Biography
Rochefort has been a staple of the mainstream French cinema for over three decades, first as a character player and second lead in the late 1950s and 60s, a leading man since the 70s and an international star since the 80s. He has also worked extensively in French theater and TV. Though adept with a variety of material, Rochefort tends to fare best in sex farces and other comedies. The handsome, long-faced and somewhat sad-eyed actor convinces …
Career Milestones
| Began performing career in Left Bank cabarets | ||
| Met future co-star Jean-Paul Belmondo at the Paris Conservatory | ||
| Served in the French military | ||
1958 | Feature debut, "Une Balle dans le Canon" | |
1962 | Breakthrough supporting role, "Cartouche"; first film with Belmondo | |
1972 | Played a major supporting role in the international hit "The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe"; first of many collaborations with director Yves Robert | |
1973 | Starred opposite Philippe Noiret in "L' Horloger de St Paul/The Watchmaker of Saint-Paul"; first film with helmer Bertrand Tavernier (his feature directing debut); first of many collaborations with Noiret | |
1974 | Appeared in Luis Bunuel's "Le Fantome de la Liberte/The Phantom of Liberty" | |
1976 | Starred in the international hit "Pardon Mon Affaire", a sex comedy directed by Robert | |
1977 | Credited as song performer on "Des Enfants Gates/Spoiled Children" | |
1977 | Starred in the sequel "Pardon Mon Affaire, Too", again directed by Robert | |
1978 | US film debut, "Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?" | |
1984 | Starred as Dr Victor Frankenstein in the Gothic comedy "Frankenstein 90" | |
1989 | Cast in the french film, "Je suis le seigneur du château/I'm the King of the Castle" | |
1990 | Portrayed the title character in "Le Mari de la coiffeuse/The Hairdresser's Husband" | |
1994 | Cast in the Robert Altman ensemble, "Prêt-à-Porter/Ready to Wear" | |
1996 | Starred in the french film, "Ridicule" | |
2000 | Cast as Don Quixote in Terry Gilliam's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote"; suffered a double disc hernia during the first week of filming, causing production to be put on hold and later ended production completely | |
2002 | Co-starred in the French comic-drama, "L'homme du train/The Man on the Train" | |
2007 | Appeared in the British comedy, "Mr. Bean's Holiday" starring Rowan Atkinson | |