Charles Prince Seigneur (27 April 187218 July 1933) was a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

-born film actor and comedian, best known for his screen persona "'' Rigadin''" in numerous short

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such ...

comedies. He was also known as "Moritz" in Germany, "Whiffles" in England and the US, and "Tartufini" in Italy. He was the second biggest film star in the world in the years leading up to

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, just behind his rival

Max Linder Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

. Prince's "Rigadin" character was similar to Linder's "Max" in that they were both upper-class

dandy A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance. A dandy could be a self-made man who strove to imitate an aristocratic lifestyle des ...

s that were constantly getting into trouble with authority figures and love interests. Prince began his acting career on the stage and was hired by

Pathé Frères Pathé or Pathé Frères (, styled as PATHÉ!) is the name of various French businesses that were founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France starting in 1896. In the early 1900s, Pathé became the world's largest film equipme ...

in 1908. He made over 200 films as "Rigadin" from 1909 until 1920. By 1920 his popularity had faded and he played supporting roles in a handful of films in the 1920s and 1930s. Two of his Rigadin shorts, ''Rigadin Directeur de Cinéma'' and ''Rigadin et le Chien de la Baronne'', were preserved by the

Academy Film Archive The Academy Film Archive is part of the Academy Foundation, established in 1944 with the purpose of organizing and overseeing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ educational and cultural activities, including the preservation of m ...

in 2010.

Personal life

In 1900 he married

Aimée Campton Aimée Campton or Miss Campton (6 April 1882 – 21 November 1930) was a dancer, music hall artist, postcard beauty and a French actress of English origin. A silent film actress, she played the lead role in a series of French-made ''Maud'' film ...

, an English dancer working in Paris Their only daughter was Renée Petitdemange (1901-1993). The couple divorced in April 1905''Le Temps'', August 15, 1905, p. 4, available on Gallica. This legal announcement is also published in ''Gil Blas'' and ''Le Journal'' of the same day and in ''Le Monde'' artistique of August 20, 1905
/ref> Prince's great-grandson is French film director Cris Ubermann.

Selected filmography

*1912 ''Rigadin Peintre Cubiste'' *1912 ''Rigadin aux Balkans'' *1913 ''Rigadin, Winetaster'' * ''

A Royal Family ''A Royal Family'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Fuller Mellish, Montagu Love and Anna Murdock.Parish & Pitts p.293 It is also sometimes alternatively titled ''The Royal Family''. Cast * Fuller Mell ...

'' (1915) * '' Kiss Me'' (1929) * '' Departure'' (1931) * ''

His Highness Love ''His Highness Love'' (french: Son altesse l'amour) is a 1931 Franco-German comedy film directed by Robert Péguy, Erich Schmidt and Joe May.Driskell p. 208 It stars Annabella, André Alerme and Roger Tréville and was made in Berlin as the Fre ...

'' (1931) * '' Buridan's Donkey'' (1932) * '' His Best Client'' (1932)

References

External links

*
Charles Prince; IBDb.com
1872 births 1933 deaths French male film actors French male silent film actors Silent film comedians Slapstick comedians 20th-century French male actors {{France-film-actor-stub