SERRAULT, MICHEL

(1928- )

Actor. Michel Serrault was born in Brunoy. He performed in music halls with his colleagueJean Poiretin Robert Dhéry's theater troupe before acting beside Dhéry in director Jean Loubignac'sAh!Les belles bacchantes(1954). Shortly after, he played inHenri-Georges Clouzot's classic,Les Diaboliques(1955). Serrault acted alongside Poiret in several films early in his career, such as Michel Boisrond'sCette sacrée gamine(1956), Roger Pierre and Jean-Marc Thibault'sLa Vie est belle(1956), Jean Boyer'sLa Terreur des dames(1956), Maurice Cloche'sAdorables démons(1957), Philippe Agostini'sLe Naïfaux quarante enfants(1958), Raoul André'sClara et les méchants(1958), Boyer'sNina(1959), Jean Berry'sOh!Qué mambo(1959),Henri Diamant-Berger'sMessieurs les ronds de cuir(1959), andClément Duhour'sVous n'avez rien à déclarer? (1959). Serrault and Poiret costarred in Maurice Cloche's short film,Ça aussi c'est Paris(1957) and inSacha Guitry'sAssassins et voleurs(1957). In 1958, Serrault acted inJacques Demy's short,Musée Grévin.

In the 1960s, Serrault appeared both onstage and in the cinema, especially in the genre of comedy. He acted in films such as Dhéry'sLa Belle Américaine(1961), Marcel Bluwal'sCarambolages(1962),René Clairand Alessandro Blasetti'sLes quatre verités(1962), Francis Rigaud'sNous irons à Deauville(1962), Boisrond'sComment trouvez-vous ma soeur? (1963), Michel Drach'sLa Belle occase(1964),Georges Lautner'sDes pissenlits par la racine(1964),Edouard Molinaro'sQuand passent les faisans(1965), Roland Quignon'sBon Weekend(1965), andJean-Pierre Mocky'sLes Compagnons de la Marguerite(1966).He paired again with Poiret in several films, among them Raymond Bailly'sMa femme est une panthère(1960), Jacques Poitrenaud'sLa Tête du client(1965), Rigaud'sLes Baratineurs(1965), and André'sLe Grande bidule(1967),Ces messieurs de la famille(1967), andCes messieurs de la gâchette(1969).

In the 1970s, Serrault would have more opportunities to demonstrate his versatility and talent. He played the principal role in Pierre Tchernia'sLe Viager(1972), a leading role in Mocky'sL'Ibis rouge(1975), and a supporting role inBertrand Blier's Oscar-winningPréparez vos mouchoirs(1978). He reached international stardom with his lead role, alongside Ugo Tognazzi, inEdouard Molinaro's hugely successful filmLa cage aux folles(1978), based on the play by Poiret. Serrault won aCésarfor Best Actor for his performance in 1979. That same year, he received a César nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Christian de Chalonge'sL'Argent des autres. He would later receive two more Césars for Best Actor inClaude Miller'sGarde à vuein 1982 andClaude Sautet'sNelly et Monsieur Arnaudin 1996. He also received four additional César nominations for Best Actor. In 1997, he received the Lumière Award for Best Actor inClaude Chabrol'sRien ne va plus.

Serrault has been hailed as one of France's finest actors. He is admired for his intelligence, versatility, and intimate character studies (for example, in his title role for de Chalonge'sDoctor Pietotin 1990). In addition to starring in the two sequels toLa cage aux folles, Serrault has played several significant parts in French comedies, thrillers, and dramas. He played leading roles in Miller'sMortelle randonée(1983),Jacques Deray'sOn ne meurt que deux fois(1985), Alain Jessua'sEn toute innocence(1988), Tchernia'sBonjour l'angoisse(1988), Italian director Luigi Comencini'sBuon Natale. . .Buon anno(1989), Mocky'sVille à vendre(1992),Bonsoir(1994),Le Furet(2003), andGrabuge! (2005), Etienne Chatiliez'sLe Bonheur est dans le pré(1995),Mathieu Kassovitz'sAssassin(s) (1997), de Chalonge'sLe Comédien(1997), Christian Carion'sUne hirondelle a fait le printemps(2001), Laurent Bouhnik's24 heures de la vie d'une femme(2002), and Philippe Muhl'sLe Papillon(2002). Most recently he starred in Pierre Javaux'sLes Enfants du pays(2006) and Mocky'sLe Bénévole(2006).