Jean-Pierre Cassel


Jean-Pierre Cassel was a French actor.

Life and career

Cassel was born "Jean-Pierre Crochon" in Paris, the son of Louise-Marguerite, an opera singer, and Georges Crochon, a doctor. Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road. Then, Cassel gained prominence in the late 1950s as a hero in comedies by Philippe de Broca such as Male Companion and through his role as 'Jean François Jardie' in the famous French resistance piece L' Armée des ombres.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he worked with Claude Chabrol, Luis Buñuel, Ken Annakin, Gérard Brach, Richard Lester, Sidney Lumet and Joseph Losey. He also made a memorable appearance in Oh! What a Lovely War as a French military officer singing 'Belgium put the Kibosh on the Kaiser'. In later years, he appeared in Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter and also as Dr. Paul Gachet for Vincent & Theo.
In 2006, at the age of 74, he climbed back on stage for a retrospective of Serge Gainsbourg, Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite. This homage to an old friend featured various songs of the famous French composer among which three unpublished songs named "Top à Cassel" – "Cliquediclac", "Ouh ! Là là là là", and "Viva la pizza" – all of which were intended for a television show aired in 1964.
In 2007, Cassel appeared in dual roles in Julian Schnabel's film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
He's the father of Vincent Cassel, Mathias Cassel and Cécile Cassel.

Selected filmography