Louis Jourdan Paintings

Louis Jourdan was a distinguished French film and television actor, whose career spanned several decades, bringing him fame on both sides of the Atlantic. Born Louis Robert Gendre on June 19, 1921, in Marseille, France, he was the son of a hotel owner and his upbringing was comfortably bourgeois. Jourdan's interest in acting led him to study under René Simon in Paris, and he soon began his acting career on the French stage.

During World War II, Jourdan and his two brothers were active in the French Resistance, a period that marked not just his personal life but also the early stages of his acting career. Post-war, his handsome looks and refined demeanor caught the attention of Hollywood, and he was soon cast in Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Paradine Case' (1947), marking his transition to English-speaking roles.

Jourdan's portrayal of suave and sophisticated characters made him a popular leading man in the 1950s and 1960s. He is perhaps best known for his roles in 'Letter from an Unknown Woman' (1948), 'Gigi' (1958), and as the villain in the James Bond film 'Octopussy' (1983). Despite his success in Hollywood, Jourdan never abandoned his French roots or his love for the French cinema and stage.

Throughout his career, Jourdan struggled with the typecasting of the charming, debonair European, which he felt limited his opportunities to display his range as an actor. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a long and varied career, appearing in both film and television, including a memorable role in the miniseries 'The Count of Monte Cristo' (1975) as Edmond Dantès.

Louis Jourdan's personal life was marked by his longstanding marriage to Berthe Frédérique (nicknamed Quique). The couple married in 1946 and remained together until her death in 2014. They had one son, Louis Henry Jourdan, who passed away in 1981.

Jourdan died on February 14, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of elegance and an extensive body of work that continues to be celebrated by film enthusiasts and scholars alike. His contributions to both French and American cinema have made him a lasting figure in the world of international film.