, of the passing of Louis Jordan," he wrote. | "Deeply saddened to hear, from @twitter friends, of the passing of Louis Jordan," he wrote. |
| Cassian Elwes, producer of films including Monster's Ball and Dallas Buyers Club, wrote: "Louis Jourdan was an absolutely charming man who was always elegant in everything he did it was no wonder he was friends w [sic] everyone he met." | Cassian Elwes, producer of films including Monster's Ball and Dallas Buyers Club, wrote: "Louis Jourdan was an absolutely charming man who was always elegant in everything he did it was no wonder he was friends w [sic] everyone he met." |
| American actress Rose McGowan, whose films include The Black Dahlia, wrote: "Louis Jourdan, thank you for the entertainment. Your elegant beauty and wit were a joy to behold." | American actress Rose McGowan, whose films include The Black Dahlia, wrote: "Louis Jourdan, thank you for the entertainment. Your elegant beauty and wit were a joy to behold." |
| French resistance | French resistance |
| Born Louis Gendre in 1921, he changed his name to Pierre Jourdan, then Louis Jourdan when he became an actor. | Born Louis Gendre in 1921, he changed his name to Pierre Jourdan, then Louis Jourdan when he became an actor. |
| According to a biography by the late Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas, Jourdan's father owned a seaside hotel in Cannes, where he met artists, actors and directors who encouraged him to study drama in Paris. | According to a biography by the late Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas, Jourdan's father owned a seaside hotel in Cannes, where he met artists, actors and directors who encouraged him to study drama in Paris. |
| His early career in France was interrupted by World War Two. He refused to star in Nazi propaganda films and escaped to join the French resistance. | His early career in France was interrupted by World War Two. He refused to star in Nazi propaganda films and escaped to join the French resistance. |
| After the war, he resumed his film career, eventually becoming one of Hollywood's favourite French actors. | After the war, he resumed his film career, eventually becoming 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. | Jourdan played opposite leading ladies Joan Fontaine, Jennifer Jones, Grace Kelly and Shirley MacLaine in films during the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s. |
| Gigi, a musical romantic comedy in which he played the suave Gaston Lachaille, was one of the most successful films of the 1950s. It won nine Oscars, including best picture. | Gigi, a musical romantic comedy in which he played the suave Gaston Lachaille, was one of the most successful films of the 1950s. It won nine Oscars, including best picture. |
| Despite this, Jourdan did not consider Gigi his best achievement, reportedly saying: "It was a wonderful story for Leslie and Maurice Chevalier, but I played a colourless leading man. | Despite this, Jourdan did not consider Gigi his best achievement, reportedly saying: "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." | "You'll note that none of the actors was nominated for Academy Awards." |
| 'Perpetually cooing' | 'Perpetually cooing' |
| Other key roles included a part in Alfred Hitchcock's 1947 film The Paradine Case, and with Grace Kelly in The Swan. | 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 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |
| Jourdan has two stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and in 2010 he was given France's highest honour, Legion D'Honneur. | |
| His wife of more than 60 years, Berthe Frederique Jourdan, died last year. | His wife of more than 60 years, Berthe Frederique Jourdan, died last year. |