Jean Claude Drouot (born 17 December 1938) is a Belgian actor whose career has lasted over a half-century. At the age of twenty-five, he gained widespread fame in the French-speaking world as a result of portraying the title role in the popular television adventure series, '' Thierry la Fronde''.

Biography

Born in the Belgian municipality of Lessines, Jean Claude Drouot learned his stagecraft with the ''Young Theater'' of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Later (date unknown) he moved from Brussels to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

. In Paris he followed courses with

Charles Dullin Charles Dullin (; 8 May 1885 – 11 December 1949) was a French actor, theater manager and director. Career Dullin began his career as an actor in melodrama:185 In 1908, he started his first troupe with Saturnin Fabre, the ''Théâtre de Foire ...

. Until his departure from Dullin's troupe in 1962, he interpreted the great tragedies and plays of

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...

. From 1963 until 1966 he starred as Thierry La Fronde for the TV series '' Thierry La Fronde''. He made his first film in 1965 with '' The Devil's Tricks'' of Paul Vecchiali. This was followed by ''

Happiness Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. ...

.'' He then played in British and American films such as: '' Laughter in the Dark'' (1969), '' Mr. Freedom'' (1969), and ''

Nicholas and Alexandra ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' is a 1971 British epic historical drama film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, from a screenplay written by James Goldman and Edward Bond, based on Robert K. Massie's 1967 book of the same name, which is a partial ...

'' (1971). In 1984, he became director of the National Dramatic Center of Reims and, from 1985 to 1989, he was director of the National Theatre of Belgium. In 1999, he joined the

Comédie-Française The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...

. He is married to Claire and has two children, Olivier and Sandrine. His family made their only film appearance in the 1965

Agnès Varda Agnès Varda (; born Arlette Varda; 30 May 1928 – 29 March 2019) was a Belgian-born French film director, screenwriter, photographer, and artist. Her pioneering work was central to the development of the widely influential French New Wave film ...

film, '' Le Bonheur''.

Filmography

*'' Thierry La Fronde'' (1963–1966) as Thierry La Fronde *'' The Devil's Tricks'' (1965) as Daniel *'' Le Bonheur'' (1965) as François *'' Laughter in the Dark'' (1969) as Herve Tourace *'' Mr. Freedom'' (1969) as Dick Sensass *''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict a ...

'' as

Oberon Oberon () is a king of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature. He is best known as a character in William Shakespeare's play ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', in which he is King of the Fairies and spouse of Titania, Queen of the Fairi ...

*'' The Breach'' (1970) as Charles Regnier *''

The Light at the Edge of the World ''The Light at the Edge of the World'' is a 1971 adventure film, adapted from Jules Verne's classic 1905 adventure novel ''The Lighthouse at the End of the World'' (''Le Phare du bout du monde''). The plot involves piracy in the South Atlantic du ...

'' (1971) as Virgilio *''

'' (1971) as Mr. Gilliard *'' Les Gens de Mogador'' (1972) as Rodolphe Vernet *'' L'histoire très bonne et très joyeuse de Colinot trousse-chemise'' (1973) as Masnil Plassac *''

Gaston Phébus Gaston Fébus (also spelt Phoebus) (30 April 1331 – 1391) was the eleventh count of Foix (as Gaston III) and twenty-fourth viscount of Béarn (as Gaston X) from 1343 until his death. Early life Gaston was born either in Orthez or Foix, the e ...

'' (1978) as Gaston Phébus *'' The Year of the French'' (1982) as General Humbert *'' Les Rois maudits'' (2005) as Enguerrand de Marigny *'' The Conquerors'' (2013) as Joseph Tadoussac *''

Capitaine Marleau ''Capitaine Marleau'' is a french television series, created by Elsa Marpeau, that first broadcast on France 3 on 20 December 2014 and since 2021 on France 2. The series, directed entirely by Josée Dayan, stars Corinne Masiero as the title c ...

'' (2017, 2020) as Léopold Salaun (2 Episodes, 1 Episode)

References

External links

* 1938 births Living people Troupe of the Comédie-Française {{belgium-actor-stub