Gérard Philipe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gérard Philipe
Philipe in 1955
Born	Gérard Albert Philip (1922-12-04)4 December 1922 Cannes, France
Died	25 November 1959(1959-11-25) (aged 36) Paris, France
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1944–1959
Spouse(s)	Nicole Fourcade ​ (m. 1951)​
Children	2

Gérard Philipe was a famous French actor. He was born on December 4, 1922, and passed away on November 25, 1959. He acted in 32 movies and many plays between 1944 and 1959. Even though he died young, he was one of the biggest stars in France after World War II. People remember him as a young and romantic hero, making him a true icon of French cinema.

Gérard Philipe: Life and Acting Career

Early Life and First Steps

"Theatre is a social issue, like all artistic questions." (Quotation from Gérard Philipe on a pillar of the Théâtre des Abbesses, Paris.)

Gérard Philipe was born in Cannes, France, on December 4, 1922. His birth name was Gérard Albert Philip. In 1944, he changed his last name to "Philipe."

As a teenager, Gérard started taking acting lessons. Later, he moved to Paris to study at the Conservatoire of Dramatic Art. This is a famous school for actors.

Becoming a Star: Early Films and Stage Success

Gérard Philipe first appeared in a movie called Les Petites du quai aux fleurs in 1943. His role was very small. He then had a minor part in Box of Dreams (1945).

When he was 19, he made his first appearance on stage in Nice. The next year, he became famous for his strong performance in the play Caligula by Albert Camus.

Philipe got a main role in The Idiot (1946). This movie was based on a book by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It helped him become a leading actor in movies. He also worked on a short film called Ouvert pour cause d'inventaire (1946).

He was invited to join the Théâtre national populaire (T.N.P.) in Paris. He also performed at the Festival d'Avignon, which is France's oldest and most famous theater festival.

Rise to Fame: Hit Movies

Gérard Philipe became very famous after starring in Devil in the Flesh (1947). This movie was a huge success at the box office.

He then starred in La Chartreuse de Parme (1948). This film was even more popular than Devil in the Flesh. He continued to make many successful movies, including:

• Such a Pretty Little Beach (1949)
• All Roads Lead to Rome (1949)
• Beauty and the Devil (1950)
• La Ronde (1950)
• Lost Souvenirs (1951)

In 1951, Philipe married Nicole Fourcade. She was an actress and writer. They had two children together. Nicole later wrote two books about her husband.

Gérard Philipe continued to star in many popular films:

• Juliette, or Key of Dreams (1951)
• The Seven Deadly Sins (1952)
• Fan Fan the Tulip (1953) – a very popular adventure movie.
• Beauties of the Night (1952)
• The Proud and the Beautiful (1953)
• It Happened in the Park (1953)
• Royal Affairs in Versailles (1954)

He also tried an English movie called Lovers, Happy Lovers! (1954). After that, he had a big success with The Grand Maneuver (1955).

Philipe even wrote, directed, and starred in his own comic adventure film, Bold Adventure (1956). His later films included:

• Lovers of Paris (1957)
• Montparnasse 19 (1958)
• Life Together (1958)
• The Gambler (1958)

In 1958, he performed on Broadway in New York in French plays like Lorenzaccio and Le Cid. His last film was Fever Mounts at El Pao (1960).

His Final Days

Gérard Philipe passed away from liver cancer in Paris. He was working on a film project at the time. He died just a few days before his 37th birthday. His doctors did not tell him how serious his illness was.

He wished to be buried in the costume of Don Rodrigue, a character from the play The Cid. He is buried in the village cemetery in Ramatuelle, near the Mediterranean coast.

In 1995, the French government made special coins to celebrate 100 years of cinema. One of these coins had Gérard Philipe's image on it. He is remembered as one of France's most popular actors. His early death made him an even bigger legend in his home country.

Honours and Legacy

Gérard Philipe Street in Paris

Many places and awards are named after Gérard Philipe:

• A street in Paris, "Rue Gérard Philipe," is named in his honour.
• In 1961, his picture appeared on a French postage stamp.
• The "Gérard Philipe Theatre" (TGP) in Paris is named after him.
• From 1962 to 2000, the city of Paris gave out the "Grand Prix Gérard Philipe de la Ville de Paris" award. This award was for the best actor or actress in a Parisian theatre. Famous winners include Gérard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil.
• There is also a film festival named after him. Many other theatres and schools in France, like the College Gérard Philipe in Cogolin, are named in his honour. A cultural center in Berlin is also named after him.

Filmography

Acting

Voice Acting

• Le Petit Prince (1954)
• La Vie de W.-A. Mozart – racontée aux enfants (1954)
• Pierre et le Loup (Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev) with the Symphony Orchestra of the USSR (1956)

See also

In Spanish: Gérard Philipe para niños