European Actors Archives - Page 12 of 26

Jean Seberg

Jean Seberg.

Jean Seberg had an unsual career. She was selected at an early age to star in Otto Preminger’s film of G.B. Shaw’s “St Joan” in 1957. She filmed for Preminger again in “Bonjour Tristesse” in France where she also made “Breathless”. She made her home in France for several years. In 1966 she returned to Hollywood to film “Moment to Moment” with Honor Blackman and “Airport” opposite Burt Lancaster in 1970. She died in 1979.

TCM Overview:

Jean Seberg was a gamine, blonde actress who landed the title role in Otto Preminger’s “Saint Joan” (1957) after a much-publicized contest involving some 18,000 hopefuls. She was best-known, however, for her contribution to New Wave cinema. The fresh-faced Iowan started acting in high school, but was a completely unknown 17-year-old when Preminger whisked her off to England. “Saint Joan” and its star were critically slammed, but Preminger went on to star her again in the soap opera “Bonjour Tristesse” (1958), which was scandalous and “modern” enough to buoy Seberg’s career.

After the silly but popular British comedy “The Mouse That Roared” (1959), Seberg was cast in Jean-Luc Godard’s landmark New Wave feature “A Bout de souffle/Breathless” (1959), which brought her renewed international attention. As an American in Paris, selling papers on the streets and romancing wanted criminal Jean-Paul Belmondo, she gave a careless, modern and very hip performance. Still, Seberg had to struggle through five unremarkable features before turning in a memorable performance as a schizophrenic in the title role of Robert Rossen’s “Lilith” (1964).

Seberg hopped back and forth from America to Europe, making a total of 30 films, although only a few of them were remarkable. In Mervyn LeRoy’s “Moment to Moment” (1966), she was a professor’s bored wife who drifts into an affair with murderous results. Seberg was another cheating wife in Irvin Kershner’s “A Fine Madness” (also 1966) and played a woman sold to a hard-drinking prospector (Lee Marvin) in Joshua Logan’s musical “Paint Your Wagon” (1969). Seberg was the passenger relations expert in the all-star blockbuster “Airport” (1970) and a woman going mad in Northern Africa in “Ondata di Calore/Dead of Summer” (1970). Her last feature was “Die Wildente/The Wild Duck” (1976), a German-language version of the Henrik Ibsen play. Seberg made her only US TV appearance in the ABC movie “Mousey” (1974), which co-starred Kirk Douglas and silent film veteran Bessie Love.

Seberg’s private life was far from happy. She was married four times: to Francois Moreuil (1958-60), who directed her in “La Recreation/Playtime” (1961); to Romain Gary (1962-70), who featured Seberg in “Les Oiseaux vont mourir au Perou/Birds in Peru” (1968); to Dennis Berry (1972-78), who helmed “Le Grande delire” (1975); and to Algerian-born Ahmed Hasni (1979), although she was not officially divorced from Berry. She supported the Black Panthers in the 1960s and early 70s, and when she miscarried Gary’s child in 1970, the FBI spread press stories that the baby’s father had been a Black Panther leader in an attempt to ‘neutralize’ her and destroy her career. Seberg, never very emotionally stable, attempted suicide almost yearly on the anniversary of her miscarriage. She was found in the back seat of her car, dead of a drug overdose, in Paris on September 8, 1979. Gary took the FBI to task publicly, and the bureau eventually admitted its complicity. In 1996, she was the subject of the independent film “From the Journals of Jean Seberg”, in which she was portrayed by Mary Beth Hurt

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Terence Hill

Terence Hill was born in 1939 in Verona, Italy. He began his career in Italian westerns. He went to Hollywood in 1977 and made “Mr Billion” and “March or Die” opposite Catherine Deneuve.

IMDB entry:

erence Hill was born as Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939 in Venice, Italy to a chemist. His mother was German, and as a child the family lived near Dresden, Saxony, Germany where they survived the Allied bombings of World War II. Italian film-maker Dino Risi discovered him at a swimming meet and he made his first film at the age of 12, Vacation with a Gangster (1954) (Holiday for Gangsters). He continued acting to finance his studies and motorcycle hobby. After studying classical literature at the University of Rome for three years, he decided to devote full time to acting. In 1962 he appeared inLuchino Visconti‘s The Leopard (1963), He then signed a contract for a series of adventure and western films in Germany. In 1967 he returned to Italy to play the lead inBlood River (1967). While on location in Almeria, Spain, he married an American girl of Bavarian descent, Lori Zwicklbauer, who was the dialogue coach for the picture. The producers of this movie wanted him to change his name. He then got a list with 20 names on it and 24 hours time to choose one of these names. He decided to take Terence Hill cause he liked it the most and it has the same initials as his mother’s name (Hildegard Thieme). They only told the public that “Hill” was his wife’s name out of publicity reasons. At this time of upcoming feminism a man who took his wife’s name was something special. In 1976 Hollywood called and he appeared in March or Die (1977) with Gene Hackman and starred in Mr. Billion (1977) with Valerie Perrine. Since then he has concentrated on action/adventure films starring himself and often working with long time partner Bud Spencer. Terence lives in Massachusetts and is a film producer, as well as talented and respected actor.

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

The above IMDB entry can also be accessed online here.

Akim Tamiroff & Leonid Kinskey

The great character actor was born in Georgia, Russia in 1899. He came to the United States in 1923. His film debut came in 1932 in “Okay, America”. He developed a solid reputation as a supporting player and was featured in such movies as “The Lives of a Benal Lancer” in 1935, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” in 1943 and “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” amongst several others. He died in 1972. He was married to the actress Tamara Shayne.

TCM overview:

Flamboyant, husky character actor in the US from 1923, who acted with the New York Theatre Guild before entering films. Ubiquitous in Paramount productions of the late 1930s, he usually played eccentric Slavic types, though he had a rare leading role in “The Way of the Flesh” (1940). From the early 1950s Tamiroff appeared in many European productions, with memorably baroque performances in Jean-Luc Godard’s “Alphaville” (1965) and three Orson Welles films. (He also played the title character of Welles’ unfinished “Sancho Panza”.)

Thommy Berggren

Thommy Berggren was born in Sweden in 1937. He is best known for his role as the army officer in the romance, “Elvira Madigan” in 1967. “Parlemor” in 1961 was his first film. ” His international movies include “The Adventurers” in 1969 and “The Ballad of Joe Hill” in the title role in 1971.

IMDB entry:

Thommy Berggren was born on August 12, 1937 in Mölndal, Västra Götalands län, Sweden as Tommy William Berggren. He is an actor and director, known for Elvira Madigan (1967), Sunday’s Children (1992) and Raven’s End (1963). He has been married to Monika Ahlberg since 1980. They have three children. Spouse (1) Monika Ahlberg (1980 – present) (separated) (3 children) Trivia (1) Close friend and collaborator with director Bo Widerberg for over 30 years. Personal Quotes (1) My father is my inspiration. He always said, ‘Thommy make sure that you have something meaningful to do, that you are helping people.’ I still respect him for that.

Yvonne Furneaux

Yvonne Furneaux was born in Roubaix, France in 1928.

Her movies include “Lisbon” in 1956 with Ray Milland and Maureen O’Hara, “La Dolce Vita” and in 1965, Polanskii’s “Repulsion” with Catherine Deneuve.

IMDB entry:

Yonne Furneaux was born on May 11, 1928 in Lille, Nord, France as Elisabeth Yvonne Scarcherd. She is an actress, known for La Dolce Vita (1960), Repulsion (1965) and The Mummy (1959). She was previously married to Jacques Natteau)

She is now retired from acting and lives in Lausanne, Switzerland. [January 2005]

Francoise Rosay. IMDB.

Francoise Rosay was a French actress who had a long career on stage and film. She was born in Paris in 1891. She achieved fame in 1934 in “Pensions Mimosas”.

Her US films include “September Affair” with Joan Fontaine in 1949 and “The Sound and the Fury” in 1958.

In Britian she made “The Brothers” with Patricia Roc in 1944. She died in 1974.

IMDB entry:

Françoise Rosay was born on April 19, 1891 in Paris, France as Françoise Bandy de Nalèche.

She was an actress and writer, known for Carnival in Flanders (1935), Drole de Drame (1937) and Pension Mimosas (1935). She was married to Jacques Feyder. She died on March 28, 1974 in Montgeron, Essonne, France.

Had three sons with Jacques Feyder: Marc, Paul and actor/producer Bernard, who appeared on films as Bernard Farrel. Attempted briefly a career as an opera singer. Sang four soprano roles at the Paris National Opera during the season 1919-1920.

Studied acting and singing at the Paris Conservatoire in 1913.

During the Second World War, she, and her director-husband Jacques Feyder, fled from occupied France to North Africa.

There, she worked for Radio Algiers, broadcasting propaganda messages on behalf of the Free French government-in-exile. For her efforts, she was awarded the Legion d’honneur after the war.

Joanna Pacula was born in Poland in 1957. She made her film debut in 1983 opposite William Hurt in “Gorky Park”. Her other movies include “Escape from Sobibor” and “Not Quite Jerusalem”.

TCM Overview:

This dark-haired beauty honed her craft on stage in her native Poland. Graduating from drama school at age 17, Joanna Pacula joined the Polish Repertory Company of Warsaw and distinguished herself in productions of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, “Othello” and “As You Like It”. She also found work in a handful of films, including Krzysztof Zanussi’s “Barwy Ochronne/Camouflage” (1977). Pacula was caught in Paris when Poland declared martial law in late 1981 and she eventually landed in the USA where she has specialized in playing European temptresses since her feature debut opposite William Hurt in Michael Apted’s “Gorky Park” (1983). She acted the part of the exotic beauty in numerous American TV series and movies, including the Holocaust drama “Escape From Sobibor” (CBS, 1987), “E.A.R.T.H. Force” (CBS, 1990) and “The Colony” (ABC, 1996). In features, Pacula was particularly effective as a model living under a curse in “The Kiss” (1986). More recently, she was featured in “Tombstone” (1993) as Doc Holliday’s lover Kate, “The Haunted Sea” (1997) and “Virus” (1999), playing a Russian scientist.

This TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Vicky Leandros was born in 1952 in Corfu, Greece. She represented Luxemburg in 1968 in the Eurovision Song Contest singing “Love Is Blue”. It did not win the contect but the song became an international hit. In 1972 she represented Luxemnurg again and won the contect with the song “Apre’s Toi”. Her TV work include s “Ses Les”.

IMDB entry:

Vicky Leandros was born on August 23, 1952 in Paleokastritsa, Corfu, Greece as Vasiliki Papathanasiou. She is an actress, known for The Eurovision Song Contest (1972), The Eurovision Song Contest (1967) and Der deutsche Vorentscheid 2006 – 50 Jahre Grand Prix (2006). She has been married to Enno Freiherr von Ruffin since May 1986. They have two children. She was previously married to Ivan Zissiadis. Her children’s names are Leandros ‘Leo’ Zissiadis (born 6 June, 1980), Maximiliane ‘Milana’ (born born 31 January 1985) and Alessandra ‘Sandra’ (stage name Sandra von Ruffin; (born 2 December 1986). Her parents are Leo and Boubou Papathanassiou. Her father Leo Leandros was famous as singer, composer, lyricist and producer of many songs. Is fluent in Greek, German, English and French. Although she is the daughter of Greek parents and has lived in Germany since 1957, she became the Luxemburg entry at the Eurovision Song Contest twice. In 1972, her song “Après toi” (the English version was called “Come What May”) won the competition. One of the most successful singers all over the world in the 1970s. To date, she has sold about 150 million records. Was elected town councilor of Piraeus on the Pasok List (15 October 2006), and is also deputy mayor of Piraeus.

Gerard Philipe was one of the major actors in French cinema. He was born in 1922 in Cannes. He made his film debut in 1943 and won stunning acclaim for his performance in “Devil in the Flesh” in 1947. Other movies include “La Ronde” in 1950, “Fanfan La Tulipe” and “Les Belles de Nuit”. Tragically he died at the age of 36 in 1959.

IMDB entry:

In 1940 Gerard left school and his parents wanted him be a lawyer. But soon his mother noticed that he was only interested in acting, although his father was against the idea. After timely intervention from Mark Allégret, who decided he showed some promise, Gerard’s debut was in Claude Dauphin’s play “One plain girl”. After this, Gerard decided to get into the conservatory. He was wonder even in music. He himself used to find necessary sounds – exact, unexpected, and unforeseen. All this helped him to portray amazing characters. Millions of people were inspired by him.

One day Georges Lacombe offered Philipe a part in his movie “Land Without Stars”. Critical reaction was very favourable and he became a star, taking on prominent roles in films such as “The Idiot”, “Devil in the Flesh”, “The Charterhouse of Parma”, “Such a Pretty Little Beach”, “Juliette, or The Key of Dreams”, “Fan-Fan the Tulip”, “Beauties of the Night”, “The Red and the Black”, “The Best Part” and “The Gambler”.

In 1951 Gerard Philipe married Annie. He dreamed of his own home and family, children. Their first child, Ann-Marie, was born in 1954, and in 1956 came Olivie. In 1959 Gerard returned to France. He seemed to be very tired. Doctors then gave him the bad news that he had a liver cancer. “He’ll live 15 days or 6 months”, – they decided. After that Gerard waited for death very calmly. On November 25, 1959 he died.

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Tea B.,mpicc@caucasus.net

Introduced to the stage in 1942 by actor Claude Dauphin, rave reviews in a 1945 production of “Caligula” opened the doors for him to film stardom.

Dying in 1959 at the peak of his stardom, a French commemorative stamp was issued only two years after his death. Only one other French star, Raimu, has had that honor bestowed upon him.

The above IMDB entry can also be accessed online here.