François Périer

Versatile, gimlet-eyed, soulful-looking François Périer was one of France’s most prolific leading men and character lead for almost six decades. Born François Pilu in Paris on November 10, 1919, he was the son of a wine shop manager. In 1934, the young teenager wrote to legendary actor Louis Jouvet, who subsequently assisted his entering the Cours Simon and Le Conservatoire dramatic institutions for study.

A rising avant-garde stage actor by 1938, François moved directly into film, apprenticing as a featured player in such films as La chaleur du sein (1938) starring Michel Simon and Arletty; Hotel du Nord (1938) with Annabella, Jean-Pierre Aumont and mentor Jouvet; La fin du jour (1939) (The End of the Day) with Simon and Jouvet; Le veau gras (1939) (The Fatted Calf) spotlighting Elvire Popesco; and L’entraîneuse (1939) starring Michèle Morgan

With World War II in full swing in Europe, François found himself in good company with some of most renowned directors of the day, including Pierre Fresnay, Marcel Carné, Henri Decoin and René Clair. He was handed his first male lead in the boulevard-styled comedy Mariage d’amour (1942) opposite Juliette Faber and Lettres d’amour (1942) opposite Odette Joyeux. He would continue in leads throughout the decade with such roles as the journalist in La ferme aux loups (1943) and a romancer in The Loves of Colette (1948).

On stage, the charming, moderately handsome actor was noted best for his smooth, deep voice. He made a strong impression in the role of “Hugo” in the 1948 production of his close friend Jean-Paul Sartre “Les Mains Sales” (Dirty Hands). His association with Sartre’s work continued with his appearances in the plays “The Condemned Of Altona” and “The Devil and the Good Lord.” In later years, he portrayed composer “Salieri” opposite Roman Polanski’s “Mozart” in a 1981 Paris production of “Amadeus,” directed by Polanski.

The actor came into his own in his mid-to-later movie career with his participation in such classics as Orpheus (1950) as the “angel of death” directed by Jean Cocteau; Gervaise (1956) directed by René Clément; Nights of Cabiria (1957) directed by Federico Fellini; Lovers on a Tightrope (1960) directed by Jean-Charles Dudrumet, Le Samouraï (1967) directed by Jean-Pierre Melville; Z (1969) directed by Costa-Gavras; Just Before Nightfall (1971) directed by Claude Chabrol, plus over a hundred film projects ranging from comedy romances to crime dramas to political thrillers.

Elsewhere, François became a respected voice in narration, having narrated a French-language version of “Fantasia.” He also provided commentaries to many commercial classical French recordings. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1991, he continued to work in radio and in a few movies, retiring in the mid-90s. His last film appearance was in the crime drama Mémoires d’un jeune con (1996) (Memories of a Young Fool).

Divorced from actresses Jacqueline Porel (1941-1947), the mother of his three children, and Marie Daëms (1949-1960), François died in Paris of a heart attack on June 29, 2002, at age 82, and was survived by third wife (from 1961) Colette Boutoulaud. Daughter Anne-Marie Périer was editor of Elle magazine; his two sons worked behind the scenes: writer/director Jean-Marie Périer and assistant director [link-nm0685177]. The latter died a suicide in 1966.