Jean Poiret, born Jean Poiré (17 August 1926 – 14 March 1992), was a French actor, director, and screenwriter. He is primarily known as the author of the original play '' La Cage aux Folles''.

Early career

Poiret was born in Paris, and first rose to prominence in 1951 playing the role of Fred Transport, one of the heroes of Pierre Dac and Francis Blanche's radio series ''Malheur aux Barbus''. In 1952, he met his future co-star of ''La Cage'' Michel Serrault at the

Sarah Bernhardt Theatre Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pio ...

. Together, they starred in the sketch "Jerry Scott, Vedette Internationale". In 1961, Poiret, as a member of the French cinematic society Pathé, wrote and recorded ''La Vache à Mille Francs'', a parody of ''La Valse à Mille Temps'' by

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...

. In 1973, he married actress Caroline Cellier, with whom he had one child.

''La Cage aux Folles''

In 1973, Poiret wrote and starred in the stage play '' La Cage aux Folles''. Its film adaptation in 1978 eventually brought Poiret immense success. Although Poiret was replaced by Italian actor Ugo Tognazzi in the role of Renato Baldi, Serrault reprised his stage-role of Zaza Napoli and won a César Award for his work.

Later career

In 1992, Poiret directed his first and only film, ''Le Zèbre'' (''The Zebra''). This adaptation of

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's novel starred Thierry Lhermitte and Caroline Cellier and was one of the top ten grossing films in France for the year and the highest-grossing debut European film for the year with a gross of $12 million. Poiret died of a heart attack in Paris on 14 March 1992, three months before the film's premiere. He is buried at the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris.

Filmography

*1953: ''Le Gang des pianos à bretelles'' (by Gilles de Turenne) - Le présentateur de 'La nuit brune' (uncredited) *1953: '' Les 3 Mousquetaires'' (by André Hunebelle) *1956: ''

Cette sacrée gamine ''Naughty Girl'' (french: Cette sacrée gamine), also released as ''Mam'zelle Pigalle'', is a 1956 French CinemaScope musical film starring Brigitte Bardot. Plot Handsome cabaret entertainer Jean Clery is engaged to his psychiatrist, Lili. He s ...

'' (by

Michel Boisrond Michel Jacques Boisrond (9 October 1921, Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais – 10 November 2002, La Celle-Saint-Cloud) was a French film director and screenwriter. His work spanned five decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s. Career A former apprentice ...

) - first inspector *1956: '' La Vie est belle'' (by

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and Jean-Marc Thibault) - maracas player *1956: '' Assassins et voleurs'' (by

Sacha Guitry Alexandre-Pierre Georges "Sacha" Guitry (; 21 February 188524 July 1957) was a French stage actor, film actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright of the boulevard theatre. He was the son of a leading French actor, Lucien Guitry, and follo ...

) - Philippe d'Artois *1956: ''

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'' (by Jean Boyer) - gendarme *1957: '' Adorables démons'' (by Maurice Cloche) - Julien Willis Jr *1957: '' Le naïf aux quarante enfants'' (by Philippe Agostini) - Master Bardine *1957: '' Ça aussi c'est Paris'' (Short, by Maurice Cloche) - reporter *1957: '' Clara et les méchants'' (by Raoul André) - Chantuer - un gangster *1959: '' Nina'' (by Jean Boyer) - Adolphe Tessier *1959: '' Oh ! Qué Mambo'' (by John Berry) - inspector Sapin *1959: '' Messieurs les ronds de cuir'' (by

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) - René Lahrier *1959: '' Vous n'avez rien à déclarer ?'' (by

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) - Robert de Trivelin *1960: '' La française et l'amour'' (by

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) - Michel's lawyer (sketch ''Le divorce'') *1960: '' Candide ou l'optimisme du XXe siècle'' (by Norbert Carbonnaux) - 1st policeman *1961: '' Ma femme est une panthère'' (by Raymond Bailly) - psychiatrist *1961: '' Auguste'' (by Pierre Chevalier) - Georges Flower *1962: ''

Les parisiennes ''Tales of Paris'' (french: Les parisiennes) is a 1962 comedy-drama anthology film consisting of four segments. Plot Cast ''Sophie'' * Catherine Deneuve as Sophie * Johnny Hallyday as Jean Allard * Elina Labourdette as Jacqueline * Gillia ...

'' (by

Francis Cosne Francis Cosne (17 May 1916 – 13 December 1984) was a French film producer and screenwriter. He produced more than 30 films between 1948 and 1979. In 1972, he was a member of the jury at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival. Selecte ...

and

Annette Wademant Annette Wademant (1928–2017) was a Belgian screenwriter active in the French film industry.Gillain p.81 She was married to the director Michel Boisrond. Selected filmography * '' Edward and Caroline'' (1951) * ''Casque d'Or'' (1952) * '' Rue ...

) - Jean-Pierre Leroy (segment "Antonia") *1962: '' The Dance'' (by Norbert Carbonnaux) - Old man *1962: ''

It's Not My Business ''It's Not My Business'' (French: ''C'est pas moi, c'est l'autre'') is a 1962 French comedy film directed by Jean Boyer and starring Fernand Raynaud, Jean Poiret and Micheline Dax.Krawc p.221 The film's sets were designed by the art director R ...

'' (by Jean Boyer) - Jean Duroc *1962: ''

How to Succeed in Love ''How to Succeed in Love'' (French: ''Comment réussir en amour'', Italian: ''La moglie addosso'') is a 1962 French-Italian comedy film directed by Michel Boisrond and starring Dany Saval, Jean Poiret and Jacqueline Maillan.Parish p.16 The fil ...

'' (by

) - Bernard Monod *1962: '' Les quatre vérités'' (by Hervé Bromberger) - Renard (Fox) (segment "Le corbeau et le renard") *1963: '' Les vierges'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - the banker Marchaix *1963: '' Un drôle de paroissien'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Raoul *1963: '' La foire aux cancres'' (by

Louis Daquin Louis Daquin (20 May 1908 – 2 October 1980) was a French film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 14 films between 1938 and 1963. He also appeared in 11 films between 1937 and 1979. Selected filmography * '' The Man from Nowhere ...

) - Collin *1964: '' Les durs à cuire ou comment supprimer son prochain sans perdre l'appétit'' (by

Jacques Pinoteau Jack Pinoteau (20 September 1923 – 6 April 2017) or Jacques Pinoteau was a French film director born at Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines. A brother of Claude Pinoteau and Arlette Merry, he is mostly known for his direction of the film ', after a novel ...

) - Louis *1964: ''

Jealous as a Tiger ''Jealous as a Tiger'' (French: ''Jaloux comme un tigre'') is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Darry Cowl and Maurice Delbez and starring Darry Cowl, Francis Blanche and Jean Poiret.Martin p.120 Cast * Darry Cowl as Henri * Francis Blanche ...

'' (by Darry Cowl) - doctor Raymond *1964: '' La grande frousse'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Loupiac *1965: '' Les baratineurs'' (by Francis Rigaud) - André *1965: '' La bonne occase'' (by Michel Drach) - Grégoire *1965: '' La tête du client'' (by

Jacques Poitrenaud Jacques Poitrenaud (born 22 May 1922, Lille – died 5 April 2005, Paris) was a French film director and actor. Director *1956: '' Saint-Germain-en-Laye, cité royale'' (Short) *1957: '' Enfants, Touraine'' (Short) *1960: '' La revenante'' (Short ...

) - Philippe / Monsieur Paul *1965: '' Le petit monstre'' (by

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) - the godfather *1966: '' Your Money or Your Life'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Lucien Pélépan *1967: '' Le grand bidule'' by Raoul André) - Verdier *1967: '' Ces messieurs de la famille'' (by Raoul André) - Bernard Le Gall *1968: '' La grande lessive (!)'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Jean-Michel Lavalette *1969: '' Aux frais de la princesse'' (by Roland Quignon) - Santos *1969: '' Trois hommes sur un cheval'' (by

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) - Tout / Freddy *1969: '' Ces messieurs de la gâchette'' (by Raoul André) - ''Bernard Le Gall'' *1970: ''

Le Mur de l'Atlantique ''Atlantic Wall'' (french: Le Mur de l'Atlantique, it, Un elmetto pieno di... fifa) is a 1970 French-Italian war-comedy film written and directed by Marcel Camus and starring Bourvil and Peter McEnery. It was Bourvil's last film. Plot The stor ...

'' (by Marcel Camus) - Armand *1971: '' Mais qu'est-ce qui fait courir les crocodiles ?'' (by

) - Gontran *1979: '' La Gueule de l'autre'' (by Pierre Tchernia) - Jean-Louis Constant *1980: '' Le Dernier Métro'' (by

François Truffaut François Roland Truffaut ( , ; ; 6 February 1932 – 21 October 1984) was a French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. After a career of more th ...

) - Jean-Loup Cottins *1982: ' (by

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) - André Joeuf *1984: ' (by Claude Pinoteau) - Jean Michelis *1985: '' Poulet au vinaigre'' (by

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) - Inspector Jean Lavardin *1985: ' (by Jean Yanne) - the caliph *1986: '' Inspecteur Lavardin'' (by

) - Inspector Jean Lavardin *1986: ' (by

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) - Orlando Higgin *1987: '' Le Miraculé'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Papu *1988: '' Les saisons du plaisir'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Bernard Germain *1988: '' Corentin'' (by Jean Marboeuf) - the exorcist *1988: ''

Une nuit à l'Assemblée Nationale ''Une nuit à l'Assemblée Nationale'' (''A Night at the National Assembly'') is a 1988 French comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky. Plot Walter Arbeit, an ecologist practising naturism, accompanies his mayor and MP, Dugland, to Paris where ...

'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - Octave Leroy *1988: '' La petite amie'' (by

Luc Béraud Luc Béraud (born 30 October 1945) is a French director, screenwriter and actor. Career He started as assistant director for Patrice Leconte, Jean Eustache and Alain Robbe-Grillet. He was nominated three times at the César Award for Best Writin ...

) - Martin Morel *1990: '' Lacenaire'' (by

Francis Girod Francis Girod (9 October 1944 – 19 November 2006) was a French film director, actor, and screenwriter. He directed 20 films between 1974 and 2006. His film ''L'enfance de l'art'' was entered into the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. In 1994 he ...

) - Aliard *1992: '' Sup de fric'' (by Christian Gion) - Cyril Dujardin *1991: ' (by Christoph Böll) - Herzog Max *2007: '' La méthode Barnol'' (by Jean-Pierre Mocky) - M. Hubert (final appearance)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Poiret, Jean 1926 births 1992 deaths French male film actors French male stage actors 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights Burials at Montparnasse Cemetery 20th-century French male actors