Max Maxudian(1881-1976)
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Born in Smyrne (Turkey), Max Maxudian emigrated to France with his
parents in 1893, at the age of twelve. Despite his foreign origins he
became a famous theater player in his host country, appearing at the
Odeon, at the Grand Guignol, among others. He was often the partner of
the illustrious Sarah Bernhardt and he followed her when she decided to
make films and to establish the worth of a hitherto despised way of
expression. That was the beginning of a long career spanning four
decades. Maxudian was a supporting actor in 77 films and his career was
interrupted only by World War II, due to his roots.In silent movies and
at the beginning of the talkies he was used to playing the villain,
most often all the more suspicious as he was foreign-born. In those
racist times he was either the dangerous Arab or the greedy Jew,
threatening the pure white heroine. He retired in 1950.
