Jean-Pierre Cassel (; born Jean-Pierre Crochon; 27 October 1932 – 19 April 2007) was a French actor and dancer. A popular star of French cinema, he was initially known for his comedy film appearances, though he also proved a gifted dramatic actor, and accrued over 200 film and television credits in a career spanning over 50 years.
He worked with many notable directors, including Jean-Pierre Melville, Luis Buñuel, Abel Gance, Jean Renoir, Claude Chabrol, Sidney Lumet, Joseph Losey, Chantal Akerman and Robert Altman. He was nominated for a César Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in La Cérémonie (1995).
Cassel was also the father of actor Vincent Cassel, actress/singer Cécile Cassel, and rapper Mathias Cassel.
Early life Cassel was born Jean-Pierre Crochon in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, the son of Louise-Marguerite (née Fabrègue), an opera singer, and Georges Crochon, a doctor.Jean-Pierre Cassel | Obituaries theguardian.com Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road.
Career Cassel gained prominence in the late 1950s as a hero in comedies by Philippe de Broca such as Male Companion and through his role as 'Jean François Jardie' in the famous French resistance piece L' Armée des ombres.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he worked with Claude Chabrol (The Breach), Luis Buñuel (as Stéphane Audran's husband in The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie 1972), Ken Annakin (as the Frenchman in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines 1965), Gérard Brach (as Claude Jade's lover in The Boat on the Grass), Richard Lester (as Louis XIII in The Three Musketeers 1973 and its sequel The Four Musketeers 1974), Sidney Lumet (as Pierre in Murder on the Orient Express) and Joseph Losey (with Isabelle Huppert in The Trout). He also made an appearance in Oh! What a Lovely War as a French military officer singing 'Belgium put the Kibosh on the Kaiser'. In later years, he appeared in Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter (1994) and also as Dr. Paul Gachet for Vincent & Theo (1990).
In 2006, at the age of 74, he returned to the stage for a retrospective of Serge Gainsbourg, Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite. This homage to an old friend (he knew Gainsbourg in the 1950s) featured various songs of the French composer among which three unpublished songs named "Top à Cassel" – "Cliquediclac", "Ouh ! Là là là là", and "Viva la pizza" – all of which were intended for a television show aired in 1964.
In 2007, Cassel appeared in dual roles (as Père Lucien and the Lourdes souvenir vendor) in Julian Schnabel's film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
During his career, Cassel starred in more than 110 films, fifty stage plays, and many musical theatre performances and television shows.
Personal life Cassel was the father of Vincent Cassel, Mathias Cassel (also known as Rockin' Squat, leader of the French rap crew Assassin), and Cécile Cassel. He was "very close" to his children and his daughter-in-law, Monica Bellucci.
Death On 19 April 2007, Cassel died of cancer aged 74.
Selected filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1953Act of Love Un danseurUncredited1957The Happy Road Young lover at the Guinguette On Foot, on Horse, and on WheelsMariel1958Le désordre et la nuitUn jeune militaireUncreditedIn Case of AdversityLe trompettisteAnd Your Sister? 1960The Love Game VictorThe Joker Édouard BerlonCandide ou l'optimisme au XXe siècle Candide1961Five Day Lover AntoineGoodbye AgainDancerUncredited cameoNapoleon II, the Eagle Gustav von Neipperg1962The Dance AlbertThe Seven Deadly SinsRaymond"Avarice, L" segmentThe Elusive Corporal Le caporal/The CorporalArsène Lupin Versus Arsène Lupin Gérard Dagmar1964High Infidelity Tonino "La Sospirosa" segmentLes plus belles escroqueries du mondeAlain des Arcys "L'homme qui vendit la Tour Eiffel" segmentCyrano et d'Artagnan Monsieur d'Artagnan, de la Compagnie des Mousquetaires du RoyMale CompanionAntoine Mirliflor1965Nunca pasa nada JuanThose Magnificent Men in Their Flying MachinesPierre DuboisThe Lace WarsJolicoeur1966Is Paris Burning?Lieutenant Henri Karcher1967The Killing Game Pierre MeyrandAnyone Can Play Aldo1969Oh! What a Lovely WarFrench ColonelArmy of ShadowsJean François Jardie1970L'Ours et la Poupée GaspardThe BreachPaul Thomas1971The Boat on the GrassDavidMalpertuis Lampernisse1972The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie Henri Sénéchal1973Il magnate GianniBaxter! Roger TunnellThe Three Musketeers King Louis XIII1974The Four MusketeersLe Mouton enragé Claude FabreMurder on the Orient ExpressPierre1975That Lucky TouchLeo1976Docteur Françoise GaillandDaniel LetessierScrambled EggsLe représentant du dirigeant italienThe TwistJacques Lavolet1978Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? KohnerLes Rendez-vous d'Anna Daniel1979From Hell to Victory Dick Sanders1980Superman II French Officer at the White House Uncredited cameo1981Portrait of a Woman, Nude Pierre1982AliceRabbitThe Trout RambertEhrengard Cazotte1985Tranches de vie Le comte de Forcheville1987Vado a riprendermi il gatto1988Chouans! Baron de TiffaugesYoung Toscanini ComparsaUncredited1989The Return of the Musketeers Cyrano de Bergerac1990Mister Frost Inspector CorelliVincent & Theo Dr. Paul Gachet1991The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish Zalman1992Between Heaven and Earth Le rédacteur en chefAmor e Dedinhos de Pé Gonçalo Botelho1993Métisse Gynecologist1994Hell M. VernonPrêt-à-Porter Olivier de la Fontaine1995La CérémonieGeorges Lelievre1998The Ice RinkIce Rink's Manager2000Sade Le vicomte de LancrisThe Crimson RiversDr. Bernard Chernezé2003The Wooden CameraMr. Michel Vaillant Henri Vaillant2004NarcoLe père de Gus2006CongoramaHervé Roy2007Contre-enquêteLe docteur DelmasThe Diving Bell and the Butterfly Père Lucien et le VendeurVous êtes de la police ? Simon Sablonnet2008Asterix at the Olympic Games Panoramix
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1956La Famille Anodin Jean Lou Anodin1980Love in a Cold ClimateFabrice3 episodes1990The Maid C.P. OliverTV movie1995Tatort Bruno DupeyronEpisode: "Camerone"
References
External links
Le coin du cinéphage