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- Lucas Nicolas Bravo, is a French actor and model. He is known for starring in the Netflix romantic comedy series Emily in Paris as chef Gabriel, Emily's downstairs neighbor and love interest. Bravo was born on 26 March 1988 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes; the son of the retired French footballer Daniel Bravo and singer Eva Bravo. He attended the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-Sur-Seine.
- Writer
- Director
- Composer
Bertrand Bonello was born on 11 September 1968 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is a writer and director, known for Nocturama (2016), House of Tolerance (2011) and The Beast (2023).- Additional Crew
Micheline Roquebrune was born on 4 April 1929 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is known for Never Say Never Again (1983), International Pro-Celebrity Golf (1975) and Sean Connery: An Intimate Portrait (1997).- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Mylène Demongeot, one of the blond sex symbols of French cinema during the 1950s and 1960s, managed to overcome typecasting and survived a long hiatus before a stellar comeback in her 70s. She appeared in more than 70 films, including such classics as the Fantomas trilogy.
She was born Marie-Helene Demongeot on September 29, 1935, in Nice, France, into a family of actors. Her parents met in Shanghai, China, and moved to Nice, where she grew up. Her mother, Klaudia Trubnikova, was a Russian-Ukrainian émigré from Kharkiv, who escaped from the horrors of the Russian Civil War. Her father, Alfred Demongeot, was of French-Italian heritage. The family was bilingual and young Mylène was able to speak Russian and French, but eventually switched to French.
As a young girl she was an outcast: she suffered from ruthless kids making vicious comments about her eyes (she was cross-eyed until she had surgery in her teens). She was fond of music and movies, a perfect escape from the horrors of WWII that devastated Europe during her childhood. At the age of 13, she went to Paris and continued her education. She studied piano under the tutelage of Marguerite Long and Yves Nat. She then studied dramatic art with Maria Ventura at Le Cours Simon in Paris. At 15 she became a model in the atelier of Pierre Cardin.
At 17, Mylène made her film debut in the supporting role of Nicole in Children of Love (1953). Appearing in three or four feature films every year, she rose to international fame in the late 1950s. She was together with Gary Cooper for the opening of the first escalator to be installed in a cinema (at the Rex Theatre in Paris) on June 7, 1957. She had a memorable seduction scene opposite Yves Montand in The Crucible (1957). Her first notable leading role was in Be Beautiful But Shut Up (1958) (aka "Blonde for Danger") in which she played a 17-year-old jewel smuggler.
Mylène further developed her screen image of a manipulative blond mistress in her brilliant performance opposite David Niven in Bonjour Tristesse (1958), and became permanently locked in the cliché image of a humorous seductress after co-starring with Alain Delon in the 1959 comedy Three Murderesses (1959). Her chance to update her film image came in period films. She played manipulative and coquettish Andromeda opposite Steve Reeves in The Giant of Marathon (1959) and the leading role of Rea opposite Roger Moore in Romulus and the Sabines (1961). Among her best known roles are the manipulative Milady de Winter in The Three Musketeers: Part I - The Queen's Diamonds (1961) and Helen in all three of the Fantomas films.
Mylène Demongeot became one of the blond sex symbols in 1950s, 60s and 70s French cinema. She co-starred with the major French actors of the time, including Jean Marais and Louis de Funès, in the Fantomas (1964) trilogy. Although she gradually phased out of the stereotypical image of a beautiful coquette, she still looked pretty convincing as a middle-aged Madame, which she developed in the 1980s and 1990s. At that time her acting career came to a pause, as she had been aging gracefully in the South of France. She was also a producer during that time and was the co-owner of Kangarou Films, a production company that she founded with her late husband Marc Simenon. After a lengthy hiatus, she made a comeback in 36th Precinct (2004). She has also appeared in Camping (2006) and La Californie (2006) by director/writer Jacques Fieschi, based on a short story by Georges Simenon.
In addition to her film work, Mylène has also written several books, the best-known of which would be "Tiroirs Secrets" and "Animalement vôtre". In the 2000s, she made a pilgrimage to the birthplace of her mother in Kharkiv, Ukraine. There she planted a commemorative tree and presented her autobiographical book, "Les Lilas de Kharkov" (The Lilacs of Kharkiv). In 2006, she was named Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters for her achievements in acting. She resides in her French hometown of Nice.- Vivienne Jolie-Pitt was born on 12 July 2008 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress, known for Maleficent (2014).
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Maurice Ronet was born on 13 April 1927 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Elevator to the Gallows (1958), The Fire Within (1963) and Purple Noon (1960). He was married to Maria Pacôme. He died on 14 March 1983 in Paris, France.- Actress
- Soundtrack
For Michèle Mercier, the role of Angélique, "the Marquise of the Angels," was both a blessing and a curse. It catapulted her to almost instant stardom, rivaling Brigitte Bardot in her celebrity and popularity, but ruined her acting career. The character of Angélique made to forget the other aspects of the career of Mercier, but it is true that general public discovered her only in "Angélique," and made her a real star of the French cinema of that time. By the end of the 1960s, the names Angélique and Michèle Mercier were synonymous, and to escape type-casting, Mercier was compelled to leave France and try to re-start her career in United States, unfortunately without any success.
Daughter of Nice's pharmacists, born on January 1, 1939 and named as Jocelyne Yvonne Renée, she initially wanted to be a dancer. Wartime, no money to buy food, but little Jocelyne wept all week, cadging father, well-known pharmacist in Nice, to buy her ballet skirts and points. In return she promised to work in drug-store. Father took this only as childish whim. But little girl got her wish through: of "small ballet-rat," as they call little dancers, who participate in stage shows, she grew up to soloist in Opera of Nice. Then came Paris. First she was engaged to the troupe of Roland Petit, then she danced in the company of the "Ballets of the Eiffel tower." At 15, she met Maurice Chevalier, who predicted her success and glory. They did arrive, but by another way that the dance. Parallel to her career as dancer, Jocelyne followed courses of dramatic art in the class of Solange Sicard. Her debut in French cinema was for Mercier another compromise: her birth name seemed too long and too old-fashioned for movie credits. What, if she'll take a name Michèle? She winced - this was name of her little sister, who died at the age of five by the fever typhoid, but she agreed. And it was also as in testimony of admiration for her partner Michèle Morgan, as she borrowed her name to her. After some romantic comedies and a small role in François Truffaut's "Shoot the pianist" (1960; her favorite role), she approaches the Sixties mainly in the cinema of district. She also worked in England and made then mainly small-budget films in Italy, always in the same register of easy girl. To this moment Michèle already competed with Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida, continuously shooting in Italy. She needed a role, which could make her a star. Only in 1963, when was decided to make movie by sensational novel "Angélique," Michèle got this kind of chance.
Many actresses were approached to play the role of Angélique. The Producer Francis Cosne absolutely wanted Brigitte Bardot for the part. She refused, but later judged Michèle Mercier to be fantastic in it. Annette Stroyberg was considered next, but judged not to be sufficiently well-known. Catherine Deneuve was too pale, Jane Fonda spoke French with an American accent, and Virna Lisi was busy in Hollywood. The most serious actress considered was Marina Vlady. She almost sign a contract, but Michèle Mercier won the role after trying out for it - which she did not appreciate very much since she was being treated like a beginner while she was already a big star in Italy. At the time she was contacted to play Angélique, she had already acted in over twenty movies. During four years she made five Angélique-movies, enjoying the real success. Nevertheless the moment came, when she finally wanted to interrupt with this aggravating character. Michèle played with Jean Gabin in "The Thunder of God" of Denys de la Patellière. Then with Robert Hossein in "La second vérité" of Christian-Jaque... But the time has gone. That was also confirmed by Mercier's flop in Hollywood... What life didn't taught her, that's the skill how to dominate men. Every time Michèle captivated regardlessly. She was deceived, betrayed. She suffered. "Men in their way, shattered my life. What I wanted from them? Real, mutual love. What they wanted - no hard to guess," candidly confessed Michèle after sensational story with a shah, who overwhelmed actress with diamonds and bouquets of flowers, and then tryed to rape her. Press enjoyed Michèle's love affairs and divorces. For some reason or other, in real life this beautiful and kind woman met only rascals, without exception. First husband turned out to be alcoholic. With well known racer Claude Bourillot she lived together 12 years. And she was shocked, when in one day she found out that he vanished with her jewels. Full of dramatism was story of her romance with Italian prince N., who after many years of courtship got intimate with Michèle and at the end betrayed her, refusing to marry her. Incidentally, all these failures even more hardened the character of Michèle Mercier. After a very long eclipse, she decided to return to the cinema. In 1998, the actress made in Cuba and in Italy "La Rumbera," a feature film by Italian director Piero Vivarelli. In 1999, swindled of several million francs in a business venture, Mercier had serious financial problems. She even planned to sell famous wedding gown of the Marquise of the Angels. The actress confessed in Nice Matin: "I am ruined, I'll be obliged to sell part of my paintings, my furnitures, my properties, my jewels and the costumes of Angélique." In 2002, she presented at the Cannes Film Festival her second book of memories in which she affirms in the cover that "she's not Angélique!," entrusting her irritation to be summarized to this glamour-image of the Sixties. In this book Mercier also tells about how Italian actor Vittorio Gassman tried to take her by force, but remembers also the gentility of Marcello Mastroianni and the suppers of Bettino Craxi, former Prime Minister, and Silvio Berlusconi. In the end she admits: "All the men who have made the court of me, tried to seduce Angélique... not me. But then one day I understood that Angelique could not make more harm to me, therefore I have learned to consider she's like a little sister, with whom I had to live hand in hand."- Actor
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Marc has worked with top directors like Luc Besson, Mathieu Kassovitz, Yann Kounen, Volker Schlöndorff, Fred zinnemann, Michael Haneke, Remy Watehouse, Claude Chabrol, Tom Fontana, Ronald D Moore or Metin Hüseyin... Graduate from the National Dramatic Art Conservatory of Paris, Marc has pushed the gates of the Rose Brudford college (UK) and the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York City. Revealed by Luc Besson in "the Big Blue", Cesar nominated for his performance in "Nikita", Marc traces his way through films like :"Heroin" G. Krawczick, "Hatred" M. Kassovitz or "Doberman" Y. Kounen. In Italy he is "Martino" in Tonino Zangardi's "Getaway of love" and guest in "Il Comisario Maltese" Rai 1. He shoots International Series as :"The man who lived at the Ritz" (NBC), "Star Hunter" (Canal+), "Dalziel & Pascoe" (BBC) Tom Fontana's "The Philanthropist"» (NBC) & "Borgia" (Canal +) where he plays the machiavelic Cardinal G. Briconnet. He then becomes the comical epicuran Minister Jo Duvernay in Ronald D Moore - Metin Hüseyin : "Outlander". He portrays "Miltiades" in ancient greek for ARTE. And "Napoleon - A Russian campaign", a prestige Documentary/Fiction directed by Fabrice Hourlier. In the movies, he is directed by Fred Zinnemann "Five days one summer". Gerard Krawczyk "Heroïne", (International critic nomination), Michael Haneke "Code Unknown" with Juliette Binoche, Rémy Waterhouse "Mille Millièmes", Volker Schlöndorff "The Ogre" with John Malkovitch, "The third Day" B. Stora - Claude Chabrol. On stage, he is "Cyrano", "Angelo Tyran of Padova", "Trigorine" in "The Seagul", then "Bent", "Six Characters in search of an author", "Two Gents of Verona" (NYSU). J.C. Cotillard hires him for "All men are born Ego". He is "Alcacer" in Montherland's "Dom Juan", then "Europe", S. Loïc, "Juste La Fin Du Monde", J.C. Lagarce - J. Jouanneau. Marc also participates in readings with the "Moving Parts Theater Group" directed by Stephanie Campion.- Actress
- Set Decorator
Florence Guérin was born on 12 June 1965 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress and set decorator, known for Bizarre (1987), Le déclic (1985) and The Corruption (1986). She was previously married to Joseph Chionio and Comte Bernard de Villeneuve Esclapon.- Actress
- Producer
Joanna Miles, the Emmy Award-winning American actress, was born on March 6, 1940 in Nice, France to expatriate American abstract painter Jeanne Miles and French painter-museum curator Johannes Schiefer. Escaping the war, she was relocated to the United States in 1941. She graduated from the progressive Putney School in 1958. She began her career in New York, acting in a number of plays, television shows and films. On receiving numerous rewards, she reached the apogee of her career, playing "Laura Wingfield" in the 1973 TV production of "The Glass Menagerie", with co-stars Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston and Michael Moriarty, for which Mrs. Miles and Michael Moriarty won Emmy Awards. In 1990, for nine years, Mrs. Miles founded and was the Artistic Director of the Playwright's Group in LA. She also is the vice-president of "Brandman Productions". Mrs. Miles has continued to work steadily in TV, films and theater. She is a lifetime member of the Actors Studio and the Motion Picture Academy. Most recently, in 2012, she starred in "Women In Shorts", at the Working Stage Theater, "Women On Time" in 2015 and "Front Door Open" at the Greenway Court Theater in 2016 in which she won The Edon Award for best actress, among a few other play readings around town "The Widow Kinsky"" at the Blank Theater. An ex-New Yorker, she lives in LA with her husband, writer, producer and novelist Michael Brandman. Her son, Miles Brandman, is a film writer, director and playwright. Her stepson, Steven J. Brandman, is a television producer. In 2018 Joanna received The Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Keana Marie was born on 28 June 1995 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress and director, known for Guns Up, Dash & Lily (2020) and Root Letter (2022).- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Michael Sinterniklaas was born on 13 August 1972 in Nice, France. He is an actor and producer, known for Your Name. (2016), The Venture Bros. (2003) and Tiger & Bunny (2011).- Ariel Besse was born on 7 October 1965 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She was an actress, known for Beau-père (1981), On s'en fout... nous on s'aime (1982) and Mora (1982). She was married to X. Atanoux. She died on 29 May 2022 in Flayosc, Var, France.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Lytcheess was born on September 24, 2001, in Nice, France. He is a musical artist known for Metalogical (2024) and Lytchee (2024). He has been married to Reina Mishima since March 30, 2024.
In addition to his flourishing music career, Lytcheess has also immersed himself in the competitive world of video games. He actively participates in tournaments on Tekken 8, where his skill and dedication have earned him a place among the top players.- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Michèle Laroque was born on 15 June 1960 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress and writer, known for Ma vie en rose (1997), Brillantissime (2018) and The Closet (2001).- Nike Arrighi was born on 9 March 1947 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress, known for The Devil Rides Out (1968), Day for Night (1973) and Countess Dracula (1971). She was previously married to Paolo Borghese.
- Make-Up Department
- Actor
- Additional Crew
For more than four decades, José Eber, arguably the most recognized name in hair styling, has been in the vanguard of beauty. Since the very beginning of his career, José has set the trends. He created the most influential looks of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s: something no one else has ever accomplished. And with the dawning of the new millennium, he remains a leading trendsetter in hair and fashion.
His clientele spans the world of international jet setters, glamorous Hollywood personalities, legendary stars and people like you and me. The French born master stylist believes that every woman has star potential if she will recognize her own unique beauty and appreciate the characteristics and traits that make her special and different. José Eber analyzes each client's personality, lifestyle and facial structure to create a look from which her inner beauty can emerge. At the center of his makeover approach is the philosophy that a woman's beauty lives in her individuality, her positive spirit and her ability to look at her distinctive features as assets rather than flaws.
Born in Nice, France, José began his career as a hairstylist apprentice at a chic Paris salon at only fifteen years of age. At twenty-six, on his first visit to the States, José fell in love with Los Angeles and decided to make it his home. In a desire to free American women from their stiff, sprayed styles of the day, José created a sexy, carefree unstructured look that was easier to maintain and which instantly became "de rigueur" for an entire generation. He has established himself as the undisputed hairstylist of choice among the world's most famous and beautiful women. From that moment on celebrity clients began to storm the doors. The first was Farrah Fawcett, followed by Cher, Elizabeth Taylor and the Who's Who of Hollywood. José then opened his first signature salon in Beverly Hills and ten years later expanded into his elegant salon on 2 Rodeo Drive. José has since added nine locations including Palm Desert at The Marriott Desert Springs Resort; South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California; Saks Fifth Avenue in Houston and Austin, Texas; The Westchester Mall in White Plains, New York; The Four Seasons Resorts Aviara, Carlsbad, California; The Shops at the Willow Bend Mall, in Plano, Texas; and the Preston Sherry Plaza, in Dallas, Texas. Now the long awaited opening of his spectacular salon at Saks Fifth Avenue in the Bal Harbour Shops brings his one-of-a-kind artistry to South Florida.
Now a world recognized celebrity, José Eber is a much sought after television personality appearing regularly on both international, national and local talk shows where his stunning oncamera makeovers of both celebrity and non-celebrity women regularly delight and astonish millions of viewers. Appearances include programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986), Entertainment Tonight (1981), ABC's Good Morning America (1975), "CNN" and NBC's Today (1952). In addition, his numerous personal appearances across the country inevitably attract enormous crowds.
Eber is a national best-selling author with two books on hair care and styling titled: "Shake Your Head, Darling" and "Beyond Hair, The Ultimate Makeover Book" (Simon & Schuster). José was also a pioneer in the world of home video with his highly successful "Why Do I Call You Sexy?", a step-by-step 'how to' video sharing his secrets on beauty and style.
In the rare moments when he is not working, Eber is active in numerous charities. He was one of the first to join the fight against domestic violence on behalf of the Sojourn Organization. He also devotes significant time and energy to AmFar (Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS Foundation).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Georges Lautner was born on 24 January 1926 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was a director and writer, known for The Professional (1981), Crooks in Clover (1963) and Galia (1966). He was married to Caroline Lautner. He died on 22 November 2013 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Lovely Jacqueline Sassard's career as a leading actress endured just over a decade and was launched not in her native country, but across the border in Italy. Her first featured role was as the titular heroine in Alberto Lattuada's Guendalina (1957) at the tender age of 17. This got her noticed and paved her way to headline in a string of popular comedies, beginning with March's Child (1958) (as a young woman going through a failing marriage to an older architect, played by Gabriele Ferzetti). For her performance, Sassard was awarded a Zulueta Prize as best actress at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 1958. In the black comedy Three Murderesses (1959), she again proved her flair, portraying one of a trio of jilted ladies plotting revenge on a caddish playboy (Alain Delon). That same year, she also made two significant forays into serious drama with Luigi Zampa's Il magistrato (1959) and Valerio Zurlini's Violent Summer (1959), set in Italy during World War II. Now at the height of her popularity, Sassard was featured on the cover of Tempo magazine and in an edition of Playboy. By the early 60s, the honeymoon was suddenly over. Her subsequent films were of decidedly lower quality, including peplum, tawdry costume dramas and corny musical comedy. A perhaps non unexpected two-year hiatus followed, after which Sassard made a brief comeback as an enigmatic Austrian princess in Joseph Losey's off-beat drama Accident (1967) and as one third of a ménage à trois in Les Biches (1968), alongside Stéphane Audran and Jean-Louis Trintignant.
Little information exists about Sassard's private life, save that she left show biz upon her marriage to automobile manufacturer Gianni Lancia and eventually retired -- far from the limelight -- to the well-to-do neighbourhood of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. - Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Philippe Léotard was born on 28 August 1940 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was an actor and composer, known for La balance (1982), The Day of the Jackal (1973) and Le juge Fayard dit Le Shériff (1977). He died on 25 August 2001 in Paris, France.- Actress
- Producer
Sophie Duez was born on 6 October 1962 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress and producer, known for Marche à l'ombre (1984), Présumé dangereux (1990) and In Extremis (1988).- Director
- Actor
- Writer
As an actor he became popular as Albert de Morcerf in a version of The Count of Monte Cristo (1954), fame and adulation followed with his Francois in Head Against the Wall (1959). As a director he became famous with anarcho-pictures, brilliant cynic comedies. His preferred actors in all decades were Michel Serrault and Jean Poiret - till the late 80s they were his leading stars. When Jeanne Moreau appeared in Le miraculé (1987), many other leading French screen-stars followed.- Actress
- Producer
Linda Bella was born on 6 July 1992 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress and producer, known for Dracula: Reborn (2012), First Dog (2010) and The Paper Boat (2015).- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Yann Gonzalez was born on 2 March 1977 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is a writer and director, known for Knife + Heart (2018), You and the Night (2013) and Islands (2017).- Tara Marie Linke was born in 1983 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress, known for Downfall (2004), The Chalk Line (2022) and FBI: International (2021).
- She was born in Nice by a French father and an English mother and Was naturalized American from the stepfather . studied her all her life classic dance until she was 18 then she explored jazz, modern contemporary, and other dancing and acting techniques in New York until she started starring on Broadway
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Writer
Raphaël Benoliel was born on 8 May 1974 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is a producer and production manager, known for The Killer (2023), Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).- Actress
Magali Amadei was born on 30 November 1974 in Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. She is an actress, known for Taxi (2004), The Wedding Planner (2001) and House of D (2004).- Vladimir Roudenko was born on 1 May 1909 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was an actor, known for Napoleon (1927). He died on 23 August 1976 in Paris, France.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Francis Lai was born on 26 April 1932 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was a composer and actor, known for Love Story (1970), Stranger Than Fiction (2006) and Kingpin (1996). He was married to Dagmar Puetz. He died on 7 November 2018 in Paris, France.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Amin Mahdavi was born on 6 December 1971 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is an assistant director and producer, known for Niloofar (2008), Half Moon (2006) and Caravan of Light (2009). He was previously married to Golshifteh Farahani.- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Joann Sfar was born on 28 August 1971 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is a writer and director, known for Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010), The Rabbi's Cat (2011) and Thomas Fersen: Hyacinthe (2005).- Actor
- Producer
Olivier Sitruk was born on 25 December 1970 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is an actor and producer, known for The Bait (1995), Lanester (2013) and Rani (2011). He has been married to Alexandra London since 2003.- Actor
- Producer
Masumi Okada was an eminent and popular Tokyo-based professional actor, singer, stand-up comedian, emcee, host-presenter and film producer. Also known by his nickname, "Fanfan", he was born in Nice, France, to a Japanese father who was an artist, and a Danish mother, Ingeborg Sevaldsen. Masumi Okada was the younger of two sons; his older brother, Taibi "Erick" Okada, was also an actor and presenter -- known professionally as E.H. Eric, he was the emcee for the Beatles' 1966 concert in Tokyo.
Okada spent the first four years of his life in France before relocating to Japan in 1939. He received his education under his Western name, Otto Sevaldsen, at Saint Joseph International School (SJIS) in the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa prefecture, graduating in 1955. In 1952, while still a student at SJIS, Okada debuted as an actor in a musical at the Nichigeki Music Hall. He signed with Nikkatsu Corporation in 1954, appearing in his first film, "Hatsukoi Kanariya Musume" the following year.
In 1956, Okada was casted as the bandmaster in Takumi Furukawa and Yujiro Ishihara's "Taiyo no Kisetsu"/"Season of the Sun". This performance led to his appearance in the companion film, "Kurutta Kajitsu"/"Crazed Fruit" (1956), in which he played the cool, laid-back, finger-snapping Amerasian, "Frank Hirosawa", the unofficial leader of a band of young "rebels without a cause". Okada allegedly stole every scene in which he appeared.
In a career which spanned more than five decades, Okada went on to appear in over 140 films. A talented and versatile entertainer, he was also active on stage and television. His credits include all genres in the three media -- from stage musicals to horror films, from comedies to historicals to tragedies, and from Shakespeare to science-fiction.
Okada's mixed ethnicity and proficiency in Japanese, English and French enabled him to portray a wide range of characters, in roles as diverse as "Count Dracula" in "The Vampire Dracula Comes To Kobe" (1979) to "Brother Michael" in James Clavell's "Shogun" (1980). He acted as the French physicist, "Dr. Jules Masson", in Ishiro Honda's "Latitude Zero"/"Ido Zero Daisakusen"/"Atragon II" (1969). In the film, "Marco" (1973), he was the Chinese ambassador, "Ti Wai". In "Bye-Bye, Jupiter"/"Sayonara, Jupiter" (1984), he was cast as "Dr. Mohammed Mansur", and in "Getting Any" (1994) -- a comedy with "Beat" Takeshi Kitano -- Okada made a cameo appearance as the Russian leader, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin.
Okada's other contributions to the film industry include his role as a producer for both "Battle Royale" (2000) and "Battle Royale II: Requiem" (2003), as well as "Chichan wa sokyu no muko". He was also the executive producer of "Blue" (2002), a critically-acclaimed film about the relationship between two schoolgirls involved in a lesbian crush.
Okada's stage credits include the Toho musicals, in which he starred after leaving Nikkatsu Corporation, as well as the French musical, "La Cage aux Folles", which ran for over 400 performances. In 2001, he appeared as the French philosopher and writer, Voltaire, in a Japanese-language version of the operatta, "Candide", by Leonard Bernstein. Okada also founded the theater company, Gekidan Keyaki, in Japan.
In 1962, Okada appeared in NHK's "Wakai Kisetsu". In 1966, Masumi Okada was cast as the newspaper reporter, "Ito Mura", in Osamu Tezuka's television series, "The Space Giants" (aka "Ambassador Magma", "Space Avenger" and "Monsters From Outer Space"), produced by P Productions and directed by Hidehito Ueda. Okada also starred in the 1980s series, "Miracle Girl", a Japanese television detective drama, and the 1998 series, "Nemureru Mori"/"A Sleeping Forest". In the Tunnels' 1988 parody, "Kamen Norida", Okada played Joker's "Colonel Fanfan".
Okada's performances were not restricted to Japanese audiences. "The Space Giants", "Latitude Zero", "Marco", "Shogun" and "The Hunted" were some of his credits which became international hits, and brought him into contact with actors such as Joseph Cotten, Richard Jaeckel and Cesar Romero ("Latitude Zero"), Desi Arnaz Jr. and Zero Mostel ("Marco"), Richard Chamberlain and John Rhys-Davies ("Shogun") and Christopher Lambert ("The Hunted").
Okada was a regular judge in the "Iron Chef" series, and the host for many Japanese variety and game shows, including NTV's celebrity quiz show, "Sarujie". In "Sarujie", he wore a monkey suit and make-up, in line with the theme of the show -- "saru" translates into "monkey", and, "jie"/"chie", "wit", the term "sarujie" meaning "shallow cunning". Okada was an exceptional Master of Ceremonies, and was the emcee for many beauty pageants held in Japan. For over two decades, he served as the host-presenter for The International Beauty Pageant, popularly known as the Miss International contest. Tall, good-looking, charming, charismatic, suave and witty, with his affectionate personality and magnetism, he could always liven up a show, regardless of its audience and the other participants in the show. Again, his ability to speak fluent Japanese, English and French proved to be an asset, as were his powerful, deep and sensuous vocals.
Okada was appointed as one of Japan's Ambassadors to the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 bicentenary, a list of events organized in celebration of the nineteenth-century Danish author's life and works.
Okada was married three times. In 1960, he announced his two-year "contractual marriage" to the renowned dancer and mime choreographer, Yoneyama Mamako -- a union which ended even before the first year was over. Okada then remained single for over a decade; in 1972, he married Japanese actress Midori Fujita, with whom he had three sons. 22 years later, Okada divorced Fujita, and, in 1995, he took his third wife, Keiko, who gave him his fourth son in 1999.
The turn of the millennium brought two tragic deaths in Okada's life. In 2000, his elder brother, Taibi, died of Parkinson's Disease in Sprecklesville, Maui Island, Hawaii. Then, on July 27, 2004, Okada's third son with Fujita was found hanged at his mother's home in the Denenchofu suburb of Tokyo. Shocked, Okada did not attend son's private funeral the following day, but called a press conference a month later to refute allegations by the Shuukan Josei magazine that there had been bad blood between him and his 26-year-old son, who was an assistant stage designer with a theater company prior to his suicide.
Masumi Okada devoted his entire life to the entertainment industry and never retired from show business. In June 2005, he was diagnosed with throat (more specifically, esophageal) cancer, and underwent surgery. Less than three months later, he was again in front of the cameras, hosting the Miss International 2005 beauty pageant in Tokyo, although his fatigue surfaced towards the end of the show when he apparently read out the names of the top 12 contestants -- Miss Venezuela, Miss Philippines, Miss Brazil, Miss Japan, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Columbia, Miss Turkey, Miss Finland, Miss France, Miss Ukraine, Miss Peru and Miss Serbia and Montenegro -- in the space of 20 seconds. Nevertheless, the show was a huge success, with wide media coverage.
Okada suffered a relapse of his malignancy and was re-hospitalized, but succumbed to his illness at a Tokyo hospital on May 29, 2006, at 4.05 p.m. (7.05 a.m. GMT), aged 70 years. He had hoped to live until he was at least 80 years of age.- Writer
- Additional Crew
Pierre Galante was born on 22 November 1909 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was a writer, known for Le soleil a toujours raison (1943), Le destin s'amuse (1946) and Freedom Fighter (1988). He was married to Olivia de Havilland. He died on 20 September 1998 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Raymond Pellegrin was born on 1 January 1925 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was an actor, known for Second Wind (1966), Maigret à Pigalle (1966) and Imperial Venus (1962). He was married to Gisèle Pascal and Dora Doll. He died on 14 October 2007 in Garons, Gard, France.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jenifer Bartoli was born on 15 November 1982 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress, known for Le temps est assassin (2019), Don't Tell Her (2016) and Hunted (2018).- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Nadine Trintignant was born on 11 November 1934 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is a director and writer, known for Mon amour Mon amour (1967), Rififi (1955) and Crime Thief (1969). She was previously married to Alain Corneau and Jean-Louis Trintignant.- Actress
Nina Borget was born on 12 September 1909 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She was an actress. She died on 12 August 1997 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edmond T. Gréville was born on 20 June 1906 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was a director and writer, known for Veertig jaren (1938), Temptation (1959) and The Hands of Orlac (1960). He was married to Vanda Gréville. He died on 26 May 1966 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France.- U.S. Army officer who foresaw -- and unwisely trumpeted -- the need for air power to win land wars. (Unwise, because his candor cost him his career.) He advocated a separate air force, thus incurring the wrath of U.S. army and navy brass. When the navy airship "Shenandoah" went down in 1925, Mitchell accused the government of "incompetency, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of the national defense." On account of that statement he was court-martialed for insubordination, and he eventually resigned from the army. The story is wonderfully captured, with Gary Cooper in the role of the general, in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955).
- Camera and Electrical Department
François Vigon was born in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. François is known for Ballerina (2025), Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) and The Sisters Brothers (2018).- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Alfredo Rizzo was born on 29 September 1902 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was an actor and director, known for Roman Holiday (1953), Alessia... un vulcano sotto la pelle (1978) and Carnal Revenge (1974). He died on 6 September 1991 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Claudine Collas was born on 22 February 1938 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She was an actress, known for Au théâtre ce soir (1966), La vie parisienne (1977) and Banlieue Sud-Est (1977). She was married to Jacques Fabbri. She died on 31 October 2015 in Caen, Calvados, France.
- Writer
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Didier Van Cauwelaert was born on 29 July 1960 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is a writer and director, known for Unknown (2011), I Lost Albert (2018) and Les amies de ma femme (1992).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Priscilla Betti is a French singer and actress.
In 1999, Priscilla provided the voiceover of the character Annie French musical film Annie (1999) by Rob Marshall.
When she was only eleven years old, when he visited the show "Drôles de petits champions" February 23, 2001, on "TF1", she was spotted by the producer of American society "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer", Patrick Debort. On September 25, she recorded her first single "Quand je serai jeune" in the label "BMG".
That same year, Priscilla went to New York, United States, and meets his idol Britney Spears presented him with a "disque d'or" for his single "Quand je serai jeune".
His first album "Cette vie nouvelle" released in June 2002, which is certified "disque d'argent" with 90 000 copies sold.
Very soon, in December of same year the second album "Priscilla", including the singles "Regarde-moi" ranks fifth in French with 300 000 singles sold, "Tchouk tchouk music" exceeds 140 000 copies.
His first tour to "L'Olympia" took place in February 2003.
In January 2004, she played the role of Chelsea Lechat alongside Michel Serrault, Arielle Dombasle and Christian Clavier in the comedy Albert est méchant (2004) by Hervé Palud.
In February 2004 released their third album "Une fille comme moi" is the single "Toujours pas d'amour", certified "disque d'argent" over 100 000 copies vendues. You extracts ensue, "Toi, c'est moi" and "Jalousie". The album went "disque d'or" with over 280 000 copies sold.
In 2005, Priscilla changes and label changes from "BMG" to "Jive Records". "Bric à brac" which is planned for release in June I will be the first album recorded by his new record "Jive Records".
In June 2005, Priscilla released his fourth album "Bric à brac", a more pop rock album, the first single from the album is "Bric à brac". According to her, this album is a transition between what was before and what she wants to do now. The album sales fail to 50 000 copies, but still Priscilla gets the "disque d'argent" for this album.
In 2007 she presents her fifth album "Casse comme du verre", now sold just over 30 000 copies.
After the second, she decided not to go to class first and get not his tray. However, it runs in the series Chante! (2008), Where she holds the lead, broadcast from February 18, 2008 on "France 2" in the time frame of the program KD2A (2003) with his first single "Chante" as generic.
In the same year, she separated from her producer Patrick Debort and eighteen years, agreed to pose for the scantily clad magazine "Gala" well in 2010, she became one of "Entrevue" with the occasion of his twenty-one years.
Since 2011, she played the role of Priscilla in the third season of the comedy series Autoroute Express (2010) Florian Hessique which airs nationally on several channels of "TNT" as "BDM TV", "TV Paese", "TLP".- Actor
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- Director
Cyprien Iov, aka MonsieursDream is a French actor, screenwriter, director and humorist. He started his debut on DailyMotion in 2007 by making podcasts, and then two years later, on YouTube. Within a few years, he gained a strong fan base. As of March 2017, he has more than 10 million subscribers on the platform. He made several short films, including "La Cartouche" (2016) which has more than 15 million views, and "Technophobe" (2015), with over 22 million views.- Vera Talchi was born on 17 August 1934 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She was an actress, known for The Walls of Malapaga (1949), The Little World of Don Camillo (1952) and Bouquet de joie (1951). She died on 16 February 2024 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France.
- Anyastassia Melehes was born on 30 October 2013 in Nice, France. She is an actress, known for Killing Eve (2018).
- Rolla France was born on 2 September 1910 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She is an actress, known for À Nous la Liberté (1931), Le premier mot d'amour (1932) and Adhémar Lampiot (1932).