Léon Zitrone (born Lev Romanovich Zitron; 25 November 1914 – 25 November 1995) was a Russian-born French journalist and television presenter.
Biography Zitrone was born to a Jewish family in Petrograd, Russia. He arrived in France with his family fleeing communism at the age of six. He graduated from the ESJ Paris. He began by training in scientific studies but his mastership of Russian, French, English and German gave him entrance in 1948 to the radio foreign broadcasting services of Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF). In 1959, he joined the television activity of RTF. From 1961, he became news presenter, a function he occupied for nearly 20 years, first until 1975, on the first French television channel (now TF1), then also on Antenne 2, the other public service channel. Jean-Pierre Elkabbach called him back in 1979. He then took charge of the news program during the weekend (his contract was established until 1 February 1981). He would come back for those news programs also during the Easter and Pentecost weekends.
But Léon Zitrone's celebrity is due to the programs he presented or co-presented. He was host of the televised program Intervilles (French counterpart of Britain's It's a Knockout) with Guy Lux. He was a Tour de France commentator six times, and is remembered for his prodigious memory for names of riders. He presented the Olympics 8 times, commented the Eurovision Song Contest on 4 occasions and presented 16 Bastille Day military parades. His notoriety can be attributed to being a key commenter for big events, such as weddings, burials, or investitures of many prominent figures across Europe, some thirty of them during the course of his career.« École de journalisme de Paris »
In 1978, following French singer Marie Myriam's victory the previous year, the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Paris. Léon Zitrone co-presented with Denise Fabre and made the presentation in English.Histoire de l'ESJ Paris He was the oldest host of the Eurovision Song Contest, aged 63.
In 1984, Zitrone took a leading role in the movie American Dreamer.
Death
He died from a cerebral hemorrhage on his 81st birthday, 25 November 1995, at the Val-de-Grâce hospital in Paris. He was buried at Levallois-Perret Cemetery.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1959 Rue des prairies Himself 1961 Leon Garros ishchet druga Léon Garros 1961 Three Faces of Sin Himself 1961 The President Himself Uncredited1961 Cocagne Himself 1962 The Gentleman from Epsom Himself Uncredited1962 Portrait-robot Himself 1963 The Bamboo Stroke 1963 Méfiez-vous, mesdames Himself 1964 Dandelions by the Roots Himself / Voice commentary Voice, Uncredited1965 Operation Double Cross Himself 1966 Le caïd de Champignol Himself 1966 Un garçon, une fille. Le dix-septième ciel Himself Voice, Uncredited1967 Live for Life Le présentateur télé 1968 Pasha Himself / Horse racing commentary Uncredited1968 Ho! Himself / En personne Uncredited1969 Les gros malins 1969 Trois hommes sur un cheval Horse racing enthusiast Uncredited1971 Macédoine Himself Uncredited1972 Les intrus Journalist 1974 Mariage Himself 1975 Bons Baisers de Hong Kong French spy 1976 L'Année sainte TV actor Voice, Uncredited1977 Drôles de zèbres Horse racing commentary 1978 Et vive la liberté! Himself 1980 The Umbrella Coup Commentary Voice1980 La Boum Himself 1982 Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ 1983 Les Mots pour le dire TV presenter Uncredited1984 American Dreamer Ivan Stranauvlitch 1985 Le mariage du siècle Commentary Voice
Notes
References
See also
List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters Le Gentleman d'Epsom (film, 1962)