Revealed by his interpretations of burlesque, dreamy and blundering characters, the man who was awarded an honorary César in 2006 is today celebrating his 90th birthday.
Actor, director, screenwriter, producer and singer, Pierre Richard has established himself as a legend of French comedy cinema. Revealed by his interpretations of burlesque, dreamy and blundering characters, the one who was awarded an honorary César in 2006, is today blowing out his 90 candles. The Figaro takes this opportunity to look back on the memorable moments of his career.
Born on August 16, 1934 in Valenciennes, he takes his name from Pierre Richard-Willm, in homage to his mother’s favorite actor. Pierre Richard spent his childhood and part of his adolescence in the family château of La Rougeville in Saint-Saulve, where he was a student at the Henri-Wallon high school, then a boarder at the Notre-Dame institution. Before becoming an actor, his family planned a completely different future for him, hoping to see him exercise a ” real job ” He therefore studied physiotherapy without giving up the world of entertainment.
Parisian cabarets
In 1958, his talents got him noticed in a comedy series The Beautiful TeamIn 1961, he made his theatre debut and performed in Parisian cabarets, where he performed his first sketches written with Victor Lanoux.
Pierre Richard landed his first film role in 1968 in the film Alexander the Blessed d’Yves Robert. From the 1970s, the actor was recognized as a burlesque and poetic comedian and made his first film The Distracted One. Then came other notable achievements such as The Misfortunes of Alfred, I know nothing but I will tell everything (1973), We can always dream (1991) or even Straight into the wall (1997).Pierre Richard is currently working on a new film, The man who saw the bear who saw the man.
But it is his role as François Perrin in The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe released in 1972, then two years later The Return of the Tall Blond Man, marking his reunion with Yves Robert, which brought him fame. The film was a commercial success with 3.5 million admissions and won a special Silver Bear at the Berlinale.
This consecration allowed the actor to become one of the biggest stars of French cinema at the time. Under the direction of Francis Veber, he had a string of successes with The Toy in 1976, The goat in 1981, The Companions in 1983 and The Fugitives in 1986, a trilogy in which he shared the spotlight with Gérard Depardieu.
Resurgence of success in the 2010s
The 1990s were less prosperous. He notably appeared in Welcome aboard et The Thousand and One Recipes of the Cook in Lovebut the public reception was mixed. After a short break, the actor returned to the screens in 2003, in the comedy Married but not too muchThe same year, he presented his first one-man show, Misuse of memory, directed by Christophe Duthuron. The beginning of a prolific artistic collaboration between the two men. When the man of the theatre launched into directing 15 years later with The Old Furnacesa film based on a cult comic strip by Paul Cauuet and Wilfrid Lupano, Pierre Richard is also part of the adventure and is currently on the bill for Christophe Duthuron’s new film, Cracked available in theaters August 28.
BERTRAND GUAY / AFP
Pierre Richard previously starred alongside Johnny Depp in the historical drama Jeanne du Barry by Maïwenn released in May 2023.
A true one-man band, Pierre Richard made his first foray into music in 1985 by releasing an album soberly named Pierre Richard, followed 35 years later by Night to day (2020). This new album is in reality the song setting of a fictional essay in the form of an ABC by Ingrid Astier, A Little Praise of the Night. Published in 2014 by Gallimard, This text has already been performed on stage by the actor.The initiative was to allow Pierre to shine in roles that we always hoped for him and that he never had the chance to have in the cinema. Westerns, film noir…», Jb Hanak, who created the music for BFMTV, explained to BFMTV Night to day.
The artist will soon be in Rouen and Carpentras for a show-interview entitled 90 minutes with Pierre Richard during which the public will be able to ask him questions live. He will be surrounded for the occasion by musicians and a singer.