Jacques Dufilho, a renowned French comedian, was born on February 19, 1914, in Bègles, Gironde, France, and passed away on August 28, 2005, in Ponsampère, Gers, France.
Originally from the south-west of France, Jacques-Gabriel Dufilho studied agriculture before pursuing his passion for painting and sculpture in Paris, where he met Charles Dullin, a prominent figure in the theater world, who introduced him to the stage and inspired him to debut in cabaret-theatre in 1951 with Agnès Capri.
Jacques Dufilho's early career consisted of playing sketches before transitioning to the big screen. In 1939, he participated in Marc Allégret's project, the film "Le Corsaire", but it remained unfinished. Two years later, he played a lumberjack in André Zwobada's feature film "Croisières Sidérales".
He went on to chain roles in cinema, but it was in 1949 that he gained public recognition in "La Ferme des Sept Péchés" by Jean-Devaivre. Jacques Dufilho also ventured into theater, making his stage debut in Dostoyevsky's play "The Brothers Karamazov" directed by André Barsacq.
During World War II, Jacques Dufilho served in the 2nd Hussard Regiment, specifically in the 29th infantry division reconnaissance group, and received the Legion of Honor in 1998.
In 1953, he played in Molière's play "The Doctor Despite Him" under the direction of Jean-Pierre Darras. The following year, he returned to the Théâtre de l'Atelier in "Colombe" by Jean Anouilh, directed by André Barsacq. He continued to act in cinema, appearing in "Marie-Antoinette, Reine De France" by Jean Delannoy in 1956 and "Notre-Dame De Paris" the same year.
In 1961 and 1962, Jacques Dufilho returned to the stage with André Barsacq in "Les Maxibules" by Marcel Aymé and "L'Avare" by Molière. He impressed audiences in "The Guardian", an adaptation of Harold Pinter's English play "The Caretaker".
The year 1978 marked a new milestone in Jacques Dufilho's career, with the film "Le Crabe-Tambour" by Pierre Schoendoerffer, for which he received a César award in the Best Supporting Actor category. In 1980, he played Adrien Dussart in "A bad son" by Claude Sautet, earning him a second César award in the same category.
At the theater, Jacques Dufilho was awarded the Molière du Comédien for his role in Herb Gardner's play "Je Ne Suis Pas Rappaport" directed by Georges Wilson in 1988. Over the years, he worked with renowned directors such as Louis Malle, Claude Chabrol, André Hunebelle, Yves Robert, and many others.
In 1999, he played in "C'est Quoi La Vie?" by François Dupeyron, earning him a new nomination for the Césars. On television, he received the Seven d'Or for best actor after his role in the film "Une Femme Innocente". In 2003, he published his autobiography "Les Sirènes Du Bateau-Loup" with Fayard.
Jacques Dufilho passed away on August 28, 2005, at the age of 91, after playing his last role in "Up There, A King Above The Clouds" by Pierre Schoendoerffer.
