Gabriel Gabrio (born Édouard Gabriel Lelièvre; 13 January 1887 – 31 October 1946) was a

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

stage and film actor whose career began in cinema in the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era of the 1920s and spanned more than two decades. Gabrio is possibly best remembered for his roles as

Jean Valjean Jean Valjean () is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. The story depicts the character's struggle to lead a normal life and redeem himself after serving a 19-year-long prison sentence for stealing bread to feed his ...

in the 1925

Henri Fescourt Henri Fescourt (23 November 1880 – 9 August 1966) was a French film director. He directed some 40 films in his career. Filmography * 1912 : ''Un vol a été commis'' * 1912 : ''Le Petit restaurant de l'impasse Canin'' * 1912 : ''Paris-Saint ...

-directed adaptation of

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...

's ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...

'',

Cesare Borgia Cesare Borgia (13 September 1475 – 12 March 1507) was a Cardinal (Catholic Church)#Cardinal_deacons, cardinal deacon and later an Italians, Italian ''condottieri, condottiero''. He was the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI of the Aragonese ...

in the 1935

Abel Gance Abel Gance (; born Abel Eugène Alexandre Péréthon; 25 October 188910 November 1981) was a French film director, producer, writer and actor. A pioneer in the theory and practice of montage, he is best known for three major silent films: ''J'ac ...

-directed biopic ''

Lucrèce Borgia ''Lucrèce Borgia'' (also known as ''Lucretia Borgia'' or ''Sins of the Borgias'') is a 1953 French drama film starring Martine Carol and Pedro Armendáriz. The film was directed by Christian-Jaque, who co-wrote screenplay with Cécil Saint-L ...

'' and as Carlos in the 1937

Julien Duvivier Julien Duvivier (; 8 October 1896 – 29 October 1967) was a French film director and screenwriter. He was prominent in French cinema in the years 1930–1960. Amongst his most original films, chiefly notable are ''La Bandera (film), La Bandera'', ...

-directed gangster film ''

Pépé le Moko ''Pépé le Moko'' () is a 1937 French film directed by Julien Duvivier starring Jean Gabin, based on a novel of the same name by Henri La Barthe and with sets by Jacques Krauss. An example of the 1930s French movement known as poetic realism ...

'', opposite

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin Alexis Moncorgé (born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé), known as Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976), was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films, including '' Pépé le ...

Biography

Early years

Gabriel Gabrio was born Édouard Gabriel Lelièvre in

Reims Reims ( ; ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, and the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 12th most populous city in Fran ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

as the youngest of sixteen children. Gabrio's father worked for the Pommery Champagne cellars. At a young age he developed a keen interest in puppet theater. As a teen, Gabrio grew to an impressive height of 6 feet 2 inches Gabriel Gabrio at the ''New York Times Movies''
/ref> and after a stint as an apprentice glass window painter, set his sights on a career as a stage actor. At the out break of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the blue-eyed Gabrio enlisted in the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

and served four years during the hostilities. After being demobilized, Gabrio relocated to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

where he performed in such theaters as the Gaîté Rochechouart, the Théâtre des Ambassadeurs, the Comédie Montaigne and the Odéon in roles by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

and

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, among others.

Film career

Gabrio made his film debut in the 1920

Germaine Dulac Germaine Dulac (; born Charlotte Elisabeth Germaine Saisset-Schneider; 17 November 1882 – 20 July 1942)Flitterman-Lewis 1996 was a French filmmaker, film theorist, journalist and critic. She was born in Amiens and moved to Paris in early chil ...

-directed film ''La fête espagnole'' (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

release title: ''Spanish Fiesta''). He was cast by film director Henri Fescourt to appear as Jean Valjean, the literary protagonist in the 1925 film adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel ''

,'' whose decades-long struggle with the law for stealing bread during a time of economic and social depression is chronicled. Gabrio's appearance in the film catapulted him to stardom. In 1927, Gabrio began appearing in international films, such as 1927's

Georg Jacoby Georg Jacoby (23 July 1882 – 21 February 1964) was a German film director and screenwriter.Profile
, bfi.org.uk; accessed 1 ...

-directed German film ''Der Faschingskönig'', and in 1929 Gabrio made his first and only English language ''

talkie A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befo ...

'' ''The Inseparables'', directed by

Adelqui Migliar Adelqui Migliar (5 August 1891 – 6 August 1956), also known as Adelqui Millar, was a Chilean film actor, director, writer and producer. He appeared in 31 silent films between 1916 and 1928. He also directed 24 films between 1922 and 1954. ...

and John Stafford. Gabrio's career flourished in France into the 1930s and is possibly best recalled for his roles such as Carlos, the gangster cohort of actor

's character ''

'' in the 1937 film directed by Julien Duvivier. The film would become an international success and remade in America in 1938 as ''

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

'', starring

Charles Boyer Charles Boyer (; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American fi ...

and

Hedy Lamarr Hedy Lamarr (; born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; November 9, 1914 January 19, 2000) was an Austrian-born American actress and inventor. After a brief early film career in Czechoslovakia, including the controversial erotic romantic drama '' Ecstasy ...

, and again in 1948 as a musical entitled ''

Casbah A kasbah (, also ; , , Maghrebi Arabic: ), also spelled qasbah, qasba, qasaba, or casbah, is a fortress, most commonly the citadel or fortified quarter of a city. It is also equivalent to the term in Spanish (), which is derived from the same ...

'', starring Tony Martin and

Yvonne de Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film star and sex symbol in the 1940s a ...

. As the 1940s began and Europe was thrust into the

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Gabriel Gabrio's film career remained intact in war-torn France. In 1942 he appeared in the

Marcel Carné Marcel Albert Carné (; 18 August 1906 – 31 October 1996) was a French film director. A key figure in the poetic realism movement, Carné's best known films include ''Port of Shadows'' (1938), ''Le Jour Se Lève'' (1939), ''Les Visiteurs du Soi ...

-directed and

Jacques Prévert Jacques Prévert (; 4 February 1900 – 11 April 1977) was a French poet and screenwriter. His poems became and remain popular in the French-speaking world, particularly in schools. His best-regarded films formed part of the Poetic realism, poetic ...

and

Pierre Laroche Pierre Laroche (1902–1962) was a French journalist, screenwriter and novelist. He was active in the Cinema of France, French film industry from the 1940s to the 1960s. Laroche collaborated with Jacques Prévert on the script of ''Les Visiteurs ...

-penned '' Les Visiteurs du Soir'' as the executioner, opposite

Arletty Léonie Marie Julie Bathiat (15 May 1898 – 23 July 1992), known professionally as Arletty, was a French actress, singer, and fashion model. As an actress she is particularly known for classics directed by Marcel Carné, including '' Hotel du ...

and

Marie Déa Marie Déa (born Odette Alice Marie Deupès 17 May 1912 – 1 March 1992) was a French actress. She appeared in more than 50 films from 1939 to 1983. She was married to the actor Lucien Nat. Selected filmography External links * { ...

. The film, which debuted on 5 December 1942 during the

Nazi occupation of France The Military Administration in France (; ) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zone in areas of northern and western France. This so-called ' was established in June 19 ...

, is an allegory of the eternal struggle between good and evil as fourteenth-century lovers defy the Devil. The film was released under the English title ''The Devil's Envoys'' to American audiences in 1947.

Death

In 1943 Gabrio's health declined and he retired to the village of

Berchères-sur-Vesgre Berchères-sur-Vesgre () is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Eure-et-Loir department The following is a list of the 363 communes of the Eure-et-Loir department of France. ...

Eure-et-Loir Eure-et-Loir (, locally: ) is a French department, named after the Eure and Loir rivers. It is located in the region of Centre-Val de Loire. In 2019, Eure-et-Loir had a population of 431,575.La fête espagnole LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smit ...

'' (1920) (English release title: ''Spanish Fiesta'') *''

'' (1925) - Jean Valjean *'' A Son from America'' (1926) - Léon Verton *''

Le juif errant ''The Wandering Jew'' () is an 1844 novel by the French writer Eugène Sue. It tells the story of the descendants of a persecuted Huguenot whose fortune had been entrusted to a Jewish banker for 150 years. Scattered across the globe, they have ...

'' (1926) - Dagobert *''

Captain Rascasse ''Captain Rascasse'' (French: ''Le capitaine Rascasse'') is a 1927 French silent film directed by Henri Desfontaines and starring Gabriel Gabrio, Claude Mérelle and Jeanne Helbling.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.202 Cast * Gabriel Gabrio as 'Capita ...

'' (1927) - 'Capitaine' Rascasse *''

Antoinette Sabrier ''Antoinette Sabrier'' is a 1927 French silent drama film directed by Germaine Dulac and starring Ève Francis, Gabriel Gabrio and Jean Toulout. The film's art direction was by Louis Nalpas. Cast * Ève Francis as Antoinette Sabrier * Gabr ...

'' (1927) - Germain Sabrier *'' The Duel'' (1927) - Debreole *''

The Joker The Joker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, the character first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book ''Batman (comic book), Batman'' on ...

'' (1928) - Sir Herbert Powder *''

The King of Carnival ''The Joker'' () is a 1928 Danish-German silent drama film directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Henry Edwards, Elga Brink, Miles Mander and Renée Héribel. It is based upon the 1927 play ''The Joker'' by Noel Scott. The film was also release ...

'' (1928) - Der Generalkonsul *'' Five Anxious Days'' (1928) - General Vorileff *''

The Inseparables ''The Inseparables'' is a 1929 British silent romance film directed by Adelqui Migliar and John Stafford and starring Elissa Landi, Patrick Aherne and Annette Benson. It was filmed at the Whitehall Studios at Elstree. Plot A smuggler fa ...

'' (1929) - Pietro *'' Fécondité'' (1929) (English release title: ''Fecundity'') - Mathieu Froment *'' La bodega'' (1930) (English release title: ''Wine Cellars'') - Fermin *''

Une belle garce Une is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Eastern Province, part of the department of Cundinamarca. The urban centre is located at an altitude of at a distance of from the capital Bogotá. The municipality borders Chipaque in the nor ...

'' (1930) - Rabbas le dompteur *' (1931) - Sir Archibald Falkland *'' The King of Paris'' (1931) - Rascol *''

La lettre ''The Letter'' (, ) is a 1999 French-Portuguese drama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira. It tells the story of a married woman who has feelings for another man, and who confesses her feelings to her friend, a cloistered nun. The Film is loosely b ...

'' (1931) - Philipp Bennett *'' Les croix de bois'' (1932) (English release title: ''Wooden Crosses'') - Sulphart *''

Au nom de la loi ''Au nom de la loi'' ''("In The Name of the Law")'' is a limited-run Quebecois téléroman series on Ici Radio-Canada Télé. Ten 50-minute episodes were broadcast from September 15, 2005 to November 17, 2005. Synopsis In 1993, Simon Pelletier i ...

'' (1932) (English release title: ''In the Name of the Law'') - Amédée *'' The Wandering Beast'' (1932) - Gregory *'' Affaire classée'' (1932, Short) (aka ''Le coup de minuit'', French reissue title) - Le patron du café *''

Coeurs joyeux ''Happy Hearts'' (French:''Coeurs joyeux'') is a 1932 French comedy film directed by Hanns Schwarz and Max de Vaucorbeil and starring Josseline Gaël, Gabriel Gabrio and Jean Gabin.Bock & Bergfelder p.323 A separate German-language version '' ...

'' (1932) - Olivier *'' Les deux orphelines'' (1933) (aka ''Frochard et les deux orphelines'', English release title: ''The Two Orphans'') - Jacques *'' Les requins du pétrole'' (1933) (English release title: ''The Oil Sharks'') - James Godfrey *''

Street Without a Name ''Street Without a Name'' (French: ''La Rue sans nom'') is a 1934 French drama film directed by Pierre Chenal and starring Constant Rémy, Gabriel Gabrio and Paule Andral. It is based on the 1930 novel '' La Rue sans nom'' by Marcel Aymé.Gobl ...

'' (1934) - Fiocle *''

The Devil in the Bottle ''The Devil in the Bottle'' (French: ''Le diable en bouteille'') is a 1935 French-German drama film directed by Heinz Hilpert, Reinhart Steinbicker and Raoul Ploquin. It stars Käthe von Nagy, Pierre Blanchar and Gina Manès.Goble p.736 It was m ...

'' (1935) - Mounier *'' Le baron tzigane'' (1935) (English release title: ''Gypsy Baron'') - Koloman Szupan *''

Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia (18 April 1480 – 24 June 1519) was an Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia who was the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. She was a former governor of Spoleto. Her family arranged ...

'' (1935) - César Borgia *''

Cavalerie légère ''Cavalerie'' is a 1937 composition by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Reinhardt attempted to record it with the Quintet of the Hot Club of France but aborted the attempt and the original version of the piece is now lost. It was later re-recorde ...

'' (1935) - Chérubini *'' Sous les yeux d'occident'' (1936) (aka ''Razumov'') - Nikita *''

'' (1937) - Carlos *'' Gigolette'' (1937) - Vauquelin *''

Wells in Flames ''Wells in Flames'' (French: ''Puits en flammes'') is a 1937 German adventure film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Josseline Gaël, George Rigaud and Suzy Vernon.Rentschler p.289 It is the French-language version of ''City of Anatol'' ...

'' (1937) - Korsoum *'' Regain'' (1937) (English release title: ''Harvest'') - Panturle *''

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for List of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma ...

'' (1938) (English release title: ''The Life of Giuseppe Verdi'') - Honoré De Balzac *'' Deuxième bureau contre kommandantur'' (1939) - Heim *''

Le corsaire ''Le Corsaire'' is a ballet typically presented in three acts, with a libretto originally created by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges loosely based on the poem '' The Corsair'' by Lord Byron. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to ...

'' (1939) *'' Campement 13'' (1940) (English release title: ''Camp Thirteen'') - Charles *'' Les visiteurs du soir'' (1942) (English release title: ''The Devil's Envoys'') - Le bourreau *'' Le val d'enfer'' (1943) - Noël Bienvenu (final film role)

References

External links

*
Gabriel Gabrio at Alice: Cinéma
in

Gabriel Gabrio at the ''New York Times Movies''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabrio, Gabriel 1887 births 1946 deaths French male stage actors French male film actors French male silent film actors Actors from Reims Male actors from Grand Est French military personnel of World War I 20th-century French male actors