Philipe, Gérard (1922-1959), was a handsome, romantic leading man in the French theater and in motion pictures. He became one of the most popular and admired French actors of his day. Philipe died at the age of 36 of liver cancer on Nov. 25, 1959. His death was mourned throughout France.
Philipe first gained recognition for his sensitive performance as a lovesick young man in the film Devil in the Flesh (1946). He also won international fame with his brilliant performances in the classic French films La Beaute du Diable (Beauty and the Devil, 1950), La Ronde (1950), and Les Belles de Nuit (Beauties of the Night, 1952). His other films included The Idiot (1946), Fanfan the Tulip (1951), The Seven Deadly Sins (1952), and The Red and the Black (1957).
Philipe was born in Cannes on Dec. 4, 1922. He studied acting at the Paris Conservatory of Dramatic Art. He first appeared on the stage in Nice, in 1941. He made his Paris debut in 1943, in the play Sodome et Gomorrhe (Sodom and Gomorrah). This performance brought him several offers to appear in films. Within five years, Philipe’s screen appearances had made him an international star. Philipe joined the Theatre Nationale Populaire in 1951, and he appeared in many memorable stage productions. In 1957, he became president of the French actors’ union.
