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Gaspard Thomas Ulliel (; 25 November 198419 January 2022) was a French actor. He was known for having portrayed the young
Hannibal Lecter Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a Character (arts), fictional character created by the novelist Thomas Harris. Lecter is a serial killer who Human cannibalism, eats his victims. Before his capture, he was a respected Forensic psychiatry, forensic psychi ...
in ''
Hannibal Rising ''Hannibal Rising'' is a psychological horror novel by American author Thomas Harris, published in 2006. It is a prequel to his three previous books featuring his most famous character, the cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The ...
'' (2007), fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in the biopic '' Saint Laurent'' (2014), and for being the face of Chanel men's fragrance
Bleu de Chanel Bleu de Chanel (literally translated as ''"Chanel's Blue"'' or ''"Blue Chanel"'') is a men's fragrance created by Jacques Polge for French fashion house Chanel in 2010. It was the first men's fragrance released by the brand since Allure Homme Sp ...
for twelve years. He also voiced
Jack Frost Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, ...
in the French version of ''
Rise of the Guardians ''Rise of the Guardians'' is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy action-adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Peter Ramsey (in his feature directorial debut ...
'' (2012), and portrayed Anton Mogart in the
Disney+ Disney+ is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned and operated by the Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. The service primarily distributes films and television se ...
miniseries '' Moon Knight'' (2022). Ulliel made his feature film debut in ''
Brotherhood of the Wolf ''Brotherhood of the Wolf'' (french: Le Pacte des loups) is a 2001 French period action horror film directed by Christophe Gans, co-written by Gans and Stéphane Cabel, and starring Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, Émilie Dequenne, Monica Bel ...
'' (2001), and had his breakthrough in '' Strayed'' (2003). He was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actor for three consecutive years for his performances in ''
Summer Things ''Summer Things'' (french: Embrassez qui vous voudrez; it, Baciate chi vi pare, also known as ''See How They Run'') is a 2002 French-British-Italian romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Michel Blanc, based on the 1998 novel of ...
'' (2002), ''Strayed'' (2003), and ''
A Very Long Engagement ''A Very Long Engagement'' (french: Un long dimanche de fiançailles, italic=yes, "A long Sunday of engagement") is a 2004 French-American romantic war drama film, co-written and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou, Gaspard ...
'' (2004); winning that award in 2005 for his performance as
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
soldier Manech in ''A Very Long Engagement''. In 2015, he earned his first César nomination for Best Actor for his performance in ''Saint Laurent''. In 2017, he won the
César Award for Best Actor This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor (french: César du meilleur acteur). History Superlatives Winners 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple wins and nominations The following indivi ...
for his role as a terminally ill playwright in ''
It's Only the End of the World ''It's Only the End of the World'' (french: Juste la fin du monde) is a 2016 drama film written, edited and directed by Xavier Dolan. The film is based on the play of the same name by Jean-Luc Lagarce and stars Gaspard Ulliel, Nathalie Baye, M ...
'' (2016). He became a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2015. His other notable works include '' The Last Day'' (2004), ''
Paris, je t'aime ''Paris, je t'aime'' (; ''Paris, I love you'') is a 2006 anthology film starring an ensemble cast of actors of various nationalities. The two-hour film consists of eighteen short films set in different arrondissements (districts). The 22 director ...
'' (2006), ''
Jacquou le Croquant ''Jacquou le Croquant'' is a 2007 French historical film, based on the 1899 novel of the same name by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil n ...
'' (2007), ''
The Princess of Montpensier ''The Princess of Montpensier'' (french: La Princesse de Montpensier) is a 2010 French period romance film directed by Bertrand Tavernier, inspired by a short story of the same name published anonymously by Madame de La Fayette in 1662. It star ...
'' (2010), ''
To the Ends of the World ''To the Ends of the World'' (french: Les Confins du Monde) is a 2018 French film directed by Guillaume Nicloux. It was selected to screen in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Gaspard Ulliel : Robert Tass ...
'' (2018), and '' Twice Upon a Time'' (2019). Ulliel died on 19 January 2022 at the age of 37, following a skiing accident at La Rosière resort in
Savoie Savoie (; Arpitan: ''Savouè'' or ''Savouè-d'Avâl''; English: ''Savoy'' ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Southeastern France. Located in the French Alps, its prefecture is Chambéry. In 2019, Savoie had a population ...
, France.


Early life

Ulliel was born in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine to Christine, a stylist and
runway According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt, concre ...
show producer, and Serge Ulliel, a fashion designer. Ulliel was an only child. His great-grandfather, Raoul Ulliel (1889–1943), was a bronzesmith who distinguished himself in combat during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. His paternal grandmother was of
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...
and
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
descent. He had a
scar A scar (or scar tissue) is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other organs, and tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a n ...
on his left
cheek The cheeks ( la, buccae) constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve. The area between the insi ...
as a result of a
doberman The Dobermann (; ), or Doberman Pinscher in the United States and Canada, is a medium-large breed of domestic dog that was originally developed around 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector from Germany.dimple. His obituary in the French newspaper '' Libération'' described him as having the "most famous scar in French cinema". Ulliel attended the bilingual school École Jeannine Manuel in Paris where he learned English. Ulliel wanted to be a
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
musician and even tried playing the saxophone for a couple of years, but he quit because he thought he wasn't talented. He also learned how to play the piano. He was also interested in architecture and photography. He dreamed of becoming a film director and attended the University of Saint-Denis in Paris, where he studied cinema for two years until he quit to focus on his acting career.


Career


Early work and breakthrough (1997–2003)

Ulliel began acting while he was still at school, at eleven years old, when a friend of a friend of his mother was working at an agency and was looking for young actors. She asked Ulliel if he wanted to give it a try and he said "yes", but just for fun. It was only after he turned seventeen that he really decided to continue working in this industry. He left the University of Saint-Denis after two years because he was getting more offers as an actor, but he still dreamed about writing and directing his own film, stating in a 2011 interview for ''Anthem Magazine''; "I wake up every morning with this idea stuck in my mind that I want to write and direct my own film one day. As I work more and more on different sets, I see how hard it is to be a director. It's insane the amount of work and confidence that goes into it. I’m so respectful of filmmakers and I admire what they do. I hope that one day I'll find the right subject and the confidence to try it. I'm still young." He made his acting debut with a small part in one episode of ''Une femme en blanc'', a 1997 miniseries for
French television Television in France was introduced in 1931, when the first experimental broadcasts began. Colour television was introduced in October 1967 on La Deuxième Chaîne. Digital terrestrial television The digital terrestrial television platform w ...
starring
Sandrine Bonnaire Sandrine Bonnaire (; born 31 May 1967) is a French actress, film director and screenwriter who has appeared in more than 40 films. She won the César Award for Most Promising Actress for ''À Nos Amours'' (1983), the César Award for Best Actr ...
. He continued appearing in made-for-television films and TV series during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and then became known as a film actor in France. In 2001, Ulliel made his feature film debut with a minor role in Christophe Gans's ''
Brotherhood of the Wolf ''Brotherhood of the Wolf'' (french: Le Pacte des loups) is a 2001 French period action horror film directed by Christophe Gans, co-written by Gans and Stéphane Cabel, and starring Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, Émilie Dequenne, Monica Bel ...
'', alongside
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He first achieved recognition for his performance as a troubled French Jewish youth in Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film '' La Haine (Hate)'', for which he received two César Award ...
and
Monica Bellucci Monica Anna Maria Bellucci (; born 30 September 1964) is an Italian actress and model. She began her career as a fashion model, modelling for Dolce & Gabbana and Dior, before making a transition to Italian films and later American and French f ...
. In 2002, Ulliel played the role of Loic in Michel Blanc's romantic comedy-drama film ''
Summer Things ''Summer Things'' (french: Embrassez qui vous voudrez; it, Baciate chi vi pare, also known as ''See How They Run'') is a 2002 French-British-Italian romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Michel Blanc, based on the 1998 novel of ...
'', for which he earned his first César Award nomination for Most Promising Actor, as well as winning the
Lumières Award for Most Promising Actor The Lumières Award for Most Promising Actor (french: Prix Lumières du meilleur espoir masculin) is a French annual award presented by the Académie des Lumières since 2000. Winners and nominees Winners are listed first with a blue background, ...
. He also performed at the drama school
Cours Florent The Cours Florent is a private French drama school in Paris established in 1967 by François Florent. The school is located on three nearby sites in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France: rue Archereau, rue Mathis, and Avenue Jean-Jaurès; f ...
, where he was discovered by director André Téchiné, who cast him in the lead role of his
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
drama film '' Strayed'' in 2003, starring opposite
Emmanuelle Béart Emmanuelle Béart (born 14 August 1963)
''Tecinema.jeuxactu.com''. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
is a F ...
as a mysterious teenager who protects her family. For his breakthrough performance in the film, Ulliel was nominated for a
César Award for Most Promising Actor The César Award for Most Promising Actor (french: César du meilleur espoir masculin) is one of the César Awards, presented annually by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma to recognize the outstanding breakthrough performance of a yo ...
, and won the Étoiles d'Or for Best Male Newcomer.


''A Very Long Engagement'', English-language films and stage debut (2004–2012)

Ulliel had his first English-speaking role in
Peter Greenaway Peter Greenaway, (born 5 April 1942) is a Welsh film director, screenwriter and artist. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular. Common traits in his films are th ...
's 2004 film '' The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea'', where he played a French man named Leon. In 2004, he starred in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
drama ''
A Very Long Engagement ''A Very Long Engagement'' (french: Un long dimanche de fiançailles, italic=yes, "A long Sunday of engagement") is a 2004 French-American romantic war drama film, co-written and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou, Gaspard ...
'', co-starring with Audrey Tautou and
Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions. She has received ...
, and won a
César Award for Most Promising Actor The César Award for Most Promising Actor (french: César du meilleur espoir masculin) is one of the César Awards, presented annually by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma to recognize the outstanding breakthrough performance of a yo ...
for his performance as soldier Manech Langonnet, the fiancé of Mathilde, Tautou's character, who disappeared in the trenches in 1917 and whom she refuses to believe is dead and starts investigating what happened to him. That same year, he also starred in Rodolphe Marconi's drama '' The Last Day'', opposite
Mélanie Laurent Mélanie Laurent (; born 21 February 1983) is a French actress, filmmaker, and singer. The recipient of two César Awards and a Lumières Award, she is an accomplished actress in the French film industry. Globally, she is best known for her rol ...
and Nicole Garcia. In 2005, Ulliel played Izik in
Richard Dembo Richard Dembo (24 May 1948 – 11 November 2004) was a French director and screenwriter. Dembo achieved worldwide recognition with his first film: '' La diagonale du fou'', which received an Oscar in 1984 for best foreign film, as well as ...
's World War II drama ''
Nina's House Nina's House (french: La Maison de Nina) is a 2005 French war film directed by Richard Dembo. Plot In the final months of the Holocaust, Nina struggles to integrate 25 children liberated from Nazi concentration camps with the other orphans in her ...
''. In 2006, he appeared in Gus Van Sant's "Le Marais" segment of the anthology film ''
Paris, je t'aime ''Paris, je t'aime'' (; ''Paris, I love you'') is a 2006 anthology film starring an ensemble cast of actors of various nationalities. The two-hour film consists of eighteen short films set in different arrondissements (districts). The 22 director ...
'', opposite
Marianne Faithfull Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (born 29 December 1946) is an English singer and actress. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single " As Tears Go By" and became one of the lead female artists during the British I ...
and
Elias McConnell Elias Comfort McConnell (born 1985) is an American former actor and model from Portland, Oregon, known for appearing in the 2003 film, ''Elephant''. Career In 2003, McConnell played a character of the same name in Gus Van Sant's film ''Elephan ...
, in which he played Gaspard, a young gay man flirting with a male print shop worker played by McConnell. In 2007, Ulliel starred in the title role in the movie ''
Hannibal Rising ''Hannibal Rising'' is a psychological horror novel by American author Thomas Harris, published in 2006. It is a prequel to his three previous books featuring his most famous character, the cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The ...
'', his major English-language film where he portrayed the young
Hannibal Lecter Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a Character (arts), fictional character created by the novelist Thomas Harris. Lecter is a serial killer who Human cannibalism, eats his victims. Before his capture, he was a respected Forensic psychiatry, forensic psychi ...
. That same year, he also played the title role in
Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat (born 14 June 1961) is a French composer and film and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of several groundbreaking music videos. Career Born in Paris, Laurent Bouton ...
's historical film ''
Jacquou le Croquant ''Jacquou le Croquant'' is a 2007 French historical film, based on the 1899 novel of the same name by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil n ...
'', based on the 1899 novel by Eugène Le Roy about a peasant who leads a revolt against the Count of Nansac. In 2008, he starred as François, a scientist researching black holes in the sci-fi film ''The Third Part of the World'', directed by Eric Forestier. He also starred as Joseph, the son of
Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Described as "one of the best actresses in the world", she is known for her portrayals of cold and disdainful characters devoid of morality. She is the recipient of sev ...
's character in
Rithy Panh Rithy Panh ( km, ប៉ាន់ រិទ្ធី; born April 18, 1964) is a Cambodian documentary film director and screenwriter. The French-schooled director's films focus on the aftermath of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambod ...
's drama '' The Sea Wall'', based on the 1950 '' novel of the same name'' by
Marguerite Duras Marguerite Germaine Marie Donnadieu (, 4 April 1914 – 3 March 1996), known as Marguerite Duras (), was a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, and experimental filmmaker. Her script for the film '' Hiroshima mon amour'' (1959) e ...
. In 2009, Ulliel starred opposite
Jean Reno Jean Reno () (born 30 July 1948), is a French actor. He has worked in American, French, English, Japanese, Spanish and Italian movie productions; Reno appeared in films such as '' Crimson Rivers'', ''Godzilla'', '' The Da Vinci Code'', '' Mission ...
in the thriller '' Inside Ring'' (also known as ''Ultimate Heist''), directed by Laurent Tuel. He also portrayed the angel Xas in
Niki Caro Nikola Jean Caro (born 20 September 1966) is a New Zealand film director and screenwriter. Her 2002 film '' Whale Rider'' was critically praised and won a number of awards at international film festivals. She directed the 2020 live action vers ...
's English-language romantic drama film '' The Vintner's Luck'', based on the 1998 novel '' The Vintner's Luck'' by Elizabeth Knox, in which he appeared opposite
Jérémie Renier (; born 6 January 1981) is a Belgian actor. His film debut was in the critically praised (1996), directed by the Dardenne brothers. He became better known to worldwide audiences in ''Brotherhood of the Wolf'' (2001) and (2005). The latter ...
,
Vera Farmiga Vera Ann Farmiga ( ; born August 6, 1973) is an American actress who is best known for portraying paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren in the Conjuring Universe films '' The Conjuring'' (2013), '' The Conjuring 2'' (2016), '' Annabelle Co ...
, and
Keisha Castle-Hughes Keisha Castle-Hughes (born 24 March 1990) is an Australian-born New Zealand actress who rose to prominence for playing Paikea "Pai" Apirana in the film '' Whale Rider''. She was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Bes ...
. That same year, he also starred as Nathanaël in Alain Tasma's drama ''
Ultimatum An ultimatum (; ) is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance (open loop). An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series ...
'', set in 1990's Israel during
Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
. In 2010, he portrayed Henry I, Duke of Guise in
Bertrand Tavernier Bertrand Tavernier (25 April 1941 – 25 March 2021) was a French director, screenwriter, actor and producer. Life and career Tavernier was born in Lyon, France, the son of Geneviève (née Dumond) and René Tavernier, a publicist and writer, s ...
's romance film ''
The Princess of Montpensier ''The Princess of Montpensier'' (french: La Princesse de Montpensier) is a 2010 French period romance film directed by Bertrand Tavernier, inspired by a short story of the same name published anonymously by Madame de La Fayette in 1662. It star ...
'', based on the 1662 novel of the same name by
Madame de La Fayette Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne, Comtesse de La Fayette (baptized 18 March 1634 – 25 May 1693), better known as Madame de La Fayette, was a French writer; she authored ''La Princesse de Clèves'', France's first historical novel and one ...
. In 2011, he played William in
Emmanuel Mouret Emmanuel Mouret (born 30 June 1970) is a French actor, director and screenwriter. Life and career He was born on 30 June 1970 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. He graduated from La Fémis (9th promotion, dir ...
's comedy film '' The Art of Love''. In 2012, Ulliel made his stage debut in ''Que faire de Mister Sloane?'', an adaptation of English author Joe Orton's 1963 play, '' Entertaining Mr. Sloane'', in which he played the title role and was directed by
Michel Fau Michel Fau (born 1964) is a French comedian, actor and theatre director. Personal life At 18, he left his hometown for training at French National Academy of Dramatic Arts from 1986 to 1989. He trained with Michel Bouquet, Gerard Desarthe and ...
at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. That same year, he also voiced
Jack Frost Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, ...
in the French version of the animated film ''
Rise of the Guardians ''Rise of the Guardians'' is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy action-adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Peter Ramsey (in his feature directorial debut ...
''; and played Balthazar, one of the four sons of Nicole Garcia's character in Brigitte Roüan's comedy film, ''A Greek Type of Problem''.


''Saint Laurent'' and ''It's Only the End of the World'' (2014–2019)

He portrayed French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biographical film '' Saint Laurent'' directed by
Bertrand Bonello Bertrand Bonello (; born 11 September 1968) is a French film director, screenwriter, producer and composer. His background is in classical music, and he lives between Paris and Montreal. His work has also been associated with the New French Extre ...
, which earned him a
Lumières Award for Best Actor The Lumières Award for Best Actor (french: Prix Lumières du meilleur acteur) is an annual award presented by the Académie des Lumières since 1996. Winners and nominees Winners are listed first with a blue background, followed by the other no ...
and nominations for the César, and for the Globe de Cristal for Best Actor. In December 2014, Ulliel was a member of the jury of the Cinecoles Short Film section at the 14th Marrakech International Film Festival. In 2015, Ulliel starred as Tomas in an adaptation of
Lars Norén Lars Göran Ingemar Norén (9 April 1944 – 26 January 2021) was a Swedish playwright, novelist and poet. His plays are realistic and often revolve around family and personal relations, either among people who are impoverished and rooted at th ...
's play ''Démons'', directed by
Marcial Di Fonzo Bo Marcial Di Fonzo Bo (born 19 December 1968) is an Argentine actor and theatre director. He appeared in more than twenty films since 1997. Di Fonzo Bo directed several plays in France and was nominated for the Molière Award for Best Director in 2 ...
at the Théâtre du Rond-Point in Paris. In 2016, he appeared in two films: the lead role in
Xavier Dolan Xavier Dolan-Tadros (; born 20 March 1989) is a Canadian filmmaker, actor and costume designer. He began his career as a child actor in commercials before directing several arthouse feature films. He first received international acclaim in 2 ...
's ''
It's Only the End of the World ''It's Only the End of the World'' (french: Juste la fin du monde) is a 2016 drama film written, edited and directed by Xavier Dolan. The film is based on the play of the same name by Jean-Luc Lagarce and stars Gaspard Ulliel, Nathalie Baye, M ...
'' as Louis, a playwright who returns home after twelve years to tell his family that he's dying, in which he starred opposite
Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions. She has received ...
,
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He first achieved recognition for his performance as a troubled French Jewish youth in Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film '' La Haine (Hate)'', for which he received two César Award ...
,
Léa Seydoux Léa Hélène Seydoux-Fornier de Clausonne (; born 1 July 1985) is a French actor. Known for her roles in both French cinema and in Hollywood she's received various accolades including the Cannes Film Festival's Trophée Chopard in 2009 as wel ...
and
Nathalie Baye Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (born 6 July 1948) is a French film, television and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for '' Every Man for Himself'' ...
; and in Stéphanie Di Giusto's '' The Dancer'', an unconventional biopic of American dancer
Loie Fuller Loie Fuller (born Marie Louise Fuller; January 15, 1862 – January 1, 1928), also known as Louie Fuller and Loïe Fuller, was an American actress and dancer who was a pioneer of both modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques. Career Bor ...
where Ulliel portrayed Count Louis d'Orsay. In 2017, he was nominated for the Jury Prize for Best Actor at the
Riviera International Film Festival The Riviera International Film Festival (RIFF) is an international film festival dedicated to filmmakers under 35 that takes place every year in Sestri Levante. Since the 2018 edition, there is a section entirely dedicated to documentaries RIFF ...
for his role in Xavier Dolan's ''It's Only the End of the World'' alongside co-star
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He first achieved recognition for his performance as a troubled French Jewish youth in Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film '' La Haine (Hate)'', for which he received two César Award ...
. Ulliel also won his second César Award, this time for Best Actor, for his performance in the film, and also earned second nominations for Best Actor in both the Lumières, and the Globe de Cristal awards (the latter with Cassel also nominated). In 2018, he co-starred with
Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Described as "one of the best actresses in the world", she is known for her portrayals of cold and disdainful characters devoid of morality. She is the recipient of sev ...
in Benoît Jacquot's drama ''
Eva Eva or EVA may refer to: * Eva (name), a feminine given name Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters * Eva (Dynamite Entertainment), a comic book character by Dynamite Entertainment * Eva (''Devil May Cry''), Dante's mother in t ...
'', adapted from the 1945 novel ''
Eve Eve (; ; ar, حَوَّاء, Ḥawwāʾ; el, Εὕα, Heúa; la, Eva, Heva; Syriac: romanized: ) is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the ...
'' by
James Hadley Chase James Hadley Chase (24 December 1906 – 6 February 1985) was an English writer. While his birth name was René Lodge Brabazon Raymond, he was well known by his various pseudonyms, including James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Raymond ...
. That same year, he voiced British poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in ''Le Brasier Shelley'', a pictureless film in 3D sound; portrayed French soldier Robert Tassen opposite Gérard Depardieu in
Guillaume Nicloux Guillaume Nicloux (born 3 August 1966) is a French novelist, director and actor. He is the founder of the theatre company La Troupe. He has written crime fiction and directed films for cinema and French television. He won the Best Screenplay Awar ...
's
First Indochina War The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...
drama ''
To the Ends of the World ''To the Ends of the World'' (french: Les Confins du Monde) is a 2018 French film directed by Guillaume Nicloux. It was selected to screen in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Gaspard Ulliel : Robert Tass ...
''; and also starred in 's science-fiction film ; and in Pierre Schoeller's
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...
film, ''
One Nation, One King ''One Nation, One King'' (french: Un peuple et son roi) is a 2018 French film written and directed by Pierre Schoeller. It stars Adèle Haenel, Gaspard Ulliel, Laurent Lafitte and Louis Garrel, and shows the French Revolution in Paris from the ...
'', opposite
Louis Garrel Louis Garrel (born 14 June 1983) is a French actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his starring role in '' The Dreamers'', directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
,
Niels Schneider Niels Schneider (; born 18 June 1987) is a Franco-Canadian actor who has appeared in more than thirty films since 2007. Born in Paris, naturalized Canadian, Schneider moved to Montreal at the age of 9 to start his career doing voice-over jobs. ...
and
Adèle Haenel Adèle Haenel (; born 11 February 1989) is a French actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two César Awards from seven nominations and one Lumières Award from two nominations. Haenel began her career as a child actres ...
. In 2019, he portrayed actor Igor Maleski in
Justine Triet Justine Triet (born 17 July 1978) is a French film director, screenwriter and editor. She is a graduate of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Her debut feature, '' Age of Panic'', was presented as part of the ACID programme at the 2 ...
's comedy-drama film ''
Sibyl The sibyls (, singular ) were prophetesses or oracles in Ancient Greece. The sibyls prophesied at holy sites. A sibyl at Delphi has been dated to as early as the eleventh century BC by PausaniasPausanias 10.12.1 when he described local tradi ...
''; and played the lead role in the
Arte Arte (; (), sometimes stylized in lowercase or uppercase in its logo) is a European public service channel dedicated to culture. It is made up of three separate companies: the Strasbourg-based European Economic Interest Grouping ARTE, plu ...
/
Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
's time-travel miniseries '' Twice Upon a Time'', directed by Guillaume Nicloux, where Ulliel starred as Vincent Dauda, a man who gets delivered by mistake a mysterious wooden box that allows him to travel back in time to save his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, portrayed by Freya Mavor. In 2007 and 2019, Ulliel was a member of the jury of the
Deauville American Film Festival The Deauville American Film Festival (french: Festival du cinéma américain de Deauville, link=no) is a yearly film festival devoted to American cinema, which has taken place since 1975 in Deauville, France. It was established by Lionel Ch ...
in France.


Last roles and unfinished projects (2021–2022)

In January 2021, he was a member of the jury of the Gérardmer Fantasy Film Festival in France. Between April and May 2021, Ulliel filmed
Alex Lutz Alex Lutz (born 24 August 1978) is a French actor, comedian and director. He is best known for his role of Catherine in ''La revue de presse de Catherine et Liliane'' in '' Le Petit Journal''. Theater He has worked with comedians like Malik Ben ...
and Arthur Sanigou's ''
La Vengeance au Triple Galop ''La Vengeance au Triple Galop'' is a 2021 French comedy TV film directed by Alex Lutz and Arthur Sanigou, starring Audrey Lamy, Alex Lutz, Guillaume Gallienne, Leïla Bekhti, Gaspard Ulliel, Marion Cotillard, Izïa Higelin, and François Civ ...
'', a comedy TV film for France's Canal Plus (and a parody of the 1983 Australian TV series ''
Return to Eden ''Return to Eden'' is an Australian television drama series starring Rebecca Gilling, James Reyne, Wendy Hughes and James Smillie. It began as a three-part, six-hour mini-series shown on Network Ten on September 27–29, 1983. Gilling and Sm ...
''), where he appeared as plastic surgeon Danley Marchal-Widkins opposite
Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions. She has received ...
and
Audrey Lamy Audrey Lamy (; born 19 January 1981) is a French actress. She is the sister of the actress Alexandra Lamy. Personal life Audrey Lamy is Alexandra Lamy's younger sister. Since 2008, Audrey is in a relationship with Thomas. Filmography Feat ...
. This was Ulliel's last film to be released during his lifetime, and it was broadcast by Canal Plus on 4 October 2021. In June 2021, Ulliel finished shooting his penultimate film (and his last live-action) '' More Than Ever'', directed by
Emily Atef Emily Atef (born 6 May 1973) is a German-French-Iranian director, screenwriter and producer based in Berlin. Early life At the age of 7, Atef moved from Berlin to Los Angeles with her French-Iranian parents and her brother the drummer Cyril Ate ...
, which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2022. In July 2021, Ulliel joined the cast of the
Disney+ Disney+ is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned and operated by the Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. The service primarily distributes films and television se ...
streaming superhero miniseries '' Moon Knight'', set in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by ...
and released on 30 March 2022. He portrayed the villain Anton Mogart / Midnight Man opposite
Oscar Isaac Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada (born March 9, 1979) is a Guatemalan-born American actor. Known for his versatility, he has been credited with breaking stereotypes about Latino characters in Hollywood. He was named the best actor of his gene ...
,
Ethan Hawke Ethan Green Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an American actor and film director. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. Hawke has directed three feature films, three off-Broadway plays, and a doc ...
and
May Calamawy May El Calamawy ( ar, مي القلماوي, , born October 28, 1986) is an Egyptian-Palestinian actress who has worked and resided in the United States since 2015. She is known for her roles in the American television series '' Ramy'' as Dena H ...
, guest starring in the episode " The Friendly Type". Ulliel voiced the doll Scott in Bertrand Bonello's hybrid live-action and animation film '' Coma'', which had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival where it competed in the Encounters section on 12 February 2022, marking it as the first film released after Ulliel's death. Bonello said on 24 December 2021 that he had just finished filming ''Coma'', which makes it the last film that Ulliel filmed. but Ulliel's presence in ''Coma'' was kept a secret until it was selected for the Berlin Film Festival in February 2022. He was also set to collaborate for the third time with Bonello in the science-fiction film '' The Beast'', co-starring with Léa Seydoux. Shooting was scheduled to start in April 2022. In December 2021, Ulliel started shooting ''Tikkoun'', a Canal Plus's crime thriller miniseries about the
carbon tax A carbon tax is a tax levied on the carbon emissions required to produce goods and services. Carbon taxes are intended to make visible the "hidden" social costs of carbon emissions, which are otherwise felt only in indirect ways like more sev ...
fraud where he would play a character inspired by French businessman Arnaud Mimran, In January 2022, Ulliel was on a break from shooting ''Tikkoun'', when he died after a skiing accident. The production was directed by
Xavier Giannoli Xavier Giannoli (born 7 March 1972) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. In 2010, he was named a Chevalier in the ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order ...
, still had 84 more days of shooting and Ulliel was expected to return to the set on 24 January. On 18 February 2022, Canal Plus confirmed to France's '' Le HuffPost'' that actor
Niels Schneider Niels Schneider (; born 18 June 1987) is a Franco-Canadian actor who has appeared in more than thirty films since 2007. Born in Paris, naturalized Canadian, Schneider moved to Montreal at the age of 9 to start his career doing voice-over jobs. ...
will replace Ulliel in the miniseries. Ulliel and Schneider were friends and co-stars in the films ''
One Nation, One King ''One Nation, One King'' (french: Un peuple et son roi) is a 2018 French film written and directed by Pierre Schoeller. It stars Adèle Haenel, Gaspard Ulliel, Laurent Lafitte and Louis Garrel, and shows the French Revolution in Paris from the ...
'' (2018) and ''
Sibyl The sibyls (, singular ) were prophetesses or oracles in Ancient Greece. The sibyls prophesied at holy sites. A sibyl at Delphi has been dated to as early as the eleventh century BC by PausaniasPausanias 10.12.1 when he described local tradi ...
'' (2019).


Other endeavours

In 2003, at the age of 19, Ulliel walked the runway for the first and only time for
Hedi Slimane Hedi Slimane (; born July 5, 1968) is a French photographer and grand couturier. From 2000 to 2007, he held the position of creative director for Dior Homme (the menswear line of Christian Dior S.A., Christian Dior). From 2012 to 2016, he was the ...
's
Dior Homme Dior Homme is the menswear division of Christian Dior SA, the French clothing retailer. Dior Men has been under the creative direction of Kim Jones since spring/summer 2019. It had been directed by Hedi Slimane since the fall/winter 2001-02 seaso ...
Autumn/Winter 2003 fashion show entitled "Luster". In 2007, Ulliel appeared on the cover of the February issue of French ''
Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...
'' with supermodel
Doutzen Kroes Doutzen Kroes (, ; born 23 January 1985) is a Dutch fashion model. She began her modelling career in 2003, in the Netherlands and was quickly sent by her agency to New York where she was cast by lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret. She was a Vict ...
. In 2008, Ulliel was the face of Longchamp, a French leather and luxury goods company, along with Kate Moss.


Bleu de Chanel campaigns

Ulliel was announced as the face for Chanel new men's fragrance,
Bleu de Chanel Bleu de Chanel (literally translated as ''"Chanel's Blue"'' or ''"Blue Chanel"'') is a men's fragrance created by Jacques Polge for French fashion house Chanel in 2010. It was the first men's fragrance released by the brand since Allure Homme Sp ...
, on 16 February 2010, making him Chanel's first male ambassador. His first television commercial for the campaign was directed by
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, inclu ...
, filmed in New York City and debuted on 25 August 2010. Ulliel's second commercial for Bleu de Chanel was directed by James Gray and released on 5 February 2015. It was filmed in Los Angeles and featured Jimi Hendrix's cover of
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
's "
All Along the Watchtower "All Along the Watchtower" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan from his eighth studio album, '' John Wesley Harding'' (1967). The song was written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston. The song's lyrics, which in its original ve ...
". In 2016, Ulliel became the face of Chanel's first men's watch, Monsieur de Chanel. His third commercial for Bleu de Chanel was released on 1 June 2018 and was directed by Steve McQueen. Shot in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...
and London, it featured Ulliel crossing the city looking for a woman while
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
's " Starman" plays in the background. In June 2020, Ulliel narrated the last episode of the "Chanel Parfumeur" series, ''I Am a Fragrance Trail'', in both French and English. Ulliel was the face of Bleu de Chanel for twelve years. His last campaign for the fragrance was released on 8 December 2020. Upon his death, Chanel released a statement on their official Instagram and Facebook accounts paying tribute to him. Chanel also paid tribute to Ulliel during their Spring/Summer 2022 Haute Couture show at
Paris Fashion Week Paris Fashion Week (french: Semaine de la mode de Paris) is a series of designer presentations held semiannually in Paris, France with spring/summer and autumn/winter events held each year. Dates are determined by the French Fashion Federation. ...
on 25 January 2022. A model dressed as a bride finished the show by holding a bouquet of camellias—
Coco Chanel Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel ( , ; 19 August 1883 – 10 January 1971) was a French fashion designer and businesswoman. The founder and namesake of the Chanel brand, she was credited in the post-World War I era with popularizing a sporty, c ...
's favorite flower—tinted midnight blue as a nod to Ulliel and the Bleu de Chanel perfume.


In the media

Ulliel's androgynous look in films such as 2003's '' Strayed'', 2006's ''
Paris, je t'aime ''Paris, je t'aime'' (; ''Paris, I love you'') is a 2006 anthology film starring an ensemble cast of actors of various nationalities. The two-hour film consists of eighteen short films set in different arrondissements (districts). The 22 director ...
'', and his performance as Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 film '' Saint Laurent'', turned him into a gay icon. In January 2007, Ulliel was included on
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
's "What's In and Out for 2007" list in the "In" category. In June 2007, Ulliel was ranked No. 12 on France's
Elle ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
magazine's "15 Sexiest Men" poll. On season 4, episode 5 of ''
Call My Agent! ''Call My Agent!'' (french: Dix pour cent, lit=Ten Percent) is a French comedy-drama television series that premiered on France 2 on 14 October 2015. The series depicts talent agents at the fictional agency ASK (''Agence Samuel Kerr'') and thei ...
'',
Sigourney Weaver Susan Alexandra "Sigourney" Weaver (; born October 8, 1949) is an American actress. A figure in science fiction and popular culture, she has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Gramm ...
(playing herself) wants Ulliel to be cast as the male lead in her upcoming film. On 24 January 2022, he jumped from No. 8979 to No. 1 on
IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
's STARMeter chart based on page views following his death.


Personal life

Ulliel dated French actress and singer Cécile Cassel (the younger sister of
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He first achieved recognition for his performance as a troubled French Jewish youth in Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film '' La Haine (Hate)'', for which he received two César Award ...
) from 2005 to 2007, and Chanel's then-International VIP relations officer, Jordane Crantelle, from 2008 to 2011. He was in a relationship with French model and singer Gaëlle Pietri from 2013 to 2020, with whom he had a son who was born in January 2016. In July 2015, he was made a ''Chevalier'' ("Knight") of the Order of Arts and Letters in France.


Philanthropy and environmentalism

In 2012, Ulliel supported the charity campaign "Juste Un Coeur" ("Just One Heart") by choosing a blue T-shirt whose sales were donated to
UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to ...
's Action Against Hunger. That same year, he donated the coat he had worn in the 2010 ''Bleu de Chanel'' commercial to be auctioned off for the "Vestiaire Solidaire" ("Solidarity Closet") campaign in support of the French
Telethon A telethon (a portmanteau of "television" and "marathon") is a televised fundraising event that lasts many hours or even days, the purpose of which is to raise money for a charitable, political or other purportedly worthy cause. Most telethons f ...
and the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM). In 2018, he signed a petition supporting
Aquarius Aquarius may refer to: Astrology * Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign * Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages Astronomy * Aquarius (constellation) * Aquarius in Chinese astronomy Arts and entertainme ...
, the humanitarian ship chartered by the European sea rescue organization
SOS Méditerranée ''SOS Méditerranée'' is a European, maritime-humanitarian organization for the rescue of life at sea, currently operating in the Mediterranean sea in international waters north of Libya. The organization chartered the ''Aquarius'' and more rece ...
and carried out in partnership with
Doctors Without Borders Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...
, demanding the ship to be allowed to return to the sea and continue to rescue people in mortal danger in international waters after being prevented from saving refugees and turned back from the rescue zone off the coast of Libya in June 2018. In March 2021, he signed the petition of France's Society of Film Directors (SRF) entitled "Un jour sans fin" ("An Endless Day"), asking President Emmanuel Macron to reopen theaters in France following a decision to close them in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
. Ulliel was an
environmentalist An environmentalist is a person who is concerned with and/or advocates for the protection of the environment. An environmentalist can be considered a supporter of the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that se ...
and committed to planetary health. He said in a 2019 interview for ''
Madame Figaro ''Madame Figaro'' is a French magazine supplement to the Saturday edition of the daily newspaper ''Le Figaro'', focusing on and catering to women. History and profile The first edition was published in 1980. ''Madame Figaro'' was spearheaded by ...
'' that he was trying to fly less frequently for the sake of the environment, "but only action by governments will really make a difference." In 2019, he signed the petition "Résister et créer" ("Resist and Create"), created by the movement ''On Est Prêt'' along with
Cyril Dion Cyril Dion is a French writer, film director, poet, and activist. Early life and education After studying at the École d'art dramatique Jean-Périmony (drama school) and a very brief career as an actor, Cyril Dion coordinated projects for the ...
to challenge the world of cinema at a time of mobilizations for the climate, and also narrated the campaign "Nos objets ont plein d’avenirs" ("Our objects have plenty of future"), designed by DDB Paris for Ademe and the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, which highlights all the actions to be taken to extend the life of objects and help preserve the planet's resources and reduce the production of waste. While supporting the Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health in September 2021, he said: "We are facing an unprecedented ecological crisis. Never before has our planet and life on earth been so threatened. ..I want to be part of those fighting to leave a healthy planet for our future generations. Let's see this as a hopeful wake-up call. It is still within our reach, but not for long - we have entered this highly decisive period. Today, there are no more important concerns or priorities to address."


Death

On 18 January 2022 at around 4:00 pm, Ulliel was critically injured while
skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee ( ...
at the La Rosière resort in
Savoie Savoie (; Arpitan: ''Savouè'' or ''Savouè-d'Avâl''; English: ''Savoy'' ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Southeastern France. Located in the French Alps, its prefecture is Chambéry. In 2019, Savoie had a population ...
, France, when he collided with another skier at an intersection between two blue/intermediate slopes after turning left, presumably to join his friends on an adjoining slope, and suffered serious
brain trauma A traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as an intracranial injury, is an injury to the brain caused by an external force. TBI can be classified based on severity (ranging from mild traumatic brain injury TBI/concussionto severe traumatic br ...
. Ulliel was airlifted by helicopter to the trauma unit of the
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes The Grenoble Alpes University Hospital (french: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, abbreviated as CHU Grenoble Alpes or CHUGA) is a French teaching hospital built in 1974. With a total capacity of over 2 133 beds in 2020, it is the ma ...
in nearby
La Tronche La Tronche () is a commune in the Isère department, southeastern France. It is part of the Grenoble urban unit (agglomeration).Paris Match ''Paris Match'' () is a French-language weekly news magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. History and profile A sports news magazine, ''Match l'intran'' (a play on '' L'Intransigeant ...
'', Ulliel arrived brain dead at the hospital. An investigation indicated that both skiers fell to the ground after the collision, and that Ulliel was motionless and unconscious when rescuers arrived. The director of the La Rosière resort, Jean Regaldo, told France's BFM TV that Ulliel was not wearing a helmet when rescuers arrived. Helmets are not required on French ski slopes. Regaldo also said weather conditions were "perfect" at the time of the accident and that there were no rocks in the area of the collision, which he described as easily accessible. The other skier, a Lithuanian man in his forties, was wearing a helmet and was not injured. He told the investigators that the collision was not too violent. Upon hearing the Lithuanian skier and other eyewitnesses of the accident, the public prosecutor of
Albertville Albertville (; Arpitan: ''Arbèrtvile'') is a subprefecture of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. It is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In 2018, the commune had ...
, Anne Gaches, stated that wearing a helmet "would not necessarily have changed things", and that "it was not noted excessive speed, inappropriate behavior or fault of one of the two skiers". Following their testimonies, the prosecutor also declared that the two skiers evolved side by side and ran into each other. "For the moment, it is difficult to say whether it was the shock or the fall that led to Mr. Ulliel's death", she said. Gaches also stated that no autopsy would be performed on Ulliel's body. The resort offered psychological support for both the Lithuanian skier, who was very shocked, and for Ulliel's relatives. Ulliel was on vacation at the resort with his ex-girlfriend, Gaëlle Pietri, and their six-year-old son. On 27 January 2022, a memorial service for Ulliel was held at the Church of St. Eustache in Paris. It was attended by nearly a thousand people, including his family, friends and co-stars such as Audrey Tautou,
Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions. She has received ...
,
Louis Garrel Louis Garrel (born 14 June 1983) is a French actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his starring role in '' The Dreamers'', directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
, Jérémie Rénier (who also acted as a pallbearer),
Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Described as "one of the best actresses in the world", she is known for her portrayals of cold and disdainful characters devoid of morality. She is the recipient of sev ...
,
Vincent Lindon Vincent Lindon (born 15 July 1959) is a French actor and filmmaker. For his role in the film '' The Measure of a Man'' (2015), Lindon won Best Actor at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, Best Actor at the 41st César Awards and the IFFI Best Actor A ...
,
Niels Schneider Niels Schneider (; born 18 June 1987) is a Franco-Canadian actor who has appeared in more than thirty films since 2007. Born in Paris, naturalized Canadian, Schneider moved to Montreal at the age of 9 to start his career doing voice-over jobs. ...
,
Nathalie Baye Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (born 6 July 1948) is a French film, television and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for '' Every Man for Himself'' ...
,
Léa Seydoux Léa Hélène Seydoux-Fornier de Clausonne (; born 1 July 1985) is a French actor. Known for her roles in both French cinema and in Hollywood she's received various accolades including the Cannes Film Festival's Trophée Chopard in 2009 as wel ...
and
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He first achieved recognition for his performance as a troubled French Jewish youth in Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film '' La Haine (Hate)'', for which he received two César Award ...
. He was buried in a private ceremony at the
Père Lachaise Cemetery Père Lachaise Cemetery (french: Cimetière du Père-Lachaise ; formerly , "East Cemetery") is the largest cemetery in Paris, France (). With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Notable figure ...
in Paris. The La Rosière resort also paid tribute to Ulliel by symbolically stopping the ski lifts for one minute in tribute to him at 3:58 pm, which was the time of his accident on 18 January.


Tributes

Among those who paid tribute to Ulliel following his death were France's president Emmanuel Macron, who described Ulliel as "an icon of French elegance who dazzled the cameras", France's Prime Minister
Jean Castex Jean Castex (; born 25 June 1965) is a French politician who was the country's Prime Minister from 3 July 2020 to 16 May 2022. He was a member of The Republicans (LR) until 2020, when he joined La République En Marche! (LREM). Castex served f ...
, and France's Culture Minister
Roselyne Bachelot Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, generally known as Roselyne Bachelot (née Narquin; born 24 December 1946) is a French politician who served as Minister of Culture in the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex (2020–2022) and as Minister of Soli ...
, as well as peers and collaborators such as
Xavier Dolan Xavier Dolan-Tadros (; born 20 March 1989) is a Canadian filmmaker, actor and costume designer. He began his career as a child actor in commercials before directing several arthouse feature films. He first received international acclaim in 2 ...
,
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, inclu ...
,
Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions. She has received ...
,
Isabelle Huppert Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (; born 16 March 1953) is a French actress. Described as "one of the best actresses in the world", she is known for her portrayals of cold and disdainful characters devoid of morality. She is the recipient of sev ...
,
Juliette Binoche Juliette Binoche (; born 9 March 1964) is a French actress and dancer. She has appeared in more than sixty feature films and has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Silver Bear, ...
, Chanel,
Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux, Cannes Film Festival president Pierre Lescure,
Jean Dujardin Jean Edmond Dujardin (; born 19 June 1972) is a French actor and comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in Paris before guest starring in comedic television programmes and films. He first came to prominence with the cult TV series ...
,
Peter Webber Peter Webber (born 1968) is a British film and television director and producer whose debut feature film as a director was '' Girl with a Pearl Earring'' (2003). He subsequently directed ''Hannibal Rising'' (2007). Early life Webber took a one ...
, Pierre Niney,
Louis Garrel Louis Garrel (born 14 June 1983) is a French actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his starring role in '' The Dreamers'', directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.
, André Téchiné, and
Bertrand Bonello Bertrand Bonello (; born 11 September 1968) is a French film director, screenwriter, producer and composer. His background is in classical music, and he lives between Paris and Montreal. His work has also been associated with the New French Extre ...
. On 25 February 2022, the 47th César Awards ceremony opened with a tribute video to Ulliel featuring his last scene in the 2016 film ''It's Only the End of the World'', and a message on the screen that read "this ceremony is dedicated to Gaspard Ulliel". Later in the evening, Xavier Dolan, who directed Ulliel in ''It's Only the End of the World'', paid a tribute to him in the form of a letter addressed to Ulliel's mother, which he finished by saying, ''"Because a mother's love is stronger than anything. I believe it. Stronger than life. Stronger than art itself. And certainly stronger than death."'' Dolan's speech was followed by the ceremony's "In Memoriam" segment, which also began with a tribute to Ulliel featuring scenes from the films ''A Very Long Engagement'' and ''Saint Laurent''. On 27 February 2022, Ulliel was honored in the "In Memoriam" segment from the 28th SAG Awards ceremony, which featured his last scene in ''A Very Long Engagement''. Despite not being mentioned during the
Oscars The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
' In Memoriam segment on 27 March 2022, Ulliel was included in the online memorial from the official website of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...
among other artists who had died recently. On 13 April 2022, that week's episode of the Marvel Studios miniseries '' Moon Knight'', which featured Ulliel guest starring in the role of Anton Mogart, was dedicated to his memory with a tribute in the end credits. Marvel Studios also shared a tribute to Ulliel on their social media.


Aftermath

Following Ulliel's death, politicians and ski professionals urged for helmets to be made obligatory on the French slopes. Jean-Marc Peillex, the mayor of
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains Saint-Gervais-les-Bains () is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, southeastern France. The village is best known for tourism and has been a popular holiday destination since the early 1900s. It has of ...
in Haute-Savoie, stated that they must impose helmet-wearing to reduce the risk of serious accidents and also reexamine on a case-by-case basis the dangerousness of different pistes and potentially reclassify their colors. When asked if helmets should be made compulsory for skiing in France – like they are in other European countries – during a press conference on 20 January 2022, government spokesperson
Gabriel Attal Gabriel Attal (born 16 March 1989) is a French politician of La République En Marche! (LREM) who has been serving as Minister of Public Action and Accounts in the government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne since 2022. He was the government ...
said that it was "not the moment to begin a debate around the subject." It was reported that 97% of children under the age 12 do wear a helmet in France, but the National Mountain Safety Observation System noted that this percentage decreases as people get older. The Canadian Medical Association Journal estimates that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 35%. Ulliel's death caused a rise in the number of ski helmet sales in France. On 19 February 2022, Ulliel's ex-girlfriend, Gaëlle Pietri, announced that the family wanted to honor his memory by contributing to the French non-governmental organization Tara Ocean Foundation, which has the mission of raising awareness about the impact of climate change and the current ecological crisis on the oceans. Pietri said: "Gaspard was a diver, sensitive to climate issues and concerned about the protection of underwater biodiversity, he would have liked the momentum generated by his death to go to the defense of these causes that were close to his heart." A special page was opened on the foundation's website in memory of Ulliel to support this cause.


Filmography


Film


Television


Theatre


Awards and nominations


Decorations

* Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (2015)


References


External links

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Gaspard Ulliel
at
Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of At ...

Gaspard Ulliel
at The-Numbers.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Ulliel, Gaspard 1984 births 2022 deaths French male film actors Male actors from Paris People from Neuilly-sur-Seine French people of Italian descent French people of Spanish descent 20th-century French male actors 21st-century French male actors Best Actor César Award winners Best Actor Lumières Award winners French male models French male stage actors French male television actors Most Promising Actor César Award winners Most Promising Actor Lumières Award winners Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Cours Florent alumni Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis alumni Skiing deaths Sport deaths in France Deaths from head injury Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery