B I O G R A P H Y
LOUIS JOURDAN was bord Louis Gendre (or Genice) in Marseilles France on June 19, 1919. He grew up with his 2 brothers in Southern France, where his parents runned a hotel chain.

He studied English by contacting tourists. Finnaly he got his education in France, England and Turkey. Later he entered Paris Dramatic School. He and Rene Simon studied at Ecole Dramatique.
On screen he started working on 1939 in the movie "The Corsair". After that he played urbain, charming screen heroes. When Second World War started his acting career stoped, because he refused to participate in Nazi propaganda films. When his father is arrested by Gestapo he and his 2 brothers joined the French resistance and stayed there until the end of the hostilites. It seemed that Jourdan might fade in to cinematic obscutiry. In 1948 David O. Selznick invited him to Hollywood. Louis remained in USA and appeared in number of Hollywood films. After 1953 he appeared in the international productions. His career was hampered by the limitations of roler he was ofered, most of which were featured him as an old-fashioned Continental lover.
Handsome, suave, but emotionally restrained actor, whose Gallic charm endeared him into American audiences (particulary female), although repetitive sameness of his filmroles  eventually eroded his star status and forced him into character work. Although he remained a remarkably handsome man in 50s, Jourdan moved into character work, becoming dependably heavy.
   Typecast as European romantic, Jourdan won starring roles in many movies. Success was long to come, Louis turned to theatre and triumphed on the Broadway in Immoraliste. Vincente Minelli proposed him to star in with Leslie Charon and Maurice Chevalier in 1959. When recognision is finally recieved, Louis starres in movie after movie.
   In 1982 his only son Louis Henry makes suicide by overdose. It�s a great misfortune for Louis.
   Louis Jourdan made his last appearence in 1992 in The Year of Comet. Louis is one of French actors who made career in Hollywood and are more known outside their own country.
Louis is 5` 10`` (1,78 cm) tall.
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