Jean-Louis Bernard Barrault (; 8 September 1910 – 22 January 1994) was a French actor, director and mime artist who worked on both screen and stage.
Biography Barrault was born in Le Vésinet in France in 1910. His father was "a Burgundian pharmacist who died in the First World War.":87 He studied at the Collége Chaptal until 1930, when he began his studies at the École du Louvre.:87
Theatre From 1931 to 1935 Barrault studied and acted at Charles Dullin's L'Atelier.:32 His first performance was a small role in Ben Jonson's Volpone. At the time, Barrault was unable to afford rent and Dullin allowed him to sleep in the theatre on Volpone's bed.:16 It was at L'Atelier that he first met and studied under Étienne Decroux,:41 with whom he would create the pantomime La Vie Primitive in 1931.:87
He was a member of the Comédie-Française from 1942 to 1946, performing lead roles in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Corneille's Le Cid.:32 He and his wife, actress Madeleine Renaud, formed their own troupe, Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, in 1946 at Paris' Théâtre Marigny.:161 In 1951 he published his memoirs, Reflections on the Theatre.Jean-Louis Barrault, Reflections on the Theatre. London: Rockcliff, 1951
He was made director of Théâtre de France in 1959, and remained in the role until 1969. In 1971 he was reappointed director of Théâtre des Nations. He retired from the theatre in 1990.:87
Film In 1935 he had his first film role in Marc Allégret's Les Beaux Jours.:87 He would go on to act in nearly 50 movies over the course of his career. One of his most famous performances was in Marcel Carné's film Les Enfants du Paradis (1945), in which he played the mime Jean-Gaspard Deburau.:161
Personal life He was the uncle of actress Marie-Christine Barrault and sometime sponsor of Peter Brook. In 1940, he married the actress Madeleine Renaud. They founded a number of theatres together and toured extensively, including in South America.
Death Barrault died from a heart attack in Paris on 22 January 1994, at the age of 83.:87 He is buried with his wife Madeleine in the Passy Cemetery in Paris.
Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes1935Beautiful DaysRenéMarc Allégret1936MayerlingStudentAnatole LitvakUncreditedUnder Western EyesHaldinMarc AllégretJennyLe DromadaireMarcel CarnéHelenePierre RégnierJean Benoît-LévyBeethoven's Great LoveKarl van BeethovenAbel Gance1937À nous deux, madame la viePaul BriançonRené Guissart and Yves MirandePolice mondaineScoppaMichel Bernheim and Christian ChamborantStreet of ShadowsLe client fouG. W. PabstThe Pearls of the Crownyoung NapoleonSacha Guitry and Christian-JaqueBizarre, BizarreWilliam KrampsMarcel Carné1938Oragethe AfricanMarc AllégretLe puritainFrancis FerriterJeff MussoJ'accuse!Abel Gance Mirages Pierre BonvaisAlexandre RyderAltitude 3.200ArmandJean Benoît-Lévy and Marie Epstein La Piste du sudOlcottPierre Billon1939Farinet ou l'or dans la montagneMaurice FarinetMax Haufler1941Parade en sept nuitsLucien ArdouinMarc AllégretMontmartre-sur-SeineMichel Courtin Georges Lacombe1942La Symphonie fantastiqueHector BerliozChristian-Jaque Le Destin fabuleux de Désirée ClaryNapoléon BonaparteSacha Guitry1944L'Ange de la nuitJacques MartinAndré Berthomieu1945Children of ParadiseBaptiste DeburauMarcel Carné Blind DesireMichel KremerJean Delannoy1947Le Cocu magnifiqueBrunoE.G. de Meyst1948Man to MenHenri DunantChristian-Jaque1950Vagabonds imaginairesLe récitant Alfred Chaumel and Jacques DufilhoVoice, (segment 'Le bateau ivre')La RondeRobert Kuhlenkampf, the poetMax Ophüls 1951Traité de bave et d'éternitéHimselfIsidore Isou1954Royal Affairs in VersaillesFénelonSacha Guitry1959The Doctor's Horrible ExperimentDoctor Cordelier / OpaleJean Renoir TV movie1960Le dialogue des CarmélitesLe mimePhilippe Agostini and Raymond Leopold Bruckberger1961Le Miracle des loupsLouis XI of FranceAndré Hunebelle1962The Longest DayFather RoullandKen Annakin1964La grande frousseDouveJean-Pierre Mocky1966ChappaquaDoctor BenoitConrad Rooks1977Jacques PrévertHimselfJean Desvilles1980The Lovers' ExileIntroducerMarty Gross1982That Night in VarennesNicolas-Edme RétifEttore Scola1988La Lumière du lacLe vieuxFrancesca Comencini
References
External links
Barrault Photo Collection