Jacques Villeret (; 6 February 1951 – 28 January 2005) was a French actor, best known internationally for his role as François Pignon in the comedy Le Dîner de Cons. During his career, he earned many awards including the prestigious medal and title of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.Jacques Villeret - Biography
Life and career Villeret was born Jacky Boufroura in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France, to an Algerian father and a French mother.Jacques Villeret - News & actus people sur Premiere He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSAD), where Louis Seigner, the grandfather of Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathilde Seigner, was one of his teachers. While he was most famous for his role as François Pignon in Le Dîner de Cons; both on the stage and in the film, his other celebrated roles included the extra terrestrial in La soupe aux choux, the autistic Mo in L'été en pente douce, and marshal Ludwig von Apfelstrudel in Papy fait de la résistance.
At the time of making the film Un aller simple directed by Laurent Heynemann – a film about integration and racism and the clash of generations – Villeret said that watching the young actors in the film, Barbara Schulz and Lorant Deutsch, reminded him of the insouciance he had had as a young man with his friends at the Conservatoire.
When his career was at its height, with the success of Le Dîner de Cons, everything collapsed in a tragedy mirroring the plot of the film. Villeret separated from his wife and suffered an enormous financial downfall due to tax issues, plunging him into depression. Villeret turned to alcohol for comfort, and became an alcoholic. He isolated himself and hid away for long periods. He later said: "Alcohol is a friend, but a friend who means you harm."Paris Match, 14 June 2001
Villeret's love of his profession helped to bring his career back from the brink. In an interview in 2001 he spoke of his admiration for performers like Johnny Hallyday and Jacques Brel for their level of commitment, and quoted the author Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "When I write, I put my balls on the table."Paris Match, 14 June 2001
In 1979 Villeret married Irina Tarassov, an actress and writer. They separated in 1998. Tarassov wrote about their life together in her book Un jour, tout ira bien. (One day, everything will go well).Irina Tarassov-Villeret, Un jour, tout ira bien,
In 2002 Villeret met Seny, a Senegalese-French widow descended through her grandfather, Mor Diarra N'Dao, from a long line of Sérès nobles of the ancient Kingdom of Saloum, and they fell instantly and deeply in love. They were partners for three years, and she was about to move to Paris to be with him when he died in Évreux on 28 January 2005 of a liver haemorrhage. Seny wrote a memoir of their life together, Jacques Villeret, mon bébé blanc, which was published in Paris by Le Cherche Midi in 2005.
Filmography YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes1973R.A.S.Soldier GirotYves Boisset1974Un amour de pluieGuillaumeJean-Claude BrialyThe Mouth AgapeMaurice PialatUncreditedAnd Now My LoveSpectatorClaude Lelouch1975Serious as PleasurePolicemanRobert BenayounThe Common ManGéraldYves Boisset1976The Good and the BadSimonClaude LelouchIf I Had to Do It All Over AgainReal Estate BrokerClaude LelouchLes Naufragés de l'île de la TortueBernard 'Petit Nono' DupoirierJacques Rozier1977Another Man, Another ChanceCustomerClaude Lelouch1978Robert et RobertRobert VilliersClaude LelouchMon premier amourJacques LabrousseElie ChouraquiPasse montagneGeorgesJean-François StéveninUn balcon en forêtSoldier GourcuffMichel Mitrani1979Confidences pour confidencesJob-Seeking StudentPascal ThomasAn Adventure for TwoUncle MusiqueClaude LelouchBête, mais disciplinéJacques CardotClaude ZidiRien ne va plusHenri Fisserman / Paul Flantier / Bouli / Dr. Delomien / Jacques du Breuil / Robert Valier / Florence / Commissaire Blandin / Le patron de La Grenade / M. FremelinJean-Michel Ribes1981MalevilMomoChristian de ChalongeLes Uns et les AutresJacquesClaude LelouchLa Soupe aux chouxThe AlienJean Girault1982The Big BrotherInspector ColeauFrancis Girod1983DantonFrançois Joseph WestermannAndrzej WajdaEffractionValentin TralandeDaniel DuvalÉdith et MarcelJacques BarbierClaude LelouchCirculez y'a rien à voirPelissierPatrice LeconteFirst Name: CarmenMan at the Petrol StationJean-Luc GodardPapy fait de la résistanceLudwig Von ApfelstrudelJean-Marie PoiréWaiter!GilbertClaude Sautet1984Les MorfalousBéralHenri Verneuil1985Drôle de samediMauriceTunç OkanHold-UpJérémie PlanchetAlexandre ArcadyLes Folles Années du twistMr. John WayneMahmoud Zemmouri1986La galette du roiPrince Utte of DanemarkBlack Mic MacMichel Le GorguesThomas GilouLes Frères PetardMomoHerve Palud1987L'été en pente douceMaurice Leheurt, aka MoGérard KrawczykKeep Your Right UpManJean-Luc Godard1988La petite amieGuillaume BertinLuc BéraudMangeclousSalomonMoshé Mizrahi1990Trois annéesAlexandre GuillermenFabrice Cazeneuve1991Les secrets professionnels du Dr ApfelglückMartineauThe Favour, the Watch and the Very Big FishCharles, the lingerie expertBen Lewin1992588, rue ParadisAlexandreHenri VerneuilLe bal des casse-piedsJérômeYves RobertLe fils du MékongDurieuxFrançois LeterrierLe Batteur Du BoléroDrummerPatrice LeconteShortMayrigAlexandreHenri Verneuil2 episodes1994ParanoGas Station Attendant(episode "Nuit d'essence")1996Golden BoyAntoine BonvoisinJean-Pierre Vergne1998Le Dîner de ConsFrançois PignonFrancis VeberMookieBrother BenoîtHervé Palud1999The Children of the MarshlandRitonJean Becker2000Les ActeursHimselfBertrand Blier2001A Crime in ParadiseJojo BraconnierJean BeckerUn aller simpleJean-PierreLaurent Heynemann2003Strange GardensJacques PouzayJean BeckerLe FuretLe FuretJean-Pierre Mocky2004Malabar PrincessGaspardGilles LegrandVipère au poingJacques RézeauPhilippe de Broca2005IznogoudCaliph Haroun El PoussahPatrick BraoudéL'AntidoteAndré MorinVincent de BrusGrey SoulsJudge MierckYves AngeloLes parrainsLucienFrédéric Forestier
Theatre 1990 : La Contrebasse 1993 : Le Dîner de cons 2000 : Jeffrey Bernard est souffrant
Awards 1979 : César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Robert et Robert 1999 : César Award for Best Actor for Le Dîner de cons 1999 : Lumière Award for Best Actor for Le Dîner de cons Chevalier des Arts et Lettres Légion d'honneur
References
External links
Visit Jacques's grave in Perrusson near Loches, France