Michel Serrault (24 January 1928 – 29 July 2007) was a French stage and film actor who appeared from 1954 until 2007 in more than 130 films.

Life and career

His first professional job was in a touring production in Germany 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 ...

's ''

Les Fourberies de Scapin ''Scapin the Schemer'' (french: Les Fourberies de Scapin) is a three-act comedy of intrigue by the French playwright Molière. The title character Scapin is similar to the archetypical Scapino character. The play was first staged on 24 May 1671 i ...

''. In 1948, he began his career in the theatre with Robert Dhéry in '' Les Branquignols''. His first film was ''

Ah! Les belles bacchantes ''Ah! Les belles bacchantes'' en, Ah! The nice moustache, italic=yes, is a French comedy film from 1954, directed by Jean Loubignac, written by Francis Blanche, starring Robert Dhéry and Louis de Funès. The film is also known under the titles: ...

'', starring

Robert Dhéry Robert Dhéry (27 April 1921 – 3 December 2004) (born Robert Léon Henri Fourrey or Robert Foullcy) was a French comedian, actor, director and screenwriter. He was married to actor Colette Brosset, with whom he appeared onstage in ''La Plume de ...

Colette Brosset Colette Marie Claudette Brosset (21 February 1922 – 1 March 2007) was a French actress, writer and choreographer. She was once married to actor Robert Dhéry, with whom she appeared onstage in ''La Plume de Ma Tante'' and '' Ah! Les belles ba ...

(Dhéry's then-wife), and

Louis de Funès Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fil ...

; directed by Jean Loubignac in 1954. Serrault played in the 1955 suspense thriller '' Les diaboliques'', starring

Simone Signoret Simone Signoret (; born Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker; 25 March 1921 – 30 September 1985) was a French actress. She received various accolades, including an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, a César Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a ...

and directed by

Henri-Georges Clouzot Henri-Georges Clouzot (; 20 November 1907 – 12 January 1977) was a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best remembered for his work in the thriller film genre, having directed ''The Wages of Fear'' and '' Les Diaboliques'', ...

. From February 1973 through 1978, he portrayed the role of Albin/Zaza opposite Jean Poiret in the play '' La cage aux folles'', written by Poiret. He recreated the role for the

film version A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dia ...

of the play, which was released in 1978. Serrault died from

relapsing polychondritis Relapsing polychondritis is a multi-systemic condition characterized by repeated episodes of inflammation and deterioration of cartilage. The often painful disease can cause joint deformity and be life-threatening if the respiratory tract, heart v ...

at his home in Équemauville on 29 July 2007 at age 79. He was buried in Sainte-Catherine's cemetery in

Honfleur Honfleur () is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie. The people that inhabit Honf ...

and was transferred in 2009 to the cemetery of

Neuilly-sur-Seine Neuilly-sur-Seine (; literally 'Neuilly on Seine'), also known simply as Neuilly, is a commune in the department of Hauts-de-Seine in France, just west of Paris. Immediately adjacent to the city, the area is composed of mostly select residentia ...

near his wife Juanita Saint-Peyron and daughter Caroline, who died in 1977. He had another daughter, actress Nathalie Serrault.

Theatre (partial)

*'' Knock'' *''

L'Avare ''The Miser'' (french: L'Avare; ; also known by the longer name ''L'Avare ou L'École du Mensonge,'' meaning The Miser, or the School for Lies) is a five-act comedy in prose by the French playwright Molière. It was first performed on September 9 ...

'' *'' La cage aux folles'' *''Le tombeur'' *''Gugusse'' *''Pour avoir Adrienne'' *''Quand épousez-vous ma femme'' *''

On purge bébé ''On purge bébé'' (''Baby's Laxative'') is Jean Renoir's first sound film, based upon the play by Georges Feydeau. It is a 1931 comedy about a supposedly unbreakable chamberpot and a constipated baby. It is known for mocking the French bourgeo ...

Filmography

Awards

References

External links

*
Michel Serrault in FrenchObituary
- KSL Television & Radio, Salt Lake City UT
Obituary
in Cinema2000.pt (Portuguese)

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Serrault, Michel 1928 births 2007 deaths People from Essonne French male film actors French male stage actors Deaths from cancer in France David di Donatello winners Best Actor Lumières Award winners Recipients of the Order of Agricultural Merit 20th-century French male actors 21st-century French male actors