Louis Jourdan

Date of Birth: June 19, 1921

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: February 14, 2015

Biography

Louis Jourdan was a French actor born on June 19, 1921, in Marseille, France. He was renowned for his suave screen presence and embodying the quintessential debonair European leading man in numerous Hollywood films. Jourdan began his acting career in France, appearing in several films before being discovered by American film producer David O. Selznick during World War II. He gained international recognition in the 1950s and 1960s, starring in notable films such as “Gigi” (1958), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Paradine Case” (1947). Jourdan continued to work in both American and European films throughout his career, including memorable roles in movies like “Three Coins in the Fountain” (1954), “The Swan” (1956), and “Octopussy” (1983), where he played the villain Kamal Khan opposite Roger Moore’s James Bond. He also made numerous television appearances, notably in the 1977 miniseries “Count Dracula.” Despite his success in Hollywood, Jourdan remained deeply connected to his French roots. He was married to Berthe Frederique Jourdan from 1946 until her death in 2014. Louis Jourdan passed away on February 14, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 93.

5 Interesting Facts about Louis Jourdan

1. Louis Jourdan was fluent in both English and French, which helped him secure numerous roles in both French and American films.

2. He served in the French Resistance during World War II before embarking on his Hollywood career.

3. Jourdan was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2010 for his contribution to the arts.

4. His twin brother, Pierre Jourdan, also pursued a career in acting.

5. Louis Jourdan was often cast as a romantic lead or suave villain, roles that capitalized on his charming and sophisticated demeanor.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Louis Jourdan

1. “I never see my movies. When they’re on television, I click them away. Hollywood created an image, and I long ago reconciled myself with it. I was the French cliché.”

2. “I was always the lover, never the husband.”

3. “I had a very definite image in Hollywood. I was the sophisticated European, which was very limiting.”

4. “There is nothing better than being an actor, but there is also nothing worse.”

5. “The secret of my success? I was always on time.”