Jean Rochefort

Biography

Jean Raoul Robert Rochefort (29 April 1930 – 9 October 2017) was a prominent French actor celebrated for his extensive body of work. Throughout his career, he garnered numerous awards, including an Honorary César in 1999.

Born in Paris to Breton parents, Rochefort's family resided in Dinan, although he was not born there. His education took place at the Lycée Pierre Corneille in Rouen. At the age of nineteen, he enrolled in the Centre d'Art Dramatique de la rue Blanche and subsequently attended the Conservatoire National. After fulfilling his military obligations in 1953, he spent seven years performing with the Compagnie Grenier Hussenot, where he distinguished himself in both comedic and dramatic roles. He later transitioned into television and film, even taking on directing tasks.

His breakthrough came in 1972 with the film Hearth Fires, where he portrayed a man who leaves his family for a decade, starring alongside Annie Girardot and Claude Jade. To convincingly depict an older father, he grew his iconic moustache, which he famously shed in 1996 for his role in Ridicule.

In the mid-1970s, he starred in the successful comedy Pardon Mon Affaire, solidifying his popularity. He also appeared in memorable roles in films like Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire and its sequel. In the 1980s, Rochefort became the voice of the French version of Welcome to Pooh Corner and recorded several Disney classics. A significant role awaited him in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, but due to health issues and production setbacks, the project was eventually cancelled.

Rochefort's personal life included two marriages; first to Alexandra Moscwa, with whom he had two children, and later to Françoise Vidal, with whom he had two more daughters.