Gérard Depardieu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gérard Depardieu
Depardieu at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival
Born	Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu (1948-12-27) 27 December 1948 (age 76) Châteauroux, France
Citizenship	France Russia United Arab Emirates
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1967–2024
Spouse(s)	Élisabeth Depardieu ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1996)​
Partner(s)	Carole Bouquet (c. 1997; sep. 2005) Clémentine Igou (c. 2005; sep. 2023) Magda Vavrusova (2024–present)
Children	4, including Guillaume and Julie

Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu (born 27 December 1948) is a famous French actor. He is known for being one of the most active actors in movie history. He is a big star in French cinema, like Alain Delon or Brigitte Bardot.

Since 1967, he has made over 250 films, mostly playing the main character. Depardieu has worked with more than 150 film directors. Some famous directors he worked with include Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Ridley Scott. He is the second highest-earning actor in French cinema, after Louis de Funès. He has also been in many TV shows, stage plays, and even released music and books. He is famous for playing many historical figures and fictional characters. These include Cyrano de Bergerac, Jean Valjean, and Obélix.

Depardieu has received many awards for his acting. He won the César Award for Best Actor for The Last Metro (1980). He also won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for Police (1985). His role in Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. He also got his second César Award for Best Actor and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He also won a Golden Globe Award for the comedy Green Card (1990). He has acted in big Hollywood movies like 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) and Life of Pi (2012).

Early Life and Beginnings

Depardieu in 1976 on the set of Novecento

Depardieu at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival

Gérard Depardieu was born on December 27, 1948, in Châteauroux, France. He was one of five children. His mother, Anne, stayed at home. His father, René, was a metal worker and a volunteer fireman. Both his parents were born in 1923 and passed away in 1988.

Gérard grew up in a poor family. They lived in a small two-room apartment. He helped his mother when his younger brothers and sisters were born. He spent more time outside than in school, leaving at age 13. He had trouble reading and speaking clearly. He learned to read later in life. He worked at a print shop and also took part in boxing matches.

Acting Career Highlights

When he was 16, Depardieu moved from Châteauroux to Paris. He started acting at a new comedy theater called Café de la Gare. He studied acting with Jean-Laurent Cochet. Even though he didn't have much formal education, he studied classic plays. He also had therapy to improve his speech and memory.

His first movie role that got a lot of attention was Jean-Claude in Les Valseuses (1974). He also starred in 1900 (1976) with Robert De Niro. He won his first César Award for Best Actor for his role in The Last Metro (1980). He made many films with actress Catherine Deneuve.

Depardieu became known around the world after playing a farmer in Jean de Florette (1986). He also gained fame for his main role in Cyrano de Bergerac (1990). For this film, he won his second César Award and the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. He was also nominated for an Academy Award.

He co-starred in the English movie Green Card (1991), which won him a Golden Globe Award. He then acted in other English-language films. These include 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), Hamlet (1996), and Life of Pi (2012). He also played Obélix in the four live-action Astérix movies.

Personal Life and Family

Depardieu with Carole Bouquet at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival

In 1970, Depardieu married Élisabeth Guignot. They had two children: actor Guillaume (1971–2008) and actress Julie (born 1973). In 1992, he had a daughter named Roxanne with model Karine Silla.

He divorced Élisabeth in 1996. He then had a relationship with actress Carole Bouquet from 1997 to 2005. In 2006, he had a son named Jean with Hélène Bizot. He was in a relationship with Clémentine Igou from 2005 to 2023. Since 2024, he has been with Magda Vavrusova.

Sadly, Depardieu's son Guillaume passed away in 2008 at the age of 37. Gérard and Guillaume had a difficult relationship, but they had made up before Guillaume's death. In September 2020, Depardieu became an Eastern Orthodox Christian.

Citizenship and Global Connections

Depardieu with Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, 5 January 2013

Depardieu became an official resident of Néchin, Belgium, in December 2012. He later said he was giving back his French passport. In January 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Depardieu Russian citizenship. Depardieu also became a cultural ambassador for Montenegro that same month.

In February 2022, Depardieu shared that he had also become a citizen of the United Arab Emirates. In March 2022, he spoke out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Business Ventures and Wealth

In 1983, Depardieu started his own company, DD Productions, to help make his films. Besides acting, Depardieu also owns vineyards and makes wine. He has invested in vineyards in France and other countries. He also owns a castle called Château de Tigné.

He collects art and motorcycles. In 2003, Depardieu bought a restaurant in Paris called La Fontaine Gaillon. This restaurant was known for its excellent wine cellar. He also owns other luxury restaurants, a Japanese food shop, a wine bar, and a seafood shop in Paris. By 2012, he employed over a hundred people in France through his businesses. In 2013, his wealth was estimated to be around US$200 million. He sold La Fontaine Gaillon in 2019.

Awards and Recognition

Depardieu has been nominated for the César for Best Actor 17 times. He won it twice, in 1981 and 1991. He was also nominated for an Oscar in 1990 for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac.

• 1985: Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his role in Police
• 1985: Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite
• 1990: Cannes Film Festival: Best actor award for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac
• 1996: Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur
• 2006: Moscow Film Festival: Stanislavsky Award for his great acting career

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Gérard Depardieu para niños

• Cinema of France
• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards