Jean Del Val (born Jean Jacques Gauthier; 17 November 1891 – 13 March 1975) was a French-born actor, also credited as Jean Gauthier and Jean Gautier.

Career

He played roles during the

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

silent era, beginning with ''The Fortunes of Fifi'' in 1917. During the early days of

talkies A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, 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, bu ...

he served as a translator and vocal coach for

French language French ( or ) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European family. Like all other Romance languages, it descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire. French evolved from Northern Old Gallo-R ...

versions of American-made films. Two of his notable credits include the classic 1942 film ''

Casablanca Casablanca (, ) is the largest city in Morocco and the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Chaouia (Morocco), Chaouia plain in the central-western part of Morocco, the city has a populatio ...

'' in a small role as an announcer for a French radio station in one of the opening scenes, and historical figure

Ferdinand Foch Ferdinand Foch ( , ; 2 October 1851 – 20 March 1929) was a French general, Marshal of France and a member of the Académie Française and French Academy of Sciences, Académie des Sciences. He distinguished himself as Supreme Allied Commander ...

in the 1941 film ''

Sergeant York Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known by his rank as Sergeant York, was an American soldier who was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor fo ...

'', based on the life of

Alvin York Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known by his rank as Sergeant York, was an American soldier who was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor fo ...

. His most well-known role was

coma A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to Nociception, respond normally to Pain, painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal Circadian rhythm, sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate ...

tose

scientist A scientist is a person who Scientific method, researches to advance knowledge in an Branches of science, area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engag ...

Dr. Jan Benes in the 1966

science fiction film Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a film genre that uses Speculative fiction, speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as Extraterrestrial life in fiction, extraterrestria ...

Fantastic Voyage ''Fantastic Voyage'' is a 1966 American science fiction adventure film directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Harry Kleiner, based on a story by Otto Klement and Jerome Bixby. The film is about a submarine crew who is shrunk to microsco ...

''. He also appeared on 5 episodes of the television series '' Combat!'': first, uncredited in the episode "A Day in June", followed by "No Trumpets, No Drums" as Marceau, then as a French farmer in "Birthday Cake", Father Bomar in "The Steeple", and Brother Edmundo in "The Mockingbird".

Death

Del Val died at age 83 from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

Pacific Palisades, California Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood in the Westside Los Angeles, Westside region of the city of Los Angeles, California, situated about west of downtown Los Angeles. Throughout January 2025, the majority of Pacific Palisades was severely affec ...

. He is interred in the

Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Holy Cross Cemetery is a Catholic Church, Catholic cemetery at 5835 West Slauson Avenue in Culver City, California, operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Archdiocese. It is partially in the Culver City city limi ...

Selected filmography

*'' The Fortunes of Fifi'' (1917) – Louis Bourcet *'' Heart's Desire'' (1917) – Jacques *''

Atonement Atonement, atoning, or making amends is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some othe ...

'' (1919) – Tony *'' The Mystery of the Yellow Room'' (1919) – Jean Sainclair *'' A Sainted Devil'' (1924) – Casimiro *'' A Man of Iron'' (1925) – Prince Novakian *'' Fifty-Fifty'' (1925) – Jean *'' Back to Liberty'' (1927) – Rudolph Gambier *''Soyons gais'' (1930) *'' The Sap from Syracuse'' (1930) – Pierre Bouvet – French Engineer (uncredited) *'' Sea Legs'' (1930) – Crosseti * '' Women Men Marry'' (1931) – Pierre Renault *'' The Magnificent Lie'' (1931) – Stage Manager *'' Friends and Lovers'' (1931) – Marquis Henri de Pézanne *''

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

'' (1931) – Waiter (uncredited) *'' The Passionate Plumber'' (1932) – Chauffeur *''Quand on est belle'' (1932) – Gensler *''L'Athlète incomplet'' (1932) – Coach *'' Rasputin and the Empress'' (1932) – Minor Role (uncredited) *''Le plombier amoureux'' (1932) *'' Gabriel Over the White House'' (1933) – Representative at Debt Conference (uncredited) *'' The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo'' (1935) – Cook (uncredited) *'' The Phantom Gondola'' (1936) – Monsieur de Montignac *''

Block-Heads ''Block-Heads'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring Laurel and Hardy, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach Studios for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, a reworking of elements from the Lau ...

'' (1938) – French aviator (uncredited) *'' Pack Up Your Troubles'' (1939) – Capt. Armande (uncredited) *'' The Flying Deuces'' (1939) – Sergeant *'' Charlie Chan in City in Darkness'' (1939) – French Cabby (uncredited) *'' Everything Happens at Night'' (1939) – Gendarme Catching Thief (uncredited) *'' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1940) – Jacques (uncredited) *'' Broadway Melody of 1940'' (1940) – Italian Waiter (uncredited) *'' The House Across the Bay'' (1940) – French Official (uncredited) *''

I Was an Adventuress ''I Was an Adventuress'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Gregory Ratoff, starring Vera Zorina, Richard Greene, Erich von Stroheim, and Peter Lorre. An actress/ballerina works as decoy for two international con artists. Plot Countess Ta ...

'' (1940) – Detective (uncredited) *''

Earthbound ''EarthBound'', originally released in Japan as is a 1994 role-playing video game, role-playing video game developed by Ape, Inc., Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as the second e ...

'' (1940) – Train Dispatcher (uncredited) *'' Brother Orchid'' (1940) – Frenchman (uncredited) *''

Mystery Sea Raider ''Mystery Sea Raider'' is a 1940 American drama war film directed by Edward Dmytryk Edward Dmytryk (September 4, 1908 – July 1, 1999) was a Canadian-born American film director and editor. He was known for his 1940s films noir, noir films ...

'' (1940) – Captain Benoit *'' Captain Caution'' (1940) – French Officer (uncredited) *'' Triple Justice'' (1940) – Don Solas (uncredited) *'' Drums of the Desert'' (1940) – Colonel Fouchet *'' Down Argentine Way'' (1940) – Señor Rufino (uncredited) *'' Arise, My Love'' (1940) – Conductor (uncredited) *'' The Mark of Zorro'' (1940) – Sentry (uncredited) *'' Hudson's Bay'' (1941) – Captain (uncredited) *'' Rage in Heaven'' (1941) – Porter at Sanatarium (uncredited) *'' That Night in Rio'' (1941) – Stock Exchange Clerk (uncredited) *'' Hello, Sucker'' (1941) – Headwaiter (uncredited) *''

'' (1941) – Marshal

(uncredited) *'' Outlaws of the Desert'' (1941) – Faran El Kader *'' Paris Calling'' (1941) – Peasant (uncredited) *'' The Lady Has Plans'' (1942) – Bartender (uncredited) *'' Secret Agent of Japan'' (1942) – Solaire *'' Take a Letter, Darling'' (1942) – Headwaiter (uncredited) *'' The Pied Piper'' (1942) – Railroad official *'' Crossroads'' (1942) – Court Clerk (uncredited) *'' Just Off Broadway'' (1942) – Henri – Waiter (uncredited) *'' Dr. Renault's Secret'' (1942) – Henri (uncredited) *'' Gentleman Jim'' (1942) – Renaud (uncredited) *''

'' (1942) – Police Officer (uncredited) *'' Reunion in France'' (1942) – Porter (uncredited) *'' Mission to Moscow'' (1943) – Molotov's Secretary (uncredited) *''

Action in the North Atlantic ''Action in the North Atlantic'' is a 1943 American war film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Jerry Wald, directed by Lloyd Bacon, and adapted by John Howard Lawson from a story by Guy Gilpatric. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and R ...

'' (1943) – Capt. La Pricor (uncredited) *'' Background to Danger'' (1943) – Clerk (uncredited) *''

For Whom the Bell Tolls ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As a dynamiter, he is assigned ...

'' (1943) – The Sniper *'' Adventures of the Flying Cadets'' (1943, Serial) – Michaud – Nazi Agent M-7 h. 13(uncredited) *'' Wintertime'' (1943) – Constable (uncredited) *'' Paris After Dark'' (1943) – Papa Benoit (uncredited) *'' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943) – Estrade (uncredited) *''

Passage to Marseille ''Passage to Marseille'', also known as ''Message to Marseille'', is a 1944 American war film made by Warner Brothers, directed by Michael Curtiz. The screenplay was by Casey Robinson and Jack Moffitt (screenwriter), Jack Moffitt from the novel ...

'' (1944) – Raoul Doulaine (uncredited) *''

Tampico Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz. Tampico is the fif ...

'' (1944) – Port Pilot (uncredited) *'' Uncertain Glory'' (1944) – Prison Turnkey (uncredited) *'' Irish Eyes Are Smiling'' (1944) – Waiter (uncredited) *'' Molly and Me'' (1945) – Pierre Petard – Cook (uncredited) *'' Cornered'' (1945) – M. Trabeau, First Prefect (uncredited) *'' The Spider'' (1945) – Henri Dutrelle, Hotel Manager *'' 13 Rue Madeleine'' (1946) – French Peasant with Wood (uncredited) *'' Gilda'' (1946) – French Cartel Member (uncredited) *'' O.S.S.'' (1946) – Conductor (uncredited) *'' Monsieur Beaucaire'' (1946) – Minister of War (uncredited) *'' So Dark the Night'' (1946) – Dr. Manet *'' The Razor's Edge'' (1946) – Police Clerk (uncredited) *'' The Return of Monte Cristo'' (1946) – Pinot (uncredited) *'' Undercover Maisie'' (1947) – Headwaiter (uncredited) *'' Buck Privates Come Home'' (1947) – Duprez – French Consul General (uncredited) *'' The Private Affairs of Bel Ami'' (1947) – Commissioner *'' Repeat Performance'' (1947) – Tony – Waiter (uncredited) *'' Life with Father'' (1947) – François – Headwaiter at Delmonico's (uncredited) *'' Down to Earth'' (1947) – Croupier (uncredited) *'' The Foxes of Harrow'' (1947) – Dr. Le Fevre (uncredited) *'' The Crime Doctor's Gamble'' (1947) – Theodore – Butler *'' I Walk Alone'' (1947) – Henri the Chef (uncredited) *'' Julia Misbehaves'' (1948) – Croupier (uncredited) *'' Siren of Atlantis'' (1949) – Minor Role (uncredited) *'' The Fighting O'Flynn'' (1949) – French Admiral (uncredited) *'' The Great Sinner'' (1949) – Croupier (uncredited) *'' The Secret of St. Ives'' (1949) – Count St. Ives *''

Battleground A battlefield, battleground, or field of battle is the location of a present or historic battle involving ground warfare. It is commonly understood to be limited to the point of contact between opposing forces, though battles may involve troop ...

'' (1949) – French Peasant Man (uncredited) *'' Under My Skin'' (1950) – Minor Role (uncredited) *'' Last of the Buccaneers'' (1950) – Sauvinct (uncredited) *'' Rich, Young and Pretty'' (1951) – Headwaiter (uncredited) *'' Hurricane Island'' (1951) – Tavern Patron (uncredited) *'' The Law and the Lady'' (1951) – Chemin de fer Dealer (uncredited) *''

Lovely to Look At ''Lovely to Look At'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy, based on the 1933 Broadway musical ''Roberta''. Plot Broadway producers Al Marsh, Tony Naylor, and Jerry Ralby are desperately searching for invest ...

'' (1952) – Creditor (uncredited) *'' Park Row'' (1952) – Mr. Dessard (uncredited) *''

The Iron Mistress ''The Iron Mistress'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Alan Ladd and Virginia Mayo. It ends with Bowie's marriage to Ursula de Veramendi and does not deal with his death at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. ...

'' (1952) – St. Sylvain (uncredited) *'' The Hitch-Hiker'' (1953) – Inspector General *'' The 49th Man'' (1953) – Agent Maurice Leroux *'' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (1953) – Ship's Captain (uncredited) *'' Little Boy Lost'' (1953) – Dr. Biroux (uncredited) *'' Living It Up'' (1954) – French Chef (uncredited) *''

The Gambler from Natchez ''The Gambler from Natchez'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Henry Levin and starring Dale Robertson and Debra Paget. It was Robertson's favorite among his own films. Plot In 1848, after four years away from New Orleans, Vance Col ...

'' (1954) – Dr. Ratan, Duel Official (uncredited) *'' The Last Time I Saw Paris'' (1954) – Doctor (uncredited) *'' Pirates of Tripoli'' (1955) – Abu Tala *'' Moonfleet'' (1955) – French Captain (uncredited) *'' Duel on the Mississippi'' (1955) – Bidault *'' Anything Goes'' (1956) – French Luggage Man (uncredited) *'' Funny Face'' (1957) – Hairdresser *''

Silk Stockings ''Silk Stockings'' is a musical with a book by George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The musical is loosely based on the Melchior Lengyel story ''Ninotchka'' and the 1939 film adaptation it ...

'' (1957) – Elderly Waiter (uncredited) *''

The Sad Sack ''The Sad Sack'' is a 1957 American comedy film based on the Harvey Comics character of the same title, created by George Baker. The film stars Jerry Lewis and Peter Lorre and was released by Paramount Pictures. Plot Private Meredith Bixby ...

'' (1957) – French General (uncredited) *'' Me and the Colonel'' (1958) – Old Gentleman (uncredited) *'' The Wreck of the Mary Deare'' (1959) – Javot (uncredited) *''

Can-Can The can-can (also spelled cancan as in the original French /kɑ̃kɑ̃/) is a high-energy, physically demanding dance that became a popular music-hall dance in the 1840s, continuing in popularity in French cabaret to this day. Originally dance ...

'' (1960) – Judge Merceaux *'' Seven Thieves'' (1960) – Roulette Croupier (uncredited) *''

The Devil at 4 O'Clock ''The Devil at 4 O'Clock'' is a 1961 American adventure film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra. Based on a 1958 novel with the same title by British writer Max Catto, the film was a precursor to '' Krakat ...

'' (1961) – Louis (uncredited) *'' Take Her, She's Mine'' (1963) – Concierge (uncredited) *'' Bedtime Story'' (1964) – Croupier (uncredited) *'' Sylvia'' (1965) – Maitre'd (uncredited) *'' The Art of Love'' (1965) – Magistrate (uncredited) *''

'' (1966) – Jan Benes *'' Wait Until Dark'' (1967) – The Old Man (uncredited) *'' Darling Lili'' (1970) – Maitre D' (uncredited) *'' Roll Out'' (1973) as Priest (Members of the Wedding)

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Del Val, Jean 1891 births 1975 deaths Actors from Reims Male actors from Grand Est French male silent film actors French male film actors Vocal coaches English–French translators Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City 20th-century French male actors 20th-century translators French expatriate male actors in the United States