Jean-Paul Belmondo

Jean-Paul Belmondo, born on 9 April 1933 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Seine) and died on 6 September 2021 in Paris's 7th arrondissement, was a French actor.

He first came to prominence with a New Wave film, À bout de souffle (1960), which brought him international fame. He went on to confirm his talent in other films such as La ciociara (1960), Le Doulos (1962) and L'Homme de Rio (1964), which also modernised cinema. In 1971 he simultaneously became a film producer and distributor. In 1975 he steered his acting career towards commercial cinema. He then enjoyed several hits in thrillers such as Peur sur la ville (1975) and in comedies such as L'As des as (1982). Having also worked in the theatre early on, he returned to the stage in Kean (1987), to considerable success. He then alternated theatre with less commercial films, and also produced the play Le Dîner de cons (1993) before a stroke in 2001 kept him away from his activities for a time.

He regularly played brave, virile heroes and anti-heroes. His acting is characterised by a natural ease, with a streetwise wit, mockery, empathy and ardour, and he often performed his own stunts. Through his roles he remains an icon of French cinema. His career also includes a period of four films in Italy. He was nominated for a BAFTA for Léon Morin, prêtre (1961) and Pierrot le Fou (1965). He also won the Prix Brigadier for Kean and honorary awards such as an honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his career.