Georges Marchal (10 January 1920 – 28 November 1997) was a French actor.
Born Georges Louis Lucot in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, the strikingly handsome Marchal was discovered in the early-1940s by director Jean Grémillon. By the early 1950s, he had become one of the top male stars of French cinema, second only, perhaps, to actor Jean Marais. He was also a favorite leading man of filmmaker Luis Buñuel, appearing in the director's films La voie lactée, Belle de jour, Cela s'appelle l'aurore, and La mort en ce jardin.
In 1951, Marchal married French actress Dany Robin and together they were a popular couple, playing in the movies La Passagère (1949), La Voyageuse inattendue, Le plus joli péché du monde, Jupiter directed by Gilles Grangier (1952), and Quand sonnera midi directed by Edmond T. Gréville (1958).
On television, Marchal played Claude Jade's father in the TV-series The Island of Thirty Coffins, and appeared as Richelieu, and Philippe IV, and in adaptations of Balzac, Hugo, George Sand and Colette.
Divorced from Dany Robin since 1969, Marchal married Michele Heyberger in 1983. He had two children, Robin and Frédérique. Marchal retired in 1989 and died, age 77, on 28 November 1997 in Maurens, Dordogne, France.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Director Cast Notes1941Premier rendez-vousJean de VaugelasHenri DecoinDanielle Darrieux, Louis JourdanUncredited1942Le Lit à colonnesOlivier de VerrièresRoland TualFernand Ledoux The Man Who Played with Fire BernardJean de Limurwriter: Pierre Bost Summer LightJulienJean GrémillonMadeleine Renaud, Pierre Brasseur, Madeleine Robinsonwriter: Jacques Prévert1943VautrinLucien de RubempréPierre BillonMichel Simon, Madeleine Solognenovel: Honoré de Balzac, screenplay: Pierre Benoît, Pierre BillonPamelaRené BergerinPierre de HérainFernand Gravey, Renée Saint-Cyrnovel: Victorien Sardou1945 False Alarm Bernard DalbanJacques de BaroncelliJosephine Baker, Micheline Presle BlondineAstara Henri MahéNicole Maurey, Michèle Philippe1946 Dawn DevilsLieutenant Claude LegrandYves AllégretSimone Signoret1947The Seventh Door AliAndré ZwobodaTorrentsYann GetersenSerge de PolignyBethsabéeCapitaine Georges DubreuilLéonide MoguyDanielle Darrieux, Jean Murat, Paul Meurissenovel: Pierre Benoît1948La figure de proueFrançois MartineauChristian Stengel1949Last LoveAlain FontenayJean StelliAnnabella, Jean Debucourtwriter: Françoise Giroud At the Grand BalconyJean FabienHenri DecoinPierre Fresnaywriter: Joseph KesselThe PassengerPierre KerjeanJacques DaroyDany Robin1950The Unexpected Voyager Marc LansonJean StelliThe Last Days of PompeiiLysiasMarcel L'HerbierMicheline PresleThirst of MenSergent Léon BouvardSerge de PolignyDany Robin1951 The Prettiest Sin in the WorldJacques LebretonGilles Grangier GigoloMarceau Le GuernRoger RichebéArletty, Nicole Courcelwriters: Jean Aurenche, Maurice BlondeauThe Seven Dwarfs to the RescueThe Black PrincePaolo William TamburellaRossana PodestàMessalinaGaius SiliusCarmine GalloneMaría Félix1952Twelve Hours of Happiness Jupiter' L'inconnu - l'évadé de lasile psychiatriqueGilles Grangier1953Les amours finissent à l'aubeDidier GuéretHenri CalefLes Trois MousquetairesD'ArtagnanAndré HunebelleYvonne Sanson, Gino Cervi, Bourvil, Claude Dauphinnovel: Alexandre Dumas, screenplay and dialogue: Michel Audiard1954Royal Affairs in VersaillesLouis XIVSacha GuitrySacha Guitry, Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles, Édith Piaf, Jean Marais, Gérard Philipe, Micheline PresleMarchal plays the young Louis XIV - and Guitry the older kingTheodora, Slave EmpressJustinian IRiccardo FredaGianna Maria Canale, Irene PapasThe Contessa's SecretLucio FalengoGeorges CombretYvonne De Carlo, Paul Meurisse, Rossano BrazziThe Count of BragelonneRaoul de BragelonneFernando CerchioDawn Addams, Jacques Dumesnilnovel: Alexandre Dumas, adaptation: Alexandre AstrucLa soupe à la grimaceFrank KeanyJean SachaMaria Mauban, Dominique Wilms1955 Eighteen Hour StopoverL'inspecteur BérioRené JolivetCherchez la femmePaul MercierRaoul André1956 The Adventures of Gil BlasGil BlasRené JolivetBarbara Laage, Jacques Castelotnovel: Alain-René LesageCela s'appelle l'auroreDoctor ValerioLuis BuñuelLucia Bosénovel: Emmanuel RoblèsDeath in the GardenSharkLuis BuñuelSimone Signoret, Charles Vanel, Michel Piccoli1957Marchands de fillesMister JohnMaurice Cloche1958Girls of the NightCharlyMaurice ClocheNicole BergerQuand sonnera midiMichel DumartinEdmond T. GrévilleThe Warrior and the Slave GirlAsclepiusVittorio CottafaviGianna Maria Canale, Ettore Manni1959Sheba and the GladiatorConsul Marcus ValeriusGuido BrignoneAnita Ekberg, Chelo Alonso, Gino Cervi, Jacques Sernaswriter : Sergio LeoneWinter HolidaysGeorges TardierCamillo MastrocinqueAlberto Sordi, Michèle Morgan, Vittorio De SicaWild Cats on the BeachMaurice Mont-BretVittorio SalaAlberto Sordi, Giovanna Ralli, Elsa MartinelliLegions of the NileMark AntonyVittorio CottafaviLinda Cristal, Ettore Manni1960Fred HersantWilly RozierThe Dam on the Yellow RiverJohn BellAnita EkbergAusterlitzMaréchal Jean LannesAbel GancePierre Mondy, Orson Welles, Jack Palance, Jean Marais, Claudia Cardinale, Vittorio De Sica, Leslie Caron1961The Colossus of RhodesPelioclesSergio LeoneRory Calhoun, Lea Massari Napoleon II, the EagleGeneral Gustav von NeippergClaude BoissolBernard Verley, Jean Maraisnovel: André Castelot1962Ulysses Against the Son of HerculesUlyssesMario CaianoMike LaneThe Secret Mark of D'ArtagnanDuke of MontserratSiro MarcelliniGeorge Nader, Magali Noël, Massimo SeratoRobinson CrusoeJeff Musso1964L'étrange auto-stoppeuseJean Darcy1965The Dirty GameSergeTerence Young, Christian-Jaque, Carlo LizzaniHenry Fonda, Robert Ryan, Bourvil, Annie Girardot, Robert Hossein, Vittorio Gassman, Peter van Eyck1966DaciiCornelius FuscusSergiu NicolaescuPierre Brice, Marie-José Nat1967Belle de JourDukeLuis BuñuelCatherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel, Michel Piccoli1969The Milky WayThe JesuitLuis BuñuelPaul Frankeur, Laurent Terzieff1972Faustine et le Bel ÉtéJulienNina CompaneezMuriel Catala1977Closet ChildrenFatherBenoît JacquotBrigitte Fossey, Lou Castel, Jean Sorel1982A Captain's HonorGeneral KellerPierre SchoendoerfferNicole Garcia, Jacques Perrin, Georges Wilson, Charles Denner
Television Year Title Role Director Cast Notes1969Tout pour le mieuxSalvo ManfroniJeannette HubertJean Desailly, Giani Esposito, Denise Grey, Eléonore Hirtplay: Luigi Pirandello1970Le lys dans la valléeM. de MortsaufMarcel CravenneDelphine Seyrig, Richard Leduc, Alexandra Stewartnovel: Honoré de Balzac1971Quentin DurwardCrèvecoeurGilles GrangierAmadeus August, Marie-France Boyernovel: Sir Walter ScottL'homme qui ritLord DavidJean Kerchbronnovel: Victor Hugo1972Les six hommes en questionMajor LyttonAbder Iskerplay: Frédéric Dard and Robert HosseinLes Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings)Philippe le BelClaude Barma1974Paul et VirginieThe governorPierre Gaspard-HuitVéronique Jannotnovel: Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre1976The Gallant Lords of Bois-DoréSylvain de Bois DoréBernard BorderieYolande Folliot, Michel Albertini, Philippe Lemaire, François Maistre, Jean-François Poronnovel: George Sand1977Vaincre à OlympieMilo of CrotonMichel SubielaJean Marais1978RenaudEdouard MolinaroMarie-Hélène Breillat, Jean Desaillynovel: Colette and Willy, adaptation : Danièle ThompsonGaston PhébusCorbeyranBernard BorderieJean-Claude Drouot, France Dougnac, Nicole Garcianovel: Gaston et Myriam de Béarn1979The Island of Thirty CoffinsAntoine d'HergemontMarcel CravenneClaude Jadenovel : Maurice Leblanc1981Cinq-MarsRichelieuJean-Claude BrialyPierre Vaneck, Paul Blain, Madeleine Robinson, Jacques Dubywriters: Jean-Claude Brialy and Didier DecoinMaigret se trompeProfessor GouinStéphane BertinJean Richard, Macha Mérilnovel: Georges Simenon1985Meurtres pour mémoirePasquierLaurent HeynemannChristine Boisson, Christophe Malavoynovel: Didier DaeninckxChâteauvallonGilbert BossisChantal Nobel, Luc Merenda, Raymond Pellegrin1986Le coeur cambrioléProfessor ThurelMichel Subielashort story: Gaston Leroux1989Les grandes famillesUrbain de la MonnerieEdouard MolinaroMichel Piccoli, Pierre Arditi, Roger Hanin, Evelyne Bouix, Jean Desailly, Bulle Ogiernovel and screenplay: Maurice Druon(final appearance)
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