MP
Michel Piccoli
Actor, Producer, Writer, Director
Born December 27, 1925Died May 12, 2020 (94 years)
Michel Jacques Daniel Piccoli is the son of Henri Piccoli, violinist and Marcelle Expert-Bezançon (1892-1990), pianist and daughter of the French industrialist and politician Charles Expert-Bezançon. In 1954, Michel Piccoli married actress Éléonore Hirt with whom he had a daughter, Anne-Cordélia Piccoli. In 1966, he married the singer Juliette Gréco, then in 1978 the screenwriter Ludivine Clerc, with whom he adopted two children of Polish origin, Inord and Missia.
Placed in an establishment for problem children, the commitments of the young Piccoli, are made in opposition to his maternal grandfather, senator of the Third Republic, financier of the Radical Party, and important industrial painter, accused by the trade union left and by Georges Clemenceau, of having intoxicated his workmen through lead white which causes lead poisoning.
Michel Piccoli then trained as an actor first with Andrée Bauer-Théraud and then during Simon. After an appearance as an extra in "Sortilèges" by Christian-Jaque in 1945, Michel Piccoli made his film debut in "Le Point Du Jour" by Louis Daquin. In the theater he distinguished himself with the Renaud-Barrault and Grenier-Hussot companies as well as at the Théâtre de Babylone. Noticed in the film "French Cancan" in 1954, he continued on stage and worked with directors Jacques Audiberti, Jean Vilar, Jean-Marie Serreau, Peter Brook, Luc Bondy, Patrice Chéreau and André Engel, and became also know in popular TV movies. Having become an atheist after a family bereavement, he met Luis Buñuel in 1956, and ironically took on the role of a priest in "La Mort En Ce Jardin". In 1959, he shot "Le Rendez-Vous De Noël", a short film by André Michel based on the short story by Malek Ouary "Le Noël Du Petit Cireur", in Algiers. The 1960s sounded his consecration, noticed in "Le Doulos" by Jean-Pierre Melville, he was revealed internationally with "Le Mépris" by Jean-Luc Godard alongside Brigitte Bardot. From then on, he toured with the greatest French and international filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Youssef Chahine, Manoel de Oliveira...
He began the 1980s with the interpretation prize at the Cannes festival in 1980, with "Le Saut Dans Le Vide" by Marco Bellocchio, and that of the Berlin festival in 1982, with "Une Étrange Affaire" by Pierre Granier-Deferre. . He worked with Jacques Doillon, Leos Carax, before trying his hand at directing. In 2001 he received the IX Europe Prize for Theatre. He was part of the jury of the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007, chaired by Stephen Frears. In 2011, he played in "Habemus Papam" by Nanni Moretti. The last film in which Michel Piccoli appears is the film "Le Goût Des Myrtilles", by Thomas de Thiers in 2013.
Politically committed to the left, member of the Peace Movement (communist), Michel Piccoli distinguished himself by his positions against the National Front, and mobilized for Amnesty International.
Michel Piccoli died on May 12, 2020 following a stroke in his mansion in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle in Eure. His funeral takes place in Évreux on May 19, 2020, where he is cremated, his ashes are scattered within the family property.
Placed in an establishment for problem children, the commitments of the young Piccoli, are made in opposition to his maternal grandfather, senator of the Third Republic, financier of the Radical Party, and important industrial painter, accused by the trade union left and by Georges Clemenceau, of having intoxicated his workmen through lead white which causes lead poisoning.
Michel Piccoli then trained as an actor first with Andrée Bauer-Théraud and then during Simon. After an appearance as an extra in "Sortilèges" by Christian-Jaque in 1945, Michel Piccoli made his film debut in "Le Point Du Jour" by Louis Daquin. In the theater he distinguished himself with the Renaud-Barrault and Grenier-Hussot companies as well as at the Théâtre de Babylone. Noticed in the film "French Cancan" in 1954, he continued on stage and worked with directors Jacques Audiberti, Jean Vilar, Jean-Marie Serreau, Peter Brook, Luc Bondy, Patrice Chéreau and André Engel, and became also know in popular TV movies. Having become an atheist after a family bereavement, he met Luis Buñuel in 1956, and ironically took on the role of a priest in "La Mort En Ce Jardin". In 1959, he shot "Le Rendez-Vous De Noël", a short film by André Michel based on the short story by Malek Ouary "Le Noël Du Petit Cireur", in Algiers. The 1960s sounded his consecration, noticed in "Le Doulos" by Jean-Pierre Melville, he was revealed internationally with "Le Mépris" by Jean-Luc Godard alongside Brigitte Bardot. From then on, he toured with the greatest French and international filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Youssef Chahine, Manoel de Oliveira...
He began the 1980s with the interpretation prize at the Cannes festival in 1980, with "Le Saut Dans Le Vide" by Marco Bellocchio, and that of the Berlin festival in 1982, with "Une Étrange Affaire" by Pierre Granier-Deferre. . He worked with Jacques Doillon, Leos Carax, before trying his hand at directing. In 2001 he received the IX Europe Prize for Theatre. He was part of the jury of the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007, chaired by Stephen Frears. In 2011, he played in "Habemus Papam" by Nanni Moretti. The last film in which Michel Piccoli appears is the film "Le Goût Des Myrtilles", by Thomas de Thiers in 2013.
Politically committed to the left, member of the Peace Movement (communist), Michel Piccoli distinguished himself by his positions against the National Front, and mobilized for Amnesty International.
Michel Piccoli died on May 12, 2020 following a stroke in his mansion in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle in Eure. His funeral takes place in Évreux on May 19, 2020, where he is cremated, his ashes are scattered within the family property.
Known For
Filmography
| 2024 | It's Not Me · as (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | Marx Can Wait · as Agostino (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2018 | Conversation avec Romy Schneider · as Pierre Bérard |
| 2017 | Coming Apart · as (archive Footage) |
| 2015 | Our Lady of Hormones · as Narrator |
| 2014 | Le goût des myrtilles · as Michel |
| 2012 | Lines of Wellington · as Leópold Scheitzer |
| 2012 | You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet · as Le Père |
| 2012 | Lines of Wellington (TV Series) · as Léopold Schweitzer |
| 2012 | Holy Motors · as Man With The Wine Stain |
| 2011 | We Have a Pope · as Melville |
| 2010 | What War May Bring · as Cameo Appearance |
| 2009 | Restless · as Maurice Reverdy |
| 2008 | The Dust of Time · as Spyros |
| 2008 | On War · as Le Grand Hou |
| 2007 | To Each His Own Cinema · as Nikita Kruschev (segment "rencontre Unique") |
| 2007 | Beneath the Rooftops of Paris · as Marcel |
| 2007 | Boxes · as Daddy |
| 2007 | Sexo en el plató · as Michel Des Assantes |
| 2007 | The Duchess of Langeais · as Vidame De Pamiers |
| 2006 | Belle toujours · as Henri Husson |
| 2006 | Gardens in Autumn · as Marie, La Mère De Vincent |
| 2006 | The Empire in Africa · as Narrator, French Version |
| 2005 | Magic Mirror · as Prof. Heschel |
| 2005 | Everything Communicates · as Narrator |
| 2003 | Raining Cats and Frogs · as Ferdinand (voice) |
| 2003 | La petite Lili · as Acteur Qui Joue Simon |
| 2003 | That Day · as Harald |
| 2002 | Divine Intervention · as Santa Claus Breathing |
| 2001 | I'm Going Home · as Gilbert Valence |
| 2000 | Everything's Fine, We're Leaving · as Louis |
| 1999 | Paris-Timbuktu · as Michel Des Assantes |
| 1999 | Libero Burro · as Uncle Tony |
| 1999 | The Happiest Place on Earth · as Récitant (voice) |
| 1999 | Nothing About Robert · as Lord Ariel Chatwick-West |
| 1998 | Beastie Boys: Body Movin' · as Inspector Ginko |
| 1997 | Passion in the Desert · as Jean-Michel Venture De Paradis |
| 1997 | Genealogies of a Crime · as Georges Didier |
| 1996 | Tykho Moon · as Mac Bee / Frère Mac Bee |
| 1996 | Party · as Michel |
| 1996 | Nitrate Base · as Cast |
| 1996 | Traveling Companion · as Cosimo |
| 1996 | Beaumarchais the Scoundrel · as Prince De Conti |
| 1995 | One Hundred and One Nights · as Simon Cinéma |
| 1994 | L'ange noir · as Georges Feuvrier |
| 1994 | The Emigrant · as Adam - Ram's Father |
| 1993 | La cavale des fous · as Henri Toussaint |
| 1992 | Le souper · as Chateaubriand (voice) |
| 1992 | Ca détourne · as Cast |
| 1992 | Le bal des casse-pieds · as Désiré, L'homosexuel |
| 1992 | Divertimento · as Edouard Frenhofer |
| 1991 | The Children Thief · as Mr. Armand |
| 1991 | La Belle Noiseuse · as Edouard Frenhofer |
| 1991 | Walking a Tightrope · as Marcel Spadice |
| 1990 | Martha et moi · as Ernst |
| 1990 | May Fools · as Milou |
| 1989 | |
| 1988 | Ya bon les blancs · as Père Jean-Marie |
| 1987 | Malady of Love · as Raoul Bergeron |
| 1987 | L'homme voilé · as Kassar |
| 1987 | La rumba · as Damien Malleville |
| 1986 | La puritaine · as Pierre |
| 1986 | Bad Blood · as Marc |
| 1986 | Le paltoquet · as Der Tölpel |
| 1986 | My Brother-in-law Killed My Sister · as Étienne Sembadel |
| 1985 | Adieu Bonaparte · as Caffarelli |
| 1985 | Partir, revenir · as Simon Lerner |
| 1985 | Death in a French Garden · as Graham Tombsthay |
| 1984 | Le matelot 512 · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1984 | Success Is the Best Revenge · as French Official |
| 1984 | Dangerous Moves · as Akiva Liebskind |
| 1984 | Long Live Life · as Michel Perrin |
| 1983 | The General of the Dead Army · as Benetandi |
| 1983 | The Prize of Peril · as Frédéric Mallaire |
| 1982 | Que les gros salaires lèvent le doigt! · as José Viss |
| 1982 | A Room in Town · as Edmond Leroyer |
| 1982 | The Eyes, the Mouth · as Tío Agostino |
| 1982 | Beyond the Door · as Mr. Mutti |
| 1982 | Passion · as Michel Boulard |
| 1982 | That Night in Varennes · as King Louis Xvi (uncredited) |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | The Passerby · as Max Baumstein |
| 1982 | La cerisaie · as Léonid |
| 1982 | Espion, lève-toi · as Jean-Paul Chance |
| 1981 | Strange Affair · as Bertrand Malair |
| 1981 | Confused Feelings · as Professor |
| 1981 | The Prodigal Daughter · as Le Père |
| 1980 | Docteur Teyran (TV Series) · as Jean Teyran |
| 1980 | Atlantic City · as Joseph |
| 1980 | Der Preis fürs Überleben · as René Winterhalter |
| 1980 | A Leap in the Dark · as Mauro Ponticelli |
| 1979 | The Bit Between the Teeth · as Pierre Chazerand |
| 1979 | Atrocious Tales of Love and Death · as Victor Navarro |
| 1978 | Le sucre · as Grezillo |
| 1978 | Little Girl in Blue Velvet · as Conrad Brukner |
| 1978 | L'état sauvage · as Orlaville |
| 1978 | Fire's Share · as Robert Hansen |
| 1977 | Spoiled Children · as Bernard Rougerie |
| 1977 | The Accuser · as Saint-Rame |
| 1977 | That Obscure Object of Desire · as Mathieu Faber |
| 1977 | Rene the Cane · as Ispettore Marchand |
| 1976 | Mado · as Simon Léotard |
| 1976 | F... comme Fairbanks · as Etienne |
| 1976 | Todo modo · as Lui |
| 1976 | The Last Woman · as Michel |
| 1975 | 7 morts sur ordonnance · as Dr Losseray |
| 1975 | Cinéma 16 (TV Series) · as Pierre Willer |
| 1975 | Leonor · as Richard |
| 1975 | Weak Spot · as L'enquêteur |
| 1974 | Vincent, François, Paul and the Others · as François, Médecin |
| 1974 | The Phantom of Liberty · as Le Deuxième Préfet De Police |
| 1974 | Lifesize · as Michel |
| 1974 | The Infernal Trio · as Georges Sarret |
| 1974 | Un amour de pluie · as Mr. Dellerue (voice) |
| 1974 | Don't Touch the White Woman! · as Buffalo Bill |
| 1973 | |
| 1973 | The Big Feast · as Michel |
| 1973 | Wedding in Blood · as Pierre Maury |
| 1973 | Themroc · as Themroc |
| 1973 | The Woman in Blue · as Pierre |
| 1972 | Cesar & Rosalie · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1972 | The French Conspiracy · as Colonel Kassar |
| 1972 | The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie · as Le Ministre |
| 1972 | Liza · as Giorgio's Friend |
| 1972 | L'udienza · as Padre Amerin |
| 1971 | Ten Days Wonder · as Paul Regis |
| 1971 | Touch and Go · as Valentin |
| 1971 | Max and the Junkmen · as Max |
| 1970 | The Things of Life · as Pierre Bérard |
| 1969 | Topaz · as Jacques Granville |
| 1969 | The Uninvited · as François Desailly |
| 1969 | The Milky Way · as Marquis De Sade |
| 1969 | Dillinger Is Dead · as Glauco |
| 1968 | |
| 1968 | Woman in Chains · as L'invité Pressé Au Vernissage (uncredited) |
| 1968 | Heartbeat · as Charles |
| 1968 | Danger: Diabolik · as Inspector Ginko |
| 1968 | The Diary of an Innocent Boy · as Count Philippe |
| 1967 | My Love, My Love · as Marrades |
| 1967 | Belle de Jour · as Henri Husson |
| 1967 | Shock Troops · as L'homme De Trop |
| 1967 | The Dinosaur and the Baby · as Paul Javal (archive Footage) |
| 1967 | The Young Girls of Rochefort · as Simon Dame |
| 1966 | The Thief · as Werner Kreuz |
| 1966 | Is Paris Burning? · as Edgar Pisani |
| 1966 | Elsa la rose · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1966 | The Creatures · as Edgar Piccoli |
| 1966 | The Game Is Over · as Alexandre Saccard |
| 1966 | The War Is Over · as Inspector #1 |
| 1965 | Lady L · as Lecoeur |
| 1965 | The Sleeping Car Murder · as René Cabourg, L'employé Besogneux (victime #2) |
| 1965 | Dom Juan ou Le festin de pierre · as Dom Juan |
| 1965 | Masquerade · as Georges Sarrassin |
| 1965 | Le coup de grâce · as Capri / Bruno |
| 1964 | De l'amour · as Raoul |
| 1964 | Chance at Love · as Philippe Decharme (segment "lucky La Chance") |
| 1964 | Paparazzi · as Texte Dit Par (voice) |
| 1964 | Filmmakers of our time (TV Series) · as Récitant |
| 1964 | Diary of a Chambermaid · as Monsieur Monteil |
| 1964 | L'Été en hiver · as Jean, The Reporter |
| 1963 | Salut les Cubains · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1963 | Contempt · as Paul Javal |
| 1963 | The Day and the Hour · as Antoine |
| 1963 | Le Chevalier de maison rouge (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1962 | |
| 1962 | Adieu Philippine · as Izquierdo Dans L'émission De Télévision 'montserrat' |
| 1962 | Climats · as François |
| 1961 | Rendezvous · as Paul |
| 1961 | Hauteclaire ou le Bonheur dans le crime · as Serlon De Savigny |
| 1961 | Amazons of Rome · as Console Publicola |
| 1960 | Les joueurs · as Chvokhniev |
| 1959 | Le chalet sous la neige · as Robert |
| 1959 | Beast at Bay · as Commissaire Jacques Guimard |
| 1959 | La nuit de Tom Brown · as Tom Brown, Jeune |
| 1959 | La marquise d'O · as Récitant |
| 1958 | Les copains du dimanche · as Le Directeur De L'aéro-Club |
| 1958 | Sinners of Paris · as L'inspecteur Vardier, De La P.j. |
| 1957 | The Foxiest Girl in Paris · as Franck Marchal |
| 1957 | Le quadrille des diamants · as Richard Burke |
| 1957 | The Camera explores time (TV Series) · as Koenigsmark |
| 1957 | Le plus heureux des trois · as Pianist |
| 1957 | The Crucible · as James Putnam |
| 1956 | Death in the Garden · as Father Lizzardi |
| 1956 | Shadow of the Guillotine · as Le Prêtre Réfractaire |
| 1955 | The Grand Maneuver · as Officer (uncredited) |
| 1955 | Bad Liaisons · as Un Inspecteur |
| 1955 | Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse · as Maurice Rouger |
| 1955 | French Cancan · as Le Capitaine Valorgueil |
| 1955 | Interdit de séjour · as Georges |
| 1954 | Daughters of Destiny · as Pasquerel (segment "jeanne") |
| 1951 | Without Leaving an Address · as Un Journaliste Aux Archives |
| 1949 | Le parfum de la dame en noir · as Lebel |
| 1945 | The Bellman · as Un Villageois |