Louis Jourdan, the dashing French actor who was most recognizable from his Academy Award-nominated role in the musical Gigi, died at his home in Los Angeles on February 14, 2015, at the age of 93. Jourdan was preceded in death by his wife, Berthe Frederique “Quique,” and son, Louis Henry.
“He embodied French elegance and Hollywood offered him the parts to go with that,” he (biographer Olivier Minne) told the AFP news agency.
Among those paying tribute on Twitter was Indian film star Kabir Bedi, who played Jourdan’s bodyguard Gobinda in Octopussy. “Deeply saddened to hear, from @twitter friends, of the passing of Louis Jordan,” he wrote.
Cassian Elwes, producer of films including Monster’s Ball and Dallas Buyers Club, wrote: “Louis Jourdan was an absolutely charming man who was always elegant in everything he did it was no wonder he was friends w [sic] everyone he met.”
American actress Rose McGowan, whose films include The Black Dahlia, wrote: “Louis Jourdan, thank you for the entertainment. Your elegant beauty and wit were a joy to behold.”
Read the full story: Louis Jourdan, French actor and star of Gigi, dies aged 93
Jourdan was born Louis Robert Gendre in Marseille, France. He studied in France, Turkey, and the UK and began acting professionally while studying acting at the École Dramatique. He won his first movie role in 1939, where he worked opposite Charles Boyer. Due to the start of WWII, the film was never completed. He was too young to enlist and eventually returned to France to ride out the war. He and his family fled occupied France after he was ordered to make German propaganda films. He joined the French Resistance for the remainder of the war.
After the liberation of France in 1945, he returned to Paris and married his childhood sweetheart, Berthe Frederique. When Berthe died in 2014, they had been married for more than 60 years. Louis and Berthe’s son, Louis Henry, died tragically of a drug overdose in 1981.
Louis Jourdan’s filmography lists nearly 90 credits. Among these are film, television, and stage performances. He was awarded France’s Légion d’Honneur in July 2010.
Ali M Haverstock
What a wonderful example of humility, splendor, class, and the value’s that make 1 great! Married for 67 years, this is a heartwarming man to read about!