BRIALY, JEANCLAUDE

(1933- )

Actor, director, and screenwriter. Jean-Claude Brialy was born in Aumale, Algeria, the son of a French colonel. He later entered military service himself, where he worked for the Service cinématographique des Armées. While performing his service he met the cinematographer and director Pierre Lhomme, who subsequently introduced him to the writers atCahiers du cinéma, many of whom went on to become directors of theNouvelle Vagueor New Wave. Brialy's primary introduction to cinema came, however, when he appeared in Lhomme's short,Paris mon copain(1954).He became a star of early New Wave shorts, the first among them beingEric Rohmer'sLa sonate à Kreutzer(1956). He also acted inJacques Rivette'sLe coup du berger(1956),Jean-Luc GodardandFrançois Truffaut'sUne histoire d'eau(1957), and Godard'sTous les garçons s'appellent Patrick(1959). At about the same time, he appeared in Jacques Pinoteau's feature-length film,L'Ami de la famille(1957).

Brialy's career gained momentum when he was cast inClaude Chabrol's landmark filmsLe Beau Serge(1958) andLes Cousins(1959). He went on to deliver acclaimed performances in Godard'sUne femme est une femme(1961) and Truffaut'sLa Mariée était en noir(1967). Rohmer'sLe Genou de Claire(1970) made Brialy, likeJean-Paul Belmondo, a masculine icon of the New Wave.

Brialy later managed to build a solid cinema career outside of the New Wave. He has appeared in nearly two hundred films, includingPierre Kast'sLe Bel Age(1959), Roberto Rossellini'sVanina Vanini(1961),Roger Vadim'sUn château en Suède(1963),Edouard Molinaro'sArsène Lupin contre Arsène Lupin(1962) andLa Chasse à l'homme(1964),Marc Allégret'sLe Bal du compte d'Orgel(1970),Philippe de Broca'sUn monsieur de compagnie(1964) andJulie pot de colle(1977), andClaude Miller'sMortelle randonnée(1982) andL'Effrontée(1986). In 1988, he won aCésarfor Best Supporting Actor inAndré Téchiné'sLes Innocents.

Brialy also began directing in the 1970s and 1980s. His first film,Eglantine(1971), was a semi-autobiographical film based on the relationship with his grandmother. He also directedLes volets clos(1973),L'oiseau rare(1973),Un amour de pluie(1974),Les malheurs de Sophie(1981), andUn bon petit diable(1983). Brialy developed an energetic television and stage presence as well. He has been director of the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens. He appeared in the television filmAnna(1967) alongside Anna Karina. He acted in several French television series in the 1990s and beyond, includingLes Rois Maudits(2005). In 1995, he was a member of the jury at theCannes Film Festival.