The veteran French actor, Louis Jourdan, died on Saturday in California, at the age of 93. The actor has been most popularly known for his work in the movie “Gigi.” The movie, released in late 1950s, was among the most successful films of its time. Jourdan described himself as the “French Cliché.”
The beloved actor passed away on Saturday at his home in Paris. The news was confirmed by Reuters reporters who received a phone call from Jourdan’s biographer, Oliver Minnie. The two had been close friends for a long time.
Jourdan’s “Gigi” had won as many as nine Oscars in the 1959 Academy Awards, which at the time, was a record. The movie had won the best picture, as well as the best director awards for Vincente Minnelli. Jourdan played a sauve bon vivant in the film, Gaston, who was fell in love with Leslie Caron, the title character, as she emerges as a courtesan-in-training, from a tomboy. Jourdan even sang a song in the movie, the title track, for which he won an Oscar.
Having grown up as Louis Gendre in Cannes with his father, Jourdan later took on the surname of his mother to pursue an acting career. He learnt acting at Ecole Dramatique in Paris. However, his acting career was not a smooth path, and just when it had almost begun, it was discontinued by the Second World War. At the time, he was ordered by the Nazis to make propaganda films. But the actor fled to the south of France to take part in the French Resistance.
Jourdan stepped back into his acting career soon after the end of the war when he caught the attention of the Hollywood producer David O. Selznick. He offered him an important role in the 1947 film “The Paradine Case,” alongside Gregory Peck.
Jourdan’s dashing looks bagged him mostly romantic films for most of his career. However, he has also played evil roles in many films. One role he is well-appreciated for his negative role in the Bond film, “Octopussy.”
