The face of Belmondo films and Charles de Gaulle translator Pierre Vernier dies at 93

Pierre Vernier died on Wednesday, October 9, in Vic-Fezensac, his relatives announced to Agence France-Presse this Saturday, October 12. This French actress, with a natural presence and especially careful diction, was one of the best supporting roles in the cinema, especially when she played several times against her friend from the Conservatoire, Jean-Paul Belmondo. He was 93 years old.

From the Conservatory’s Grand Vintage

Part of the 1954 class of the Paris Conservatoire, along with Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Pierre Mariel, Bruno Cremer and Jean Rochefort, Pierre Vernier found his first role in Marcel Carnet’s Juliette ou la clef des songs. He continued in the 1950s, appearing undercover in Denys de La Patellière’s Les Copains du Dimanche, Les Affreux and Rue des Prairies, a melodrama set in 1942 with Jean Gabin.

Pierre Vernier was more active in the 1960s, as evidenced by his secondary productions under the direction of prestigious film directors. Thus, Claude Chabrol offered her three roles during this decade in the dramas Les Godelureaux, Ophélia and Landru. He also plays again for de La Patellière (Eyes of Love, Caroline Chérie), but also for Henri Verneil (Week-end in Zuydcoote) and Jean Becker (Not Caviar for Aunt Olga).

Rocambole

In the mid-1960s, Pierre Vernier tasted the joys of television, landing the title role in the adventure series Rocambole, based on Ponson du Terrail’s serialized novel of the same name. This ex-prisoner-turned-vigilante hero from society allows him to reveal himself to a wider audience. The Saint-Jean-d’Angelo native also appears in the TV movies Forbidden Sense, Orion the Killer, The Hiring Officer and Hell’s Game.

Not forgetting cinema, far from it, Pierre Vernier found in the 1970s some directors he knew well, such as Joseph Los (Monsieur Klein), Henri Vernay (I… comme Icare) and Georges Lautner (The Guignolo). In addition, he plays Maître Pierre Gramont in Alain Rennes’ historical drama Stavisky and appears in the mini-series Le Secret des Dieux, Michel Strogoff, Richelieu and Mazarin.

Face of Belmondo Films

In the 1980s and 1990s, Pierre Vernier together with his friend Jean-Paul Belmondo repeatedly (Le Professionnel, Le Marginal, Le Solitaire, etc.). Claude Lelouch also credits her with three secondary characters in La Belle histoire (by the director), Route of the Pampered Child, and Les Misérables (both played by the indefatigable babe). Finally, on the television side, we can see him in Le Château des oliviers and Belle Epoque.

If in the 2000s and 2020s Pierre Vernier is less active due to his age, we can see him in Francois Ozon’s Sous le sable and Chabrol’s L’Ivresse du politique, in which he plays President Martino’s superior Isabelle Hooper. He also stars in the comedies La Confiance Reign, by Etienne Chatelet and Palais Royal! By Valérie Lemercier, who again asks her for 100% cashmere and Marie-Francine (her last performance).

De Gaulle

Note that in 2008, Pierre Vernier played General de Gaulle in the TV movie Adieu de Gaulle, adieu, showing once again how much he likes historical characters. An intense performance that won him Best Male Performance at the Luchon Festival of Television Creativity in 2009. He was also made an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters and a Knight of the National Order of Merit in 2016.