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Bourvil

Bourvil

Acting

Born: July 27, 1917Prétot-Vicquemare, Seine-Inférieure [now Seine-Maritime], France

André Robert Raimbourg (27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil, and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in the films Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). For his performance in Le Corniaud, he won a Special Diploma at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival. Bourvil's father was killed in the First World War before he was born. As a result, he spent his entire childhood in the village of Bourville, from which he took his stage name. He married Jeanne Lefrique on 23 January 1943. After a battle with Kahler's syndrome, which attacks the bone marrow, he died at the age of 53. He is buried in Montainville, Yvelines. In his comic performances Bourvil principally played roles of gentle and well-meaning characters who were often a bit obtuse or naïve, such as his roles opposite the hyperactive, dishonest and bossy ones played by Louis de Funès. Bourvil's characters not only managed to make viewers laugh, but also to save themselves, often unwittingly, from the Machiavellian designs of his adversaries. Bourvil was, however, also capable of more dramatic roles such as the handyman in L'Arbre de Noël (1969). In this role he observes the relationship between a man he works for and the young son who has fallen ill. The audience can identify with the character played by Bourvil, just as they can in his comic roles, so often as a simple man. One can also note his role of Monsieur Thénardier in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (1958), and his penultimate role as the policeman Mattei in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Cercle rouge (1970). In March 1948, Bourvil took part in the complete recording of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann with artists of the Paris Opéra-Comique conducted by André Cluytens, playing the four 'servant' roles. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bourvil, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For
Filmography
Bourvil : le rire et la tendresse

Bourvil : le rire et la tendresse

Self (Footage Archives)

2025
Les Rois de la comédie

Les Rois de la comédie

Self (archive footage)

2023
La Traversée de Bourvil

La Traversée de Bourvil

Self (archive footage)

2022
Belmondo: The Incorrigible

Belmondo: The Incorrigible

2022
Lino Ventura, la part intime

Lino Ventura, la part intime

Self (archive footage)

2018
Bourvil, un homme vrai

Bourvil, un homme vrai

Self (archive footage)

2016
Le Tournage du Corniaud… Tout sauf un long fleuve tranquille

Le Tournage du Corniaud… Tout sauf un long fleuve tranquille

Self (archive footage)

2015
Bourvil, du comique paysan au génie de l'acteur

Bourvil, du comique paysan au génie de l'acteur

Self (archive footage)

2015
Jean Gabin, le dernier des géants

Jean Gabin, le dernier des géants

Self (archive footage)

2015
Bourvil : Bien... si bien

Bourvil : Bien... si bien

Self (archive footage)

2009
Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)

Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)

Self (archive footage)

2009
Clodo

Clodo

Gaston (uncredited)

1971
Le Cercle Rouge

Le Cercle Rouge

Commissioner François Mattei

1970
Atlantic Wall

Atlantic Wall

Léon Duchemin, Norman restaurateur

1970
The Stud

The Stud

William Chaminade

1970
The Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree

Verdun

1969
Monte Carlo or Bust!

Monte Carlo or Bust!

Monsieur Dupont

1969
The Brain

The Brain

Anatole

1969
The Big Wash

The Big Wash

Armand Saint-Just

1968
The Hotshots

The Hotshots

Jules Auguste Duroc

1968
Les Arnaud

Les Arnaud

Judge Henri Arnaud

1967
Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!

Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!

Augustin Bouvet

1966
Three Disordered Children

Three Disordered Children

Eugène Laporte, entrepreneur de travaux publics

1966
The Wise Guys

The Wise Guys

Hector Valentin

1965
The Big Swag

The Big Swag

Louis Bourdin, metro ticket puncher and writer

1965
The Dirty Game

The Dirty Game

Lalande

1965
The Sucker

The Sucker

Antoine Maréchal

1965
The Big Scare

The Big Scare

1964
La Bonne Planque

La Bonne Planque

Antoine Perrin

1964
My Wife's Husband

My Wife's Husband

André Colombey

1963
Thank Heaven for Small Favors

Thank Heaven for Small Favors

Georges Lachaunaye

1963
Josefa's Loot

Josefa's Loot

Pierre Corneille

1963
Don't Tempt the Devil

Don't Tempt the Devil

Albert Gaudet, investigating judge

1963
Les Culottes rouges

Les Culottes rouges

Fendard

1962
Un clair de Lune à Maubeuge

Un clair de Lune à Maubeuge

Le chanteur à la télévision

1962
Tartarin de Tarascon

Tartarin de Tarascon

Priest who reinflates the tire of his moped

1962
The Longest Day

The Longest Day

Mayor of Colleville

1962
The Busybody

The Busybody

André Loriot

1961
All the Gold in the World

All the Gold in the World

Mathieu Dumont / Antoine Dumont / Martial Dumont

1961
Fortunate

Fortunate

Noël Fortunat

1960
Captain Blood

Captain Blood

Baladin Cogolin

1960
The Hunchback of Paris

The Hunchback of Paris

Passepoil

1959
The Green Mare

The Green Mare

Honoré Haudouin

1959
Way of Youth

Way of Youth

Charles Michaud

1959
Serenade of Texas

Serenade of Texas

Me Jérôme Quilleboeuf

1958
Sunday Encounter

Sunday Encounter

Jean Brévent

1958
The Mirror Has Two Faces

The Mirror Has Two Faces

Pierre Tardivet

1958
Les Misérables

Les Misérables

Thénardier

1958
The Singer from Mexico

The Singer from Mexico

Bilou

1957
La Traversée de Paris

La Traversée de Paris

Marcel Martin, unemployed taxi driver

1956
The Hussars

The Hussars

le trompette Flicot Jean-Louis

1955
Le Fil à la patte

Le Fil à la patte

Camille Bouzin, clerc de notaire et auteur de chansonnettes lestes

1954
Cadet Rousselle

Cadet Rousselle

Jérôme Baguindet

1954
April Fools' Day

April Fools' Day

Émile Dupuy

1954
Royal Affairs in Versailles

Royal Affairs in Versailles

Museum guard

1953
The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Planchet

1953
One Hundred Francs Per Second

One Hundred Francs Per Second

Self

1953
Crazy for Love

Crazy for Love

Hippolyte Lemoine, neveu d'Augustine

1952
Alone in Paris

Alone in Paris

Henri Milliard, le jeune marié campagnard

1951
Mr. Peek-a-Boo

Mr. Peek-a-Boo

Léon Dutilleul

1951
The Prize

The Prize

Isidore Pastouret

1950
Miquette

Miquette

Urbain de la Tour-Mirande

1950
Le Roi Pandore

Le Roi Pandore

Léon Ménard, le gendarme

1950
Wear His Heart on His Sleeve

Wear His Heart on His Sleeve

Leon Ménard

1949
White as Snow

White as Snow

Léon Ménard

1948
By the Window

By the Window

Gaston 'Pilou'

1948
Not So Stupid

Not So Stupid

Léon Ménard

1947

Studio en folies

Self

1947
Hanged Man's Farm

Hanged Man's Farm

Le bourrelier, le chanteur à la noce

1945
A Star to the Sun

A Star to the Sun

(uncredited)

1943
Sideral Cruises

Sideral Cruises

Scientist

1942