Jean Poiret, born Jean Poiré (17 August 1926 – 14 March 1992), was a French actor, director, and screenwriter. He is primarily known as the author of the original play '' La Cage aux Folles''.

Early career

Poiret was born in Paris, and first rose to prominence in 1951 playing the role of Fred Transport, one of the heroes of Pierre Dac and Francis Blanche's radio series ''Malheur aux Barbus''. In 1952, he met his future co-star of ''La Cage''

Michel Serrault 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's ''Les ...

at the

Sarah Bernhardt Theatre Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pi ...

. Together, they starred in the sketch "Jerry Scott, Vedette Internationale". In 1961, Poiret, as a member of the French cinematic society Pathé, wrote and recorded ''La Vache à Mille Francs'', a parody of ''La Valse à Mille Temps'' by

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...

. In 1973, he married actress

Caroline Cellier Caroline Cellier (7 August 1945 – 15 December 2020) was a French actress. She appeared in such films as '' L'année des méduses'' (''Year of the Jellyfish''), '' La vie, l'amour, la mort'', ''Le zèbre'' and '. Personal life She marrie ...

, with whom he had one child.

''La Cage aux Folles''

In 1973, Poiret wrote and starred in the stage play '' La Cage aux Folles''. Its

film adaptation 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 dial ...

in 1978 eventually brought Poiret immense success. Although Poiret was replaced by Italian actor

Ugo Tognazzi Ugo Tognazzi (23 March 1922 – 27 October 1990) was an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter. Early life Tognazzi was born in Cremona, in northern Italy but spent his youth in various localities as his father was a travelling clerk fo ...

in the role of Renato Baldi, Serrault reprised his stage-role of Zaza Napoli and won a

César Award Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt * César Award, a French film award Places * Cesar, Portugal * C ...

for his work.

Later career

In 1992, Poiret directed his first and only film, ''Le Zèbre'' (''The Zebra''). This adaptation of

Alexandre Jardin Alexandre Jardin (born 14 April 1965) is a French writer, film director and winner of the Prix Femina, 1988, for ''Le Zèbre''. Filmography * 1992 : '' Le Zèbre'' - Writer (novel) * 1993 : ''Fanfan Christine Fan (born March 18, 1976), bette ...

's novel starred Thierry Lhermitte and Caroline Cellier and was one of the top ten grossing films in France for the year and the highest-grossing debut European film for the year with a gross of $12 million. Poiret died of a heart attack in Paris on 14 March 1992, three months before the film's premiere. He is buried at the

Cimetière du Montparnasse Montparnasse Cemetery (french: link=no, Cimetière du Montparnasse) is a cemetery in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris, in the city's 14th arrondissement. The cemetery is roughly 47 acres and is the second largest cemetery in Paris. The cemetery ...

in Paris.

Filmography

*1953: ''Le Gang des pianos à bretelles'' (by Gilles de Turenne) - Le présentateur de 'La nuit brune' (uncredited) *1953: '' Les 3 Mousquetaires'' (by André Hunebelle) *1956: ''

Cette sacrée gamine ''Naughty Girl'' (french: Cette sacrée gamine), also released as ''Mam'zelle Pigalle'', is a 1956 French CinemaScope musical film starring Brigitte Bardot. Plot Handsome cabaret entertainer Jean Clery is engaged to his psychiatrist, Lili. He ...

'' (by

Michel Boisrond Michel Jacques Boisrond (9 October 1921, Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais – 10 November 2002, La Celle-Saint-Cloud) was a French film director and screenwriter. His work spanned five decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s. Career A former apprentice ...

) - first inspector *1956: '' La Vie est belle'' (by

Roger Pierre Roger Pierre (30 August 1923 – 23 January 2010) was a French comedian and actor. Early life Roger Pierre was born on 30 August 1923 in Paris, France. Career Pierre and Jean-Marc Thibault were one of France's most popular comedy acts. Working r ...

and

Jean-Marc Thibault Jean-Marc Thibault (1923–2017) was a French film and television actor.Halliwell p.56 He also directed three films. Selected filmography * ''First on the Rope'' (1944) * '' Cage of Girls'' (1949) * ''I Like Only You'' (1949) * ''Women of Paris'' ...

) - maracas player *1956: '' Assassins et voleurs'' (by Sacha Guitry) - Philippe d'Artois *1956: ''

The Terror with Women ''The Terror with Women'' (French: ''La terreur des dames'') is a 1956 comedy film directed by Jean Boyer and starring Noël-Noël, Jacqueline Gauthier and Yves Robert.The A to Z of French Cinema p.24 It is an adaptation of the 1882 short story ' ...

'' (by Jean Boyer) - gendarme *1957: '' Adorables démons'' (by

Maurice Cloche Maurice Cloche (17 June 1907, Commercy, Meuse – 23 March 1990, Bordeaux, France) was a French film director, screenwriter, photographer and film producer. Best known for his Oscar-winning film ''Monsieur Vincent'' (1947) he won a 1948 Special Ac ...

) - Julien Willis Jr *1957: '' Le naïf aux quarante enfants'' (by

Philippe Agostini Philippe Agostini was a French cinematographer, director and screenwriter born 11 August 1910 in Paris (France), died 20 October 2001. He was married to Odette Joyeux until the end of her life. Biography Founder of École Louis-Lumière (sit ...

) - Master Bardine *1957: '' Ça aussi c'est Paris'' (Short, by

) - reporter *1957: ''

Clara et les méchants Clara may refer to: Organizations * CLARA, Latin American academic computer network organization * Clara.Net, a European ISP * Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, a property development consortium People * Clara (given name), a feminine giv ...

'' (by

Raoul André Raoul André (24 May 1916 in Rabat (Morocco) - 4 November 1992) was a French director and screenwriter, He was married to actress Louise Carletti (December 1955), and he is the father of Ariane Carletti. Filmography * ''The Village of Wrath' ...

) - Chantuer - un gangster *1959: ''

Nina Nina may refer to: * Nina (name), a feminine given name and surname Acronyms *National Iraqi News Agency, a news service in Iraq * Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, on the campus of Norwegian University of Science and Technology *No income, ...

'' (by Jean Boyer) - Adolphe Tessier *1959: ''

Oh ! Qué Mambo Oh, OH, or Oh! is an interjection, often proclaiming surprise. It may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Albums * ''Oh!'' (Girls' Generation album), 2010 * ''Oh!'' (ScoLoHoFo album), 2003 * '' OH (ohio)'', by Lambchop, 2008 * ''Oh!'', an ...

'' (by John Berry) - inspector Sapin *1959: '' Messieurs les ronds de cuir'' (by

Henri Diamant-Berger Henri Diamant-Berger (9 June 1895 – 7 May 1972) was a French director, producer and screenwriter. In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he directed 48 films between 1913 and 1959, produced 17 between 1925 and 1967 and wrote 21 screenpl ...

) - René Lahrier *1959: '' Vous n'avez rien à déclarer ?'' (by

Clément Duhour Clément Duhour was born in Saint-Jean d’Anglet, in the Aquitaine region of south-western France on 11 December 1912. He died on 3 January 1983 in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He was a French athlete, singer, actor, film director and producer. Biograph ...

) - Robert de Trivelin *1960: '' La française et l'amour'' (by

Charles Spaak Charles Spaak (25 May 1903 – 4 March 1975) was a Belgian screenwriter who was noted particularly for his work in the French cinema during the 1930s. He was the son of the dramatist and poet Paul Spaak, the brother of the politician Paul-Henri S ...

) - Michel's lawyer (sketch ''Le divorce'') *1960: '' Candide ou l'optimisme du XXe siècle'' (by

Norbert Carbonnaux Norbert Carbonnaux (28 March 1918 – 6 November 1997), was a French film director and screenwriter. Filmography Director * 1951: ''90 degrés à l'ombre'' * 1953: '' La Tournée des grands ducs'' * 1954: ''The Pirates of the Bois de Boulog ...

) - 1st policeman *1961: '' Ma femme est une panthère'' (by Raymond Bailly) - psychiatrist *1961: '' Auguste'' (by Pierre Chevalier) - Georges Flower *1962: '' Les parisiennes'' (by

Francis Cosne Francis Cosne (17 May 1916 – 13 December 1984) was a French film producer and screenwriter. He produced more than 30 films between 1948 and 1979. In 1972, he was a member of the jury at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival. Selecte ...

and

Annette Wademant Annette Wademant (1928–2017) was a Belgian screenwriter active in the French film industry.Gillain p.81 She was married to the director Michel Boisrond. Selected filmography * ''Edward and Caroline'' (1951) * ''Casque d'Or'' (1952) * '' Rue ...

) - Jean-Pierre Leroy (segment "Antonia") *1962: '' The Dance'' (by

) - Old man *1962: '' It's Not My Business'' (by Jean Boyer) - Jean Duroc *1962: ''

How to Succeed in Love ''How to Succeed in Love'' (French: ''Comment réussir en amour'', Italian: ''La moglie addosso'') is a 1962 French-Italian comedy film directed by Michel Boisrond and starring Dany Saval, Jean Poiret and Jacqueline Maillan.Parish p.16 The film's ...

'' (by

) - Bernard Monod *1962: '' Les quatre vérités'' (by

Hervé Bromberger Hervé Bromberger (11 November 1918 – 25 November 1993) was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed 16 films between 1951 and 1982. His 1951 film ''Paris Vice Squad'' was entered into the 1951 Cannes Film Festival. Selected ...

) - Renard (Fox) (segment "Le corbeau et le renard") *1963: '' Les vierges'' (by

Jean-Pierre Mocky Jean-Pierre Mocky (6 July 1929 – 8 August 2019), pseudonym of Jean-Paul Adam Mokiejewski, was a French film director, actor, screenwriter and producer. Life and career Mocky was born in Nice, France to Polish immigrant parents, Jeanne Zylinska ...

) - the banker Marchaix *1963: ''

Un drôle de paroissien ''Heaven Sent '' (french: Un drôle de paroissien) is a 1963 French comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky. It was entered into the 13th Berlin International Film Festival. The film has been released under the name ''Heaven Sent'' in the Engl ...

'' (by

) - Raoul *1963: ''

La foire aux cancres LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...

'' (by

Louis Daquin Louis Daquin (20 May 1908 – 2 October 1980) was a French film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 14 films between 1938 and 1963. He also appeared in 11 films between 1937 and 1979. Selected filmography * '' The Man from Nowher ...

) - Collin *1964: '' Les durs à cuire ou comment supprimer son prochain sans perdre l'appétit'' (by Jacques Pinoteau) - Louis *1964: ''

Jealous as a Tiger ''Jealous as a Tiger'' (French: ''Jaloux comme un tigre'') is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Darry Cowl and Maurice Delbez and starring Darry Cowl, Francis Blanche and Jean Poiret.Martin p.120 Cast * Darry Cowl as Henri * Francis Blanche ...

'' (by

Darry Cowl Darry Cowl (born André Darricau; 27 August 1925 – 14 February 2006) was a French comedian, actor and musician. He won a César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2004 for his role as a concierge in '' Pas sur la bouche'' (''Not on ...

) - doctor Raymond *1964: '' La grande frousse'' (by

) - Loupiac *1965: '' Les baratineurs'' (by

Francis Rigaud Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome * Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural ...

) - André *1965: '' La bonne occase'' (by

Michel Drach Michel Drach (18 October 1930 in Paris – 14 February 1990 in Paris) was a French film director, writer, producer and actor. Life and career Drach was born in Paris, France, the son of Yvonne (Vanderheym) and Maurice Drach. His family was Jewis ...

) - Grégoire *1965: '' La tête du client'' (by

Jacques Poitrenaud Jacques Poitrenaud (born 22 May 1922, Lille – died 5 April 2005, Paris) was a French film director and actor. Director *1956: '' Saint-Germain-en-Laye, cité royale'' (Short) *1957: '' Enfants, Touraine'' (Short) *1960: '' La revenante'' (Short ...

) - Philippe / Monsieur Paul *1965: '' Le petit monstre'' (by Jean-Paul Sassy) - the godfather *1966: '' Your Money or Your Life'' (by

) - Lucien Pélépan *1967: '' Le grand bidule'' by

) - Verdier *1967: '' Ces messieurs de la famille'' (by

) - Bernard Le Gall *1968: '' La grande lessive (!)'' (by

) - Jean-Michel Lavalette *1969: ''

Aux frais de la princesse Aux or AUX may refer to: Science and technology * Auxiliary connector A phone connector, also known as phone jack, audio jack, headphone jack or jack plug, is a family of electrical connectors typically used for analog signal, analog aud ...

'' (by

Roland Quignon Roland Quignon (1897–1984) was a French art director.Crisp p.151 He designed the sets for more than fifty films during his career. He also directed four films. Selected filmography * ''The Dying Land'' (1936) * ''The House Across the Street'' ( ...

) - Santos *1969: '' Trois hommes sur un cheval'' (by

Marcel Moussy Marcel Moussy (7 May 1924 – 10 August 1995) was a French screenwriter and television director. Moussy was born in Algiers. He was co-nominated with François Truffaut for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film ''The ...

) - Tout / Freddy *1969: '' Ces messieurs de la gâchette'' (by

) - ''Bernard Le Gall'' *1970: ''

Le Mur de l'Atlantique ''Atlantic Wall'' (french: Le Mur de l'Atlantique, it, Un elmetto pieno di... fifa) is a 1970 French-Italian war-comedy film written and directed by Marcel Camus and starring Bourvil and Peter McEnery. It was Bourvil's last film. Plot The stor ...

'' (by

Marcel Camus Marcel may refer to: People * Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel * Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder * Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian s ...

) - Armand *1971: '' Mais qu'est-ce qui fait courir les crocodiles ?'' (by

) - Gontran *1979: ''

La Gueule de l'autre ''La Gueule de l'autre'' is a French comedy film with a satirical look at political values. Synopsis The film starts in 1978 Paris. In the middle of the presidential election, Martial Perrin, president of the "parti centriste des Conservateurs ...

'' (by

Pierre Tchernia Pierre Tcherniakowski (29 January 1928 – 8 October 2016), better known as Pierre Tchernia, was a French cinema and television producer, screenwriter, presenter, animator and actor. In France he was known as ''"Magic" Tchernia'' and ''Monsieur Ci ...

) - Jean-Louis Constant *1980: ''

Le Dernier Métro ''The Last Metro'' (french: Le Dernier Métro) is a 1980 historical drama film, written and directed by François Truffaut, that stars Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu. Opening in 1942 during the German occupation of France, it follows ...

'' (by

François Truffaut François Roland Truffaut ( , ; ; 6 February 1932 – 21 October 1984) was a French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. After a career of more tha ...

) - Jean-Loup Cottins *1982: ' (by

Denys Granier-Deferre Denys Granier-Deferre (born 27 December 1949, Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French film director. Biography Denys Granier-Deferre is the son of Pierre Granier-Deferre with whom he started cinema as his assistant, notably on his father's movie ''L ...

) - André Joeuf *1984: ' (by

Claude Pinoteau Claude Pinoteau (25 May 1925 – 5 October 2012) was a French film director and scriptwriter. Born in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts de Seine, Île-de-France, France. He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, aged 87. (in French) His sister was the actress ...

) - Jean Michelis *1985: ''

Poulet au vinaigre ''Cop au Vin'' (french: Poulet au vinaigre) is a 1985 French crime film directed by Claude Chabrol. It was entered into the 1985 Cannes Film Festival. The original French title is a pun: it literally means "vinegar chicken," but "poulet" is als ...

'' (by

Claude Chabrol Claude Henri Jean Chabrol (; 24 June 1930 – 12 September 2010) was a French film director and a member of the French New Wave (''nouvelle vague'') group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his colleagues an ...

) - Inspector Jean Lavardin *1985: ' (by

Jean Yanne Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * J ...

) - the caliph *1986: ''

Inspecteur Lavardin ''Inspecteur Lavardin'' is a 1986 crime film co-written and directed by Claude Chabrol. It is the sequel to his 1984 film ''Chicken with Vinegar, Cop au vin''. Synopsis The Eponym, titular inspector travels to a small coastal town to investigate t ...

'' (by

) - Inspector Jean Lavardin *1986: ' (by

Gérard Krawczyk Gérard Krawczyk (17 May 1953, Paris) is a French film director. He is of Polish descent (his grandparents were from Częstochowa). Filmography Director * ''Homicide by Night'' (1984) * ''Je hais les acteurs'' (a.k.a. ''I hate actors'') (1986 ...

) - Orlando Higgin *1987: '' Le Miraculé'' (by

) - Papu *1988: '' Les saisons du plaisir'' (by

) - Bernard Germain *1988: '' Corentin'' (by Jean Marboeuf) - the exorcist *1988: '' Une nuit à l'Assemblée Nationale'' (by

) - Octave Leroy *1988: '' La petite amie'' (by

Luc Béraud Luc Béraud (born 30 October 1945) is a French director, screenwriter and actor. Career He started as assistant director for Patrice Leconte, Jean Eustache and Alain Robbe-Grillet. He was nominated three times at the César Award for Best Writ ...

) - Martin Morel *1990: '' Lacenaire'' (by

Francis Girod Francis Girod (9 October 1944 – 19 November 2006) was a French film director, actor, and screenwriter. He directed 20 films between 1974 and 2006. His film '' L'enfance de l'art'' was entered into the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. In 1994 h ...

) - Aliard *1992: '' Sup de fric'' (by Christian Gion) - Cyril Dujardin *1991: ' (by Christoph Böll) - Herzog Max *2007: ''

La méthode Barnol LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

'' (by

) - M. Hubert (final appearance)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Poiret, Jean 1926 births 1992 deaths French male film actors French male stage actors 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights Burials at Montparnasse Cemetery 20th-century French male actors