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Actor

1928-01-24 · Brunoy, Essonne, France · Male

1 series in the catalog

Michel Serrault (24 January 1928 – 29 July 2007) was a French stage and film actor who appeared from 1954 until 2007 in more than 130 films.

Life and career

His first professional job was in a touring production in Germany of Molière's Les Fourberies de Scapin.

In 1948, he began his career in the theatre with Robert Dhéry in Les Branquignols. His first film was Ah! Les belles bacchantes, starring Dhéry, Colette Brosset (Dhéry's then-wife), and Louis de Funès; directed by Jean Loubignac in 1954. Serrault appeared in the 1955 suspense thriller Les diaboliques, starring Simone Signoret and directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Throughout the 1950s, Serrault gained popularity in his comedy double act with Jean Poiret.

From February 1973 through 1978, he portrayed the role of Albin/Zaza opposite Poiret in the play La cage aux folles, written by Poiret. He recreated the role for the film version of the play, which was released in 1978. In 1977-1978 he played the composer Jacques Offenbach in a six-part series of one-hour episodes about the musician's life, each one focusing on a specific aspect or work. The success of the film version of La Cage aux folles helped Serrault, who had been primarily known for his comedy roles, establish himself as a leading actor in French cinema, and eventually as a dramatic performer. He later appeared in sinister roles in Claude Miller's Garde à Vue (1981) and Deadly Circuit (1982), and Claude Chabrol's The Hatter's Ghost (1982).

Serrault died from relapsing polychondritis at his home in Équemauville on 29 July 2007 at age 79. He was buried in Sainte-Catherine's cemetery in Honfleur and was transferred in 2009 to the cemetery of Neuilly-sur-Seine near his wife Juanita Saint-Peyron and daughter Caroline, who died in 1977. He had another daughter, actress Nathalie Serrault.

Theatre (partial)

Michel Serrault in French

Obituary - KSL Television & Radio, Salt Lake City UT

Obituary in Cinema2000.pt (Portuguese)