Person Details

Birthday: 1922-03-06 16:42:18

Death: 2009-02-02 16:42:18

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Paris, France

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 27

TV Involvements: 5


Most Famous Work

Biography

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Jean Martin (March 6, 1922 – February 2, 2009) was a French actor of stage and screen. Martin served in the French Resistance during World War II and later fought with the French paratroopers in Indochina. Theatrically, he is perhaps best-known for originating two roles in Samuel Beckett's most famous plays: Lucky in Waiting for Godot, and Clov in Endgame. During the 1950s, he was a performer at the Théâtre National Populaire and also worked for radio plays. Making over eighty film and television appearances, Martin is best remembered by international audiences for his role as the French paratroop commander Col. Mathieu in The Battle of Algiers (1965), as well as villainous roles in My Name is Nobody and The Day of the Jackal (both 1973). He was one of the protagonists in Les Compagnons de Baal (1968). Most of his other screen work was in French or European cinema, and his stage performances have gained him much more recognition and acclaim than his film work. Martin was also an active political leftist, and was fired from the Théâtre National Populaire for signing the manifesto of the 121 against the Algerian War. He was also blacklisted from radio work and remained unemployed for a time as a result. Martin was hired for The Battle of Algiers because director Gillo Pontecorvo was looking for a little-known professional actor to play the part of Col. Mathieu. Martin had by then worked extensively on stage, but had done just a few appearances on screen. Enjoying to work in movies and wishing to develop his film career, Martin applied for the part and was hired. Martin later explained that his working relationship with Pontecorvo on the set of The Battle of Algiers was often difficult, as the director otherwise hired non-professional actors for the film. Martin, as the film's only professional actor, was sometimes uncomfortable working with untrained performers, while Pontecorvo was worried that their acting styles might be too different from each other and work against the picture. Martin was ultimately very happy with the film. Jean Martin continued working on stage and on screen, playing a variety supporting roles in French films and television productions. He also provided the voice of the bird in the French animation feature Le Roi et l'oiseau. Martin died from cancer in Paris on 2 February 2009, aged 86. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jean Martin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Most Famous Work

Police Commissioner Moulin
Average
6
Graf Yoster gibt sich die Ehre
Average
6
Rendez-vous en noir
Average
9

Rendez-vous en noir

(1977) Le commissaire
Les Jupons de la révolution
Average
1

Les Jupons de la révolution

(1989) Marquis de persan
The Day of the Jackal
Average
8

The Day of the Jackal

(1973) Victor Wolenski
The Battle of Algiers
Average
8

The Battle of Algiers

(1966) Col. Mathieu
Baal's Companions
Average
0

Baal's Companions

(1968) M. De Plassans
Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime
Average
6

Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime

(1968) Un responsable d'édition

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2004 Self
1997 Paul Lardanchet
1989 Marquis de persan
1984 Sculpteur
1981 Gérard Le Tizou, head waiter
1980 Examination policeman (uncredited)
L’oiseau (voice)
1979 M. Bastias
1978 Vénus
1977 Legrand
Le commissaire
Le docteur
1976 Orfanik, the Inventor
Drieu La Rochelle (uncredited)
Sainte-Rose
Le médecin de Duchemin à la clinique
Larsen
1975 Colonel Pembroke
Pontius Pilate
Le directeur de la banque
Commissaire divisionnaire Sabin
1974 Le marquis de la Rocherie
Direttore clinica / Sottocapo
Headmaster
M. Bunkermann
The Priest
1973 Sullivan
Victor Wolenski
Mgr. Schneider
1972 René
1971 N/A
Homme de Varèse
1970 Igor Igorevitch
1968 A henchman of Charles (uncredited)
M. De Plassans
Mauvouloir
Un responsable d'édition
1967 Stoewer
Gaston
N/A
1966 Monnier
Col. Mathieu
Monsieur Hébert
1962 Un homme de la troupe (non crédité)
Narrator
1952 N/A
1944 Le garçon d'étage (uncredited)
Year Character Movie/Tv

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