Jules Berry

Jules Berry
Born	Marie Louis Jules Paufichet (1883-02-09)9 February 1883 Poitiers, Vienne, France
Died	23 April 1951(1951-04-23)(aged 68) Paris, France
Occupation(s)	Actor,director
Years active	1883–1951

Jules Berry(bornMarie Louis Jules Paufichet;9 February 1883 – 23 April 1951) was a French actor.

Biography

Early life

Berry and his two brothers were born to parents who sold hardware and settled inPoitou.The family moved to Paris in 1888.Berry completed his studies at theLycée Louis-le-Grandand then graduated fromÉcole nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts.

Career

It was during his studies that Berry developed an interest in the theater. Following an audition, he was hired by theThéâtre Antoine-Simone Berriauto act inLa Mort du duc d'Enghienby Léon Hennique, andLe Perroquet vertbyArthur Schnitzler.

Later he performed at theThéâtre de l'Ambigu-Comiqueand theThéâtre de l'Athénée.During a tour inLyon,he was noticed by Jean-François Ponson, who hired him for a period of 12 years at the Théâtre royal des Galeries Saint-Hubert inBrussels.Audiences in Brussels gave him a warm welcome, where he played in productions such asLe Mariage de mademoiselle Beulemans.

Berry subsequently performed in 30 successful plays forMarcel Achard,Alfred Savoir,Louis Verneuil,and Roger Ferdinand. One of Berry's first movie roles was the silent filmOliver Cromwell(1911) directed byHenri Desfontaines.His first appearance in a talking picture wasMon coeur et ses millions(1931) withSuzy Prim.Over the course of his career, Berry acted in 89 motion pictures.

Bombastic, extravagant, and whimsical, Berry was as flamboyant as any entertainer of the period, includingPierre Brasseur.Berry is often considered one of the greatest actors in the history of French cinema.

Among Berry's best films are:The Crime of Monsieur LangebyJean Renoir,Les Visiteurs du SoirbyMarcel Carné,Le Jour Se Lèveby Marcel Carné,Strange InheritancebyLouis Daquin,BaccarabyYves Mirande,27 Rue de la PaixbyRichard PottierandL'Habit vertbyRoger Richebé.

Berry ended his film career in 1951 to interpret the texts ofJacques Prévert.

Personal life

Berry was romantically involved with actressesJane Marken,Suzy Prim, andJosseline Gaël.He and Gaël had a daughter named Michelle in 1939.

A compulsive gambler, Berry frequented casinos and horse races.In April 1951, Berry was admitted to the Hôpital Broussais, where he died of a heart attack caused by treatment for rheumatism. He is buried in thePère Lachaise Cemetery(division 80).

Selected filmography

• L'argent(1928)
• King of the Hotel(1932)
• Arlette and Her Fathers(1934)
• The Crime of Monsieur Lange
• 27 Rue de la Paix(1936)
• Monsieur Personne(1936)
• A Hen on a Wall(1936)
• Wolves Between Them(1936)
• Death on the Run(1936)
• The Green Jacket(1937)
• A Picnic on the Grass(1937)
• The Club of Aristocrats(1937)
• The Kings of Sport(1937)
• Balthazar(1937)
• A Man to Kill(1937)
• White Cargo(1937)
• The Two Schemers(1938)
• Final Accord(1938)
• Hercule(Alexander Esway,1938)
• Café de Paris(1938)
• Crossroads(1938)
• The Woman Thief(1938)
• Clodoche(1938)
• The West(1938)
• The Woman of Monte Carlo(1938)
• Le jour se lève(Marcel Carné,1939)
• Behind the Facade(1939)
• Case of Conscience(1939)
• Deputy Eusèbe(1939)
• The Duraton Family(1939)
• His Uncle from Normandy(1939)
• The Mondesir Heir(1940)
• Facing Destiny(1940)
• Paris-New York(1940)
• The Devil's Envoys(Les Visiteurs du Soir,Marcel Carné,1942)
• The Murderer is Afraid at Night(1942)
• Return to Happiness(1942)
• Room 13(1942)
• Sad Loves(1943)
• Marie-Martine(1943)
• The White Truck(1943)
• After the Storm(1943)
• The Midnight Sun(1943)
• Strange Inheritance(1943)
• I'll Always Love You(1943)
• Behold Beatrice(1944)
• Death No Longer Awaits(1944)
• Dorothy Looks for Love(1945)
• The Murderer is Not Guilty(1946)
• Messieurs Ludovic(1946)
• Star Without Light(1946)
• Monsieur Grégoire Escapes(1946)
• The Crowned Fish Tavern(1947)
• Blonde(1950)
• Without Trumpet or Drum(1950)

External links

• Jules BerryatIMDb
• Jules BerryatFind a Grave