Movies
TV Shows
People

Bourvil

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
78

Gender
Male

Birthday
July 27, 1917 (108 years old)

Place of Birth
Prétot-Vicquemare, Seine-Inférieure [now Seine-Maritime], France

Bourvil

Biography

André Robert Raimbourg (27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil, and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in the films Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). For his performance in Le Corniaud, he won a Special Diploma at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival.

Bourvil's father was killed in the First World War before he was born. As a result, he spent his entire childhood in the village of Bourville, from which he took his stage name. He married Jeanne Lefrique on 23 January 1943. After a battle with Kahler's syndrome, which attacks the bone marrow, he died at the age of 53. He is buried in Montainville, Yvelines.

In his comic performances Bourvil principally played roles of gentle and well-meaning characters who were often a bit obtuse or naïve, such as his roles opposite the hyperactive, dishonest and bossy ones played by Louis de Funès. Bourvil's characters not only managed to make viewers laugh, but also to save themselves, often unwittingly, from the Machiavellian designs of his adversaries.

Bourvil was, however, also capable of more dramatic roles such as the handyman in L'Arbre de Noël (1969). In this role he observes the relationship between a man he works for and the young son who has fallen ill. The audience can identify with the character played by Bourvil, just as they can in his comic roles, so often as a simple man. One can also note his role of Monsieur Thénardier in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (1958), and his penultimate role as the policeman Mattei in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Cercle rouge (1970).

In March 1948, Bourvil took part in the complete recording of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann with artists of the Paris Opéra-Comique conducted by André Cluytens, playing the four 'servant' roles.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Bourvil, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Acting

2025Bourvil : le rire et la tendresseas Self (Footage Archives)
2023Les Rois de la comédieas Self (archive footage)
2022La Traversée de Bourvilas Self (archive footage)
2022Belmondo: The Incorrigibleas
2020A Night at the Operaas
2018Lino Ventura, la part intimeas Self (archive footage)
2016Bourvil, un homme vraias Self (archive footage)
2015Le Tournage du Corniaud… Tout sauf un long fleuve tranquilleas Self (archive footage)
2015Bourvil, du comique paysan au génie de l'acteuras Self (archive footage)
2015Jean Gabin, le dernier des géantsas Self (archive footage)
2009Bourvil : Bien... si bienas Self (archive footage)
2009Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)as Self (archive footage)
1982Champs-Elyséesas Self (archive footage)
1974Spécial cinémaas Self (archive footage)
1972Midi trenteas Self (archive footage)
1971Clodoas Gaston (uncredited)
1970Le Cercle Rougeas Commissioner François Mattei
1970Atlantic Wallas Léon Duchemin, Norman restaurateur
1970The Studas William Chaminade
1969The Christmas Treeas Verdun
1969Monte Carlo or Bust!as Monsieur Dupont
1969The Brainas Anatole
1968The Big Washas Armand Saint-Just
1968The Hotshotsas Jules Auguste Duroc
1967Les Arnaudas Judge Henri Arnaud
1966Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!as Augustin Bouvet
1966Three Disordered Childrenas Eugène Laporte, entrepreneur de travaux publics
1965The Wise Guysas Hector Valentin
1965The Big Swagas Louis Bourdin, metro ticket puncher and writer
1965The Dirty Gameas Lalande
1965The Suckeras Antoine Maréchal
1964The Big Scareas
1964La Bonne Planqueas Antoine Perrin
1963My Wife's Husbandas André Colombey
1963Thank Heaven for Small Favorsas Georges Lachaunaye
1963Josefa's Lootas Pierre Corneille
1963Don't Tempt the Devilas Albert Gaudet, investigating judge
1962Un clair de Lune à Maubeugeas Le chanteur à la télévision
1962Les Culottes rougesas Fendard
1962Tartarin de Tarasconas Priest who reinflates the tire of his moped
1962The Longest Dayas Mayor of Colleville
1961The Busybodyas André Loriot
1961All the Gold in the Worldas Mathieu Dumont / Antoine Dumont / Martial Dumont
1960Fortunateas Noël Fortunat
1960Captain Bloodas Baladin Cogolin
1959The Hunchback of Parisas Passepoil
1959The Green Mareas Honoré Haudouin
1959Way of Youthas Charles Michaud, père
1958Serenade of Texasas Me Jérôme Quilleboeuf
1958Sunday Encounteras Jean Brévent
1958The Mirror Has Two Facesas Pierre Tardivet
1958Les Misérablesas Thénardier
1957The Singer from Mexicoas Bilou
1956La Traversée de Parisas Marcel Martin, unemployed taxi driver
1956Cinépanoramaas Self
1955The Hussarsas le trompette Flicot Jean-Louis
1954Le Fil à la patteas Camille Bouzin, clerc de notaire et auteur de chansonnettes lestes
1954Cadet Rousselleas Jérôme Baguindet
1954April Fools' Dayas Émile Dupuy
1953Royal Affairs in Versaillesas Museum guard
1953The Three Musketeersas Planchet
1953One Hundred Francs Per Secondas Self
1952Crazy for Loveas Hippolyte Lemoine, neveu d'Augustine
1952Grrr....as Lui-même
1951Alone in Parisas Henri Milliard, le jeune marié campagnard
1951Mr. Peek-a-Booas Léon Dutilleul
1950The Prizeas Isidore Pastouret
1950Miquetteas Urbain de la Tour-Mirande
1950Le Roi Pandoreas Léon Ménard, le gendarme
1949Wear His Heart on His Sleeveas Leon Ménard
1948White as Snowas Léon Ménard
1948By the Windowas Gaston 'Pilou'
1947Not So Stupidas Léon Ménard
1947Studio en foliesas Self
1945Hanged Man's Farmas Le bourrelier, le chanteur à la noce
1943A Star to the Sunas (uncredited)
1942Sideral Cruisesas Scientist
Foutraque (!)as himself

Production

2023Les Magnifiques sauvages...Music
1952Grrr.......Writer