Biography

Jean-Pierre Cassel

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He made his movie debut at the invitation of Gene Kelly, who cast him in the 1956 Paris-filmed seriocomedy The Happy Road (1957). At least, that's what the press releases claimed; actually, the tall, elastic-faced Cassel had been plugging away in films on a minor basis since 1950. Shortly afterward, Cassel was perfectly cast in the naif title role in the 1958 film version of Voltaire's Candide. He later became a stalwart in the comedies of director Philippe de Broca, nearly always playing latter-day variations of the ingenuous Candide. He was the screen-lover of some of the best actresses like Jean Seberg, Brigitte Bardot, Claude Jade, Catherine Deneuve, Stéphane Audran or Marie Dubois. He played in Gérard Brach's The Boat on the Grass (1971) (1970) with Claude Jade and John McEnery. In 1974, Cassel added thousands of American filmgoers to his fan following with his appearances as the bumbling King Louis XIII in Richard Lester's The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974).
- IMDb mini biography by: Candide

Father of Vincent Cassel, Olivia Cassel (deceased) and Rockin' Squat from his first marriage to Sabine Cassel and Cécile Cassel from his second marriage to Anne Cassel. Grandfather of Deva and Léonie (Vincent daughters).
Was originally scheduled to appear with his son, Vincent Cassel, in Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 (2008), before his deadly cancer disease in 2007. They previously appeared together in The Crimson Rivers (2000), Valse nocturne (1995) and Métisse (1993).
Although he spoke fluent English and appeared in several British and American films using his own voice, he was dubbed by Richard Briers in both of Richard Lester's first two "Musketeers" films, where he played King Louis XIII of France. As all the other prominent French characters were being played by British and American actors, it was felt that Cassell's natural French accent would be too much of a contrast.
Appeared in Cyrano et d'Artagnan (1964), opposite José Ferrer. Ferrer's wife, Rosemary Clooney, was also aunt to actor George Clooney, who appeared in Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007), opposite Jean's son, Vincent Cassel. Clooney's role has also been parodied by his cousin, Miguel Ferrer.
Being good friends with Serge Gainsbourg for decades, he climbed back on stage at the age of 74 for a retrospective called "Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite", which featured three unpublished songs from the 1960s (2006).

[on working with Luis Buñuel on the set of The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)] He was talking to the cameraman, and I heard them. I think he wanted me to. He was asked, "What kind of lens do I use? A 50?" "A 50. If the actor's good, put on a 75." Of course I was very good and got a close-up.

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