Michel Piccoli

Michel Piccoli

Born December 27, 1925 (Age: 100) Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Biography

Michel Jacques Daniel Piccoli was the son of Henri Piccoli, violinist and Marcelle Expert-Bezançon (1892-1990), pianist and daughter of the French industrialist and politician Charles Expert-Bezançon. In 1954, Michel Piccoli married actress Éléonore Hirt with whom he had a daughter, Anne-Cordélia Piccoli. In 1966, he married the singer Juliette Gréco, then in 1978 the screenwriter Ludivine Clerc, with whom he adopted two children of Polish origin, Inord and Missia. Placed in an establishment for problem children, the commitments of the young Piccoli, are made in opposition to his maternal grandfather, senator of the Third Republic, financier of the Radical Party, and important industrial painter, accused by the trade union left and by Georges Clemenceau, of having intoxicated his workmen through lead white which causes lead poisoning. Michel Piccoli then trained as an actor first with Andrée Bauer-Théraud and then during Simon. After an appearance as an extra in "Sortilèges" by Christian-Jaque in 1945, Michel Piccoli made his film debut in "Le Point Du Jour" by Louis Daquin. In the theater he distinguished himself with the Renaud-Barrault and Grenier-Hussot companies as well as at the Théâtre de Babylone. Noticed in the film "French Cancan" in 1954, he continued on stage and worked with directors Jacques Audiberti, Jean Vilar, Jean-Marie Serreau, Peter Brook, Luc Bondy, Patrice Chéreau and André Engel, and became also know in popular TV movies. Having become an atheist after a family bereavement, he met Luis Buñuel in 1956, and ironically took on the role of a priest in "La Mort En Ce Jardin". In 1959, he shot "Le Rendez-Vous De Noël", a short film by André Michel based on the short story by Malek Ouary "Le Noël Du Petit Cireur", in Algiers. The 1960s sounded his consecration, noticed in "Le Doulos" by Jean-Pierre Melville, he was revealed internationally with "Le Mépris" by Jean-Luc Godard alongside Brigitte Bardot. From then on, he toured with the greatest French and international filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Youssef Chahine, Manoel de Oliveira... He began the 1980s with the interpretation prize at the Cannes festival in 1980, with "Le Saut Dans Le Vide" by Marco Bellocchio, and that of the Berlin festival in 1982, with "Une Étrange Affaire" by Pierre Granier-Deferre. . He worked with Jacques Doillon, Leos Carax, before trying his hand at directing. In 2001 he received the IX Europe Prize for Theatre. He was part of the jury of the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007, chaired by Stephen Frears. In 2011, he played in "Habemus Papam" by Nanni Moretti. The last film in which Michel Piccoli appears is the film "Le Goût Des Myrtilles", by Thomas de Thiers in 2013. Politically committed to the left, member of the Peace Movement (communist), Michel Piccoli distinguished himself by his positions against the National Front, and mobilized for Amnesty International. Michel Piccoli died on May 12, 2020 following a stroke in his mansion in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle in Eure. His funeral takes place in Évreux on May 19, 2020, where he is cremated, his ashes are scattered within the family property.
Michel Jacques Daniel Piccoli was the son of Henri Piccoli, violinist and Marcelle Expert-Bezançon (1892-1990), pianist and daughter of the French industrialist and politician Charles Expert-Bezançon. In 1954, Michel Piccoli married actress Éléonore Hirt with whom he had a daughter, Anne-Cordélia Piccoli. In 1966, he married the singer Juliette Gréco, then in 1978 the screenwriter Ludivine Clerc, with whom he adopted two children of Polish origin, Inord and Missia. Placed in an establishment for problem children, the commitments of the young Piccoli, are made in opposition to his maternal grandfather, senator of the Third Republic, financier of the Radical Party, and important industrial painter, accused by the trade union left and by Georges Clemenceau, of having intoxicated his workmen through lead white which causes lead poisoning. Michel Piccoli then trained as an actor first with Andrée Bauer-Théraud and then during Simon. After an appearance as an extra in "Sortilèges" by Christian-Jaque in 1945, Michel Piccoli made his film debut in "Le Point Du Jour" by Louis Daquin. In the theater he distinguished himself with the Renaud-Barrault and Grenier-Hussot companies as well as at the Théâtre de Babylone. Noticed in the film "French Cancan" in 1954, he continued on stage and worked with directors Jacques Audiberti, Jean Vilar, Jean-Marie Serreau, Peter Brook, Luc Bondy, Patrice Chéreau and André Engel, and became also know in popular TV movies. Having become an atheist after a family bereavement, he met Luis Buñuel in 1956, and ironically took on the role of a priest in "La Mort En Ce Jardin". In 1959, he shot "Le Rendez-Vous De Noël", a short film by André Michel based on the short story by Malek Ouary "Le Noël Du Petit Cireur", in Algiers. The 1960s sounded his consecration, noticed in "Le Doulos" by Jean-Pierre Melville, he was revealed internationally with "Le Mépris" by Jean-Luc Godard alongside Brigitte Bardot. From then on, he toured with the greatest French and international filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Youssef Chahine, Manoel de Oliveira... He began the 1980s with the interpretation prize at the Cannes festival in 1980, with "Le Saut Dans Le Vide" by Marco Bellocchio, and that of the Berlin festival in 1982, with "Une Étrange Affaire" by Pierre Granier-Deferre. . He worked with Jacques Doillon, Leos Carax, before trying his hand at directing. In 2001 he received the IX Europe Prize for Theatre. He was part of the jury of the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007, chaired by Stephen Frears. In 2011, he played in "Habemus Papam" by Nanni Moretti. The last film in which Michel Piccoli appears is the film "Le Goût Des Myrtilles", by Thomas de Thiers in 2013. Politically committed to the left, member of the Peace Movement (communist), Michel Piccoli distinguished himself by his positions against the National Front, and mobilized for Amnesty International. Michel Piccoli died on May 12, 2020 following a stroke in his mansion in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle in Eure. His funeral takes place in Évreux on May 19, 2020, where he is cremated, his ashes are scattered within the family property.
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Filmography

It's Not Me

It's Not Me

2024 as (archive footage) Age: 98
François Mitterrand & Anne Pingeot: Pieces of a Love Story

François Mitterrand & Anne Pingeot: Pieces of a Love Story

2021 as Self (archive footage) Age: 95
No Image

Dios de monoambiente

2018 as Self (archive footage) Age: 92
Claude Sautet, Romy, Yves, Michel et les autres

Claude Sautet, Romy, Yves, Michel et les autres

2017 as Self (archive footage) Age: 91
Holy Motors

Holy Motors

2012 as Man with the Wine Stain Age: 86
Le Mystère Bardot

Le Mystère Bardot

2012 as Age: 86
Il était une fois... Vincent, François, Paul et les autres

Il était une fois... Vincent, François, Paul et les autres

2011 as Self Age: 85
We Have a Pope

We Have a Pope

2011 as Melville Age: 85
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France

2009 as Age: 83
Once Upon a Time… Contempt

Once Upon a Time… Contempt

2009 as Self Age: 83
Everything's Connected

Everything's Connected

2005 as Narrator Age: 79
Un divertissement et Michel Piccoli

Un divertissement et Michel Piccoli

2004 as Self Age: 78
Romy Schneider, étrange étrangère

Romy Schneider, étrange étrangère

2002 as Self Age: 76
No Image

Il bambino di Betlemme

2002 as Age: 76
Everything's Fine, We're Leaving

Everything's Fine, We're Leaving

2000 as Louis Age: 74
Speaking of Buñuel

Speaking of Buñuel

2000 as Self Age: 74
Actors

Actors

2000 as Michel Piccoli Age: 74
Kiarostami in Close up

Kiarostami in Close up

2000 as as Self Age: 74
Les paradoxes de Buñuel

Les paradoxes de Buñuel

1998 as Self Age: 72
Passion in the Desert

Passion in the Desert

1997 as Jean-Michel Venture de Paradis Age: 71
Genealogies of a Crime

Genealogies of a Crime

1997 as Georges Didier Age: 71
Tykho Moon

Tykho Moon

1996 as Mac Bee / frère Mac Bee Age: 70
Ousmane Sow

Ousmane Sow

1996 as Narrateur Age: 70
Party

Party

1996 as Michel Age: 70
Traveling Companion

Traveling Companion

1996 as Cosimo Age: 70
Beaumarchais the Scoundrel

Beaumarchais the Scoundrel

1996 as Prince de Conti Age: 70
Train de nuit

Train de nuit

1994 as Age: 68
No Image

Berau, sur les traces de Joseph Conrad

1994 as Presenter Age: 68
No Image

Bête de scène

1994 as Age: 68
No Image

Rupture(s)

1993 as Paul Age: 67
Loonies at Large

Loonies at Large

1993 as Henri Toussaint Age: 67
The Young Girls Turn 25

The Young Girls Turn 25

1993 as Self (archive footage) Age: 67
No Image

Archipel

1993 as Leonard Wilde Age: 67
The Supper

The Supper

1992 as Chateaubriand (voice) Age: 66
From Time to Time

From Time to Time

1992 as Jules Verne Age: 66
Le Bal des casse-pieds

Le Bal des casse-pieds

1992 as Désiré, l'homosexuel Age: 66
La Belle Noiseuse: Divertimento

La Belle Noiseuse: Divertimento

1992 as Edouard Frenhofer Age: 66
Against Oblivion

Against Oblivion

1991 as Self Age: 65
The Children Thief

The Children Thief

1991 as Mr. Armand Age: 65
La Belle Noiseuse

La Belle Noiseuse

1991 as Edouard Frenhofer Age: 65
Walking a Tightrope

Walking a Tightrope

1991 as Marcel Spadice Age: 65
The Fate of Baron Leisenbohg

The Fate of Baron Leisenbohg

1991 as Le baron de Leisenbohg Age: 65
No Image

Martha and I

1990 as Ernst Age: 64
May Fools

May Fools

1990 as Milou Age: 64
The Monkey Folk

The Monkey Folk

1989 as Age: 63
Un coupable

Un coupable

1988 as L'avocat Age: 62
No Image

La Ruelle au clair de lune

1988 as Pierre Willer Age: 62
Blanc de Chine

Blanc de Chine

1988 as Batz Age: 62
How Good the Whites Are

How Good the Whites Are

1988 as Père Jean-Marie Age: 62
Malady of Love

Malady of Love

1987 as Raoul Bergeron Age: 61
The Veiled Man

The Veiled Man

1987 as Kassar Age: 61
La Rumba

La Rumba

1987 as Damien Malleville Age: 61
The Distant Land

The Distant Land

1987 as Friedrich Hofreiter Age: 61
Adieu Bonaparte

Adieu Bonaparte

1985 as Caffarelli Age: 59
Going and Coming Back

Going and Coming Back

1985 as Simon Lerner Age: 59
Death in a French Garden

Death in a French Garden

1985 as Graham Tombsthay Age: 59
La Lune

La Lune

1985 as Age: 59
La Cerisaie

La Cerisaie

1982 as Léonid Age: 56
Strange Affair

Strange Affair

1981 as Bertrand Malair Age: 55
No Image

Du crime considéré comme un des beaux-arts.

1981 as Morrand Age: 55
Confused Feelings

Confused Feelings

1981 as Professor Age: 55
The Prodigal Daughter

The Prodigal Daughter

1981 as Le père Age: 55
Atlantic City

Atlantic City

1980 as Joseph Age: 54
The Price of Survival

The Price of Survival

1980 as René Winterhalter Age: 54
A Leap in the Dark

A Leap in the Dark

1980 as Mauro Ponticelli Age: 54
Sugar

Sugar

1978 as Grezillo Age: 52
Little Girl in Blue Velvet

Little Girl in Blue Velvet

1978 as Conrad Brukner Age: 52
The Savage State

The Savage State

1978 as Orlaville Age: 52
No Image

Strauberg ist da

1978 as Strauberg Age: 52
Fire's Share

Fire's Share

1978 as Robert Hansen Age: 52
That Obscure Object of Desire

That Obscure Object of Desire

1977 as Mathieu Faber (voice) (uncredited) Age: 51
Vincent, Francois, Paul and the Others

Vincent, Francois, Paul and the Others

1974 as François, médecin Age: 48
The Phantom of Liberty

The Phantom of Liberty

1974 as The Second Police Prefect Age: 48
Life Size

Life Size

1974 as Michel Age: 48
The Infernal Trio

The Infernal Trio

1974 as Georges Sarret Age: 48
Don't Touch the White Woman!

Don't Touch the White Woman!

1974 as Buffalo Bill Age: 48
Un amour de pluie

Un amour de pluie

1974 as Mr. Dellerue (voice) Age: 48
The Voyage Into the Whirlpool Has Begun

The Voyage Into the Whirlpool Has Begun

1974 as Age: 48
Far West

Far West

1973 as Indian chief Age: 47
La Grande Bouffe

La Grande Bouffe

1973 as Michel Age: 47
Wedding in Blood

Wedding in Blood

1973 as Pierre Maury Age: 47
Themroc

Themroc

1973 as Themroc Age: 47
The Woman in Blue

The Woman in Blue

1973 as Pierre Age: 47
The Assassination

The Assassination

1972 as Colonel Kassar Age: 46
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

1972 as Interior Minister Age: 46
Liza

Liza

1972 as Giorgio's friend Age: 46
The Audience

The Audience

1972 as Padre Amerin Age: 46
Invasion

Invasion

1970 as Marcello Age: 44
Topaz

Topaz

1969 as Jacques Granville Age: 43
The Uninvited

The Uninvited

1969 as François Desailly Age: 43
The Milky Way

The Milky Way

1969 as Marquis de Sade Age: 43
Dillinger Is Dead

Dillinger Is Dead

1969 as Glauco Age: 43
Délire à deux

Délire à deux

1968 as Him Age: 42
Lady L

Lady L

1965 as Lecoeur Age: 39
The Sleeping Car Murders

The Sleeping Car Murders

1965 as René Cabourg, l'employé besogneux (Victime #2) Age: 39
Dom Juan

Dom Juan

1965 as Dom Juan Age: 39
Masquerade

Masquerade

1965 as Georges Sarrassin Age: 39
No Image

Café tabac

1964 as Récitant (voice) Age: 39
All About Loving

All About Loving

1964 as Raoul Age: 39
Marie Soleil

Marie Soleil

1964 as Kafka Age: 38
Chance at Love

Chance at Love

1964 as Philippe Decharme (segment "Lucky la chance") Age: 38
Paparazzi

Paparazzi

1964 as Texte dit par (voice) Age: 38
Bardot et Godard

Bardot et Godard

1964 as Self Age: 38
Luis Buñuel : Un cinéaste de notre temps

Luis Buñuel : Un cinéaste de notre temps

1964 as Narrator (voice) Age: 38
Diary of a Chambermaid

Diary of a Chambermaid

1964 as Monsieur Monteil Age: 38
L'Été en hiver

L'Été en hiver

1964 as Jean, the Reporter Age: 38
Hello Cubans

Hello Cubans

1963 as Narrator (voice) Age: 37
Contempt

Contempt

1963 as Paul Javal Age: 37
The Day and the Hour

The Day and the Hour

1963 as Antoine Age: 37
Le Doulos

Le Doulos

1962 as Nuttheccio Age: 36
Adieu Philippine

Adieu Philippine

1962 as Izquierdo dans l'émission de télévision 'Montserrat' (uncredited) Age: 36
Climates of Love

Climates of Love

1962 as François Age: 36
No Image

Le Temps des assassins

1962 as Récitant (voice) Age: 36
Parisienne... Parisiennes

Parisienne... Parisiennes

1962 as Récitant (voice) Age: 36
Rendezvous

Rendezvous

1961 as Paul Age: 35
No Image

Fumée, histoire et fantaisie

1961 as Age: 35
Hauteclaire

Hauteclaire

1961 as Serlon de Savigny Age: 35
Amazons of Rome

Amazons of Rome

1961 as Console Publicola Age: 35
La Chevelure

La Chevelure

1961 as L'homme Age: 35
No Image

Quarante fontaines

1961 as Récitant (voice) Age: 35
No Image

Le Rendez-vous de Noël

1960 as Age: 35
Danger in the Middle East

Danger in the Middle East

1960 as Brian Cannon Age: 34
La dragée haute

La dragée haute

1960 as Hugo Barsac Age: 34
Les Joueurs

Les Joueurs

1960 as Chvokhniev Age: 34
No Image

Le Chalet sous la neige

1959 as Robert Age: 33
Beast at Bay

Beast at Bay

1959 as Commissioner Jacques Guimard Age: 33
La Nuit de Tom Brown

La Nuit de Tom Brown

1959 as Tom Brown, jeune Age: 33
Tabarin

Tabarin

1958 as Jacques Forestier Age: 32
Sinners of Paris

Sinners of Paris

1958 as L'inspecteur Vardier, de la P.J. Age: 32
No Image

La France romane

1956 as Récitant (voice) Age: 31
Death in the Garden

Death in the Garden

1956 as Father Lizzardi Age: 30
The Grand Manoeuvre

The Grand Manoeuvre

1955 as Officer (uncredited) Age: 29
Bad Liaisons

Bad Liaisons

1955 as un inspecteur Age: 29
Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class

1955 as Maurice Rouger Age: 29
Croissance de  Paris

Croissance de Paris

1955 as Récitant (voice) Age: 29
French Cancan

French Cancan

1955 as Le Capitaine Valorgueil Age: 29
Price of Love

Price of Love

1955 as Georges Age: 29
Tout chante autour de moi

Tout chante autour de moi

1954 as Reverdier Age: 28
Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances

Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances

1954 as Gérard Age: 28
Daughters of Destiny

Daughters of Destiny

1954 as Pasquerel (segment "Jeanne") Age: 28
Horizons...

Horizons...

1953 as un ouvrier Age: 27
The Bellman

The Bellman

1945 as Un villageois Age: 19