History Creator / Bourvil

He worked as a baker before UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] chaps, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

André Robert Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageNames better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor, comedian and singer born in Prétot-Vicquemare, [[UsefulNotes/DepartementalIssues Normandy]].

* ''Franchise/LesMiserables'' (1958) as Thénardier

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''[[Film/TheSucker Le Corniaud]]'' and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''Film/LaCuisineAuBeurre'' or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/{{The Brain|1969}}''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle'').

André Robert Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageNames better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor, comedian and singer born in Prétot-Vicquemare, Normandy.

André Robert Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageNames better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor and singer born in Prétot-Vicquemare, Normandy.

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bourvil.jpg]]

He worked as a baker before World War II, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] chaps, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

* ''Film/LesMiserables'' (1958) as Thénardier

His stage music career didn't stop even as he appeared in movies, as he also had a successful career as a [[{{Chanson}} singer]]. He interpreted about 300 songs between 1945 and 1970.

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''Film/TheSucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''Film/LaCuisineAuBeurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/{{The Brain|1969}}''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle'').

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''Film/TheSucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/{{The Brain|1969}}''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle'').

* ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (1963) as André Colombey

His musical career didn't stop even as he appeared in movies, as he also had a successful career as a [[{{Chanson}} singer]]. He interpreted about 300 songs between 1945 and 1970.

His stage career didn't stop even as he appeared in movies, as he also had a successful career as a [[{{Chanson}} singer]]. He interpreted about 300 songs between 1945 and 1970.

The most famous international production he has appeared in is most probably ''Film/TheLongestDay'', where he played the Mayor of Colleville, a [[LaResistance Resistance operative]] who destroys German communication lines and welcomes the Allies on Sword Beach with a bottle of Champagne -- and speaks English with a thick French accent.

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''The Sucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/{{The Brain|1969}}''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle'').

* ''The Sucker'' (1964) as Antoine Maréchal

He worked as a baker before World War II, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets -- it came full circle when both of them starred in ''La Cuisine au beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') in 1963. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] chaps, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

He worked as a baker before World War II, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets -- it came full circle when both of them starred in ''La Cuisine au beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine) in 1963. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] chaps, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

He worked as a baker before World War II, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] chaps, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

André Robert Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageName better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor and singer born in Prétot-Vicquemare, Normandy.

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''The Sucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/TheBrain1969''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle'').

* ''Film/TheBrain'' (1969) as Anatole

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''The Sucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/TheBrain''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle'').

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''The Sucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/TheBrain''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle''). His stage career didn't stop even as he appeared in movies, and he also had a successful career as a [[{{Chanson}} singer]]. He interpreted about 300 songs between 1945 and 1970.

André Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageName better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor and singer born in Prétot-Vicquemare, Normandy.

He worked as a baker before World War II, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] everymen, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

André Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageName better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor and singer born in Normandy. He worked as a baker before World War II, then embraced a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] everymen, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

André Raimbourg (July 27, 1917 - September 23, 1970), [[StageName better known as]] "Bourvil", was a French actor and singer born in Normandy. He worked as a baker before World War 2 before embracing a stage artist career by imitating Creator/{{Fernandel}} in cabarets. When imitations of Fernandel became old-fashioned, he shifted to play naive, [[NiceGuy good-natured]] everymen, which would remain his famous SignatureStyle. He came to have a very prolific movie career in the 1950s and 1960s.

His comedic style had the most success when he was paired with fellow big French stars, such as the [[LargeHam hammier]] and [[NervousWreck more nervous]] Creator/LouisDeFunes in ''Le Corniaud'' (''The Sucker'') and ''Film/LaGrandeVadrouille'', the imposing Creator/JeanGabin in ''Film/TheTripAcrossParis'', the more meridional (and longtime idol of his) Creator/{{Fernandel}} in ''La Cuisine au Beurre'' (''Butter Cuisine'') or the dashing Creator/JeanPaulBelmondo in ''Film/TheBrain''. He didn't limit himself to comedies however, and proved to be equally talented in more serious and dramatic roles, such as HardboiledDetective Inspector Mattei in ''Le Cercle Rouge'' (''The Red Circle''). His stage career didn't stop even as he appeared in movies, and he also had a successful career as a [[{{Chanson}} singer]]. He interpreted 300 songs between 1945 and 1970.