RICHARD, PIERRE

(1934- )

Actor, director, and screenwriter. Pierre Richard was born Pierre Defays in Valenciennes. He studied drama under Jean Vilar at the Centre Dullin. He later wrote sketches for cabarets in which he performed solo or with Victor Lanoux. His first appearance as a film actor was in an uncredited role inJaques Becker'sLes Amants de Montparnasse(1958). He played a small role inYves Robert'sAlexandre le Bienheureux(1967) and would later star in Robert's hitLe Grand Blond avec une chassure noir(1972),Le Retour du grand blond(1974), andLe Jumeau(1984).

In 1970, Richard branched out into directing.His first feature film wasLe distrait(1970), a film in which he played the leading role. He went on to direct such films asLes malheurs d'Alfred(1972),Je sais rien,mais je dirai tout(1973),Je suis timide. . .mais je me soigne(1978),C'est pas moi,c'est lui! (1980),On peut toujours rêver(1991), andDroit dans le mur(1997). He also starred in all of these films.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Richard was one of France's most popular comic actors. He starred inClaude Zidi's highly successful comediesLa Moutarde me monte au nez(1974) andLa Course à l'échalote(1976) and Gérard Oury's blockbusterLa Carapate(1978) andLa parapluie(1980). He also costarred withGérard Depardieuin Francis Veber'sLa chèvre(1981),Les compères(1983), andLes fugitifs(1986), all of which were among the top French films in the year of their release. These films and others made Richard an international star. Later in the 1980s, Richard starred in Moshé Mizrahi'sMangeclous(1988) andEdouard Molinaro'sA gauche en sortant de l'ascenseur(1988).

In the 1990s, Richard played leading roles in Jean-Louis Leconte'sBienvenue à bord(1990), Yves Hanchar'sLa Partie d'échecs(1994), Marco Pico'sLa Cavale des fous(1993), and Georgian director Nana Djordjadze's multilingual filmA Chef in Love(1997). More recently, Richard played in Catherine Corsini'sMariées mais pas trop(2003) and starred in Damien Odoul'sEn attendant le déluge(2003). He has also done a number of television films.