From Figaro Newspaper:
Jean-Pierre Aumont has left us
Translation by Sylvie Levesque:
The French actor died during the night from a heart attack at age 90. From his beginnings on the stage in 1930 until his last movie in 1996, he had one of the richest careers of all French actors. He also was an inventive and curious writer.
Published on January 30, 2001 at 12h16
Updated on January 30, 2001 at 14h10
PARIS - Jean-Pierre Aumont has performed several dozens of roles. He was one of the few French actors able to achieve an American career on thestage and on screen. America discovered him when he sought refuge thereduring WWII.
Jean-Pierre Aumont who just passed away had one of the richest careers of any French actors in France and in America, both on screen and in the theatre.
A revelation on the movie screen in 1936 in Marc Allegret's "Lac aux Dames" where he played a romantic lifeguard, he instantly established himself as a young leading man. During the war, while exiled in the US, he triumphed for two years on Broadway in "Tovarich" where he co-starred with Vivien Leigh. Born on January 5th 1911 in Paris, Jean graduated from the Conservatory, performed in Louis Jouvet's company where Jean Cocteau noticed him and gave him the role of Oedipe in "la Machine Infernale".
He then made movie after movie with some of the greatest directors, from Julien Duvivier ("Maria Chapdelaine") to Marcel Carné ("Drôle de drame"). Exiled to the U.S, in 1940, Jean-Pierre Aumont is, along with Charles Boyer, one of the few French actors to have succeeded in Hollywood.
With his career in full-swing, he joined the Free French Forces and took part in campaigns in North Africa, Italy and Provence. Wounded twice, he was awarded the Croix-de-guerre.
Star of Truffaut's "la Nuit américaine" (1972), Lelouch's "Le Chat et la souris" (1975), Aumont displayed his varied talents on the stage, notably in Marguerite Duras's "Une journée entière dans les arbres"(1975), and Barillet and Grédy's "Coup de soleil" (1982). In 1995, he appeared in Ismail Merchant's "The Proprietor". The actor, who was also a playwright, ("l'Ile heureuse", "l' Empereur de Chine"), was awarded the Legion of honor and the 'Ordre national du mérite et Commandeurdes Arts et des Lettres'. He was also awarded an honorary César in March 1991.
Jean-Pierre Aumont married twice, to actresses Maria Montez and Marisa Pavan. He had three children.