Bernard Blier (11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time.

Bernard Blier
Bernard Blier in My Friends (1975).
Born(1916-01-11)11 January 1916
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died(1989-03-29)29 March 1989 (aged 73)
Saint-Cloud, France
NationalityFrench
OccupationActor
Years active1937–1989
Spouse
Gisèle Brunet
(m. 1938)
Children2, including Bertrand Blier

Life and career

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His rotund features and premature baldness allowed him to often play cuckolded husbands in his early career. He is notable for being one of France's most versatile and sought-after character actors, performing interchangeably in comedies and dramas. His complete filmography includes 175 titles.[1] He often appeared in Italian films too, particularly in the last decade of his life.[2] He was awarded an Honorary César (the French Oscar) in 1989, 24 days before he died.[3]

Personal life

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He is the father of director Bertrand Blier. He has appeared in a number of his son's films, most notably Buffet froid (1979).

Filmography

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1937 Trois... six... neuf Raymond Rouleau
The Messenger Le chauffeur de Nick Raymond Rouleau Uncredited
Gribouille a young man Marc Allégret Uncredited
Double Crime in the Maginot Line Félix Gandéra Uncredited
Woman of Malacca Marc Allégret Uncredited
The Green Jacket Le fils Pinchet Roger Richebé
1938 Grisou Le fils Mélée Maurice de Canonge
Altitude 3.200 Benoît Jean Benoît-Lévy and Marie Epstein
The Curtain Rises Pescani, un élève du Conservatoire Marc Allégret
The Gutter Le chauffeur de taxi Maurice Lehmann and Claude Autant-Lara
Hôtel du Nord Prosper Marcel Carné
Final Accord Mérot Ignacy Rosenkranz
1939 Place de la Concorde Brioche Karel Lamač
Le Jour Se Lève Gaston Marcel Carné
Quartier latin Christian Chamborant
Pierre Colombier
Alexander Esway
Uncredited
1940 Night in December Edouard Curtis Bernhardt
1941 L'enfer des anges Freddy, la patron du bistro Christian-Jaque
First Ball Le maitre d'hôtel Christian-Jaque
Who Killed Santa Claus? a policeman Christian-Jaque Uncredited
The Pavilion Burns Bénézy Jacques de Baroncelli
1942 Caprices Marcel Léo Joannon Uncredited
The Woman I Loved Most L'employé des Pompes Funèbres Robert Vernay
La Symphonie fantastique Antoine Charbonnel Christian-Jaque
The Newspaper Falls at Five O'Clock André Bertod Georges Lacombe
Romance for Three Marcel Roger Richebé
La Nuit fantastique Lucien Marcel L'Herbier
Chiffon's Wedding Le garçon d'hôtel Claude Autant-Lara
1943 Marie-Martine Maurice Albert Valentin
Domino Crémone Roger Richebé
I Am with You Robert Henri Decoin
1944 Les Petites du quai aux fleurs Le docteur Bernard Marc Allégret
Carmen Remendado Christian-Jaque
1945 Farandole Sylvestre André Zwoboda
Alone in the Night Inspecteur Pascal Christian Stengel
1946 Monsieur Grégoire Escapes Alex Grégoire Jacques Daniel-Norman
Messieurs Ludovic Ludovic Seguin Jean-Paul Le Chanois
1947 Clockface Café Julien Couturier Jean Gehret
Quai des Orfèvres Maurice Martineau Henri-Georges Clouzot
1948 Man to Men Coquillet Christian-Jaque
Dédée d'Anvers Monsieur René, the innkeeper Yves Allégret
The Spice of Life Bernard Jean Dréville
1949 Passion for Life Buffle Pascal, l'instituteur Jean-Paul Le Chanois
Return to Life Gaston André Cayatte (segment 1 : "Le retour de tante Emma")
Monseigneur Louis Mennechain Roger Richebé
1950 Manèges Robert Yves Allégret
La souricière Jean-Pierre Lesourd Henri Calef
Tuesday's Guest Charles Josse Jacques Deval
Old Boys of Saint-Loup Jean Laclaux Georges Lampin
Lost Souvenirs L'agent de police Raoul Christian-Jaque (segment "Le violon")
1848 Himself / narrator Marguerite de la Mure
Victoria Mercanton.
Documentary short
1951 Without Leaving an Address Émile Gauthier Jean-Paul Le Chanois
La maison Bonnadieu Félix Bonnadieu Carlo Rim
1952 Matrimonial Agency Noël Pailleret Jean-Paul Le Chanois
Je l'ai été trois fois Henri Verdier / Hector Van Broken Sacha Guitry
1953 Suivez cet homme Commissaire François Basquier Georges Lampin
1954 Before the Deluge Monsieur Marcel Noblet André Cayatte
Secrets d'alcôve Emile Bergeret Various directors (segment "Lit de la Pompadour, Le")
Scènes de ménage Aglaé's husband André Berthomieu
1955 Black Dossier Inspector Noblet André Cayatte
Frou-Frou Augusto Genina cameo appearance
Les Hussards Brigadier Le Gouce Alex Joffé
Revelation Father Lorenzo Mario Costa
1956 Crime and Punishment Antoine Monestier Georges Lampin
1957 The Man in the Raincoat Monsieur Raphaël Julien Duvivier
Retour de manivelle Inspector Plantavin Denys de La Patellière
Send a Woman When the Devil Fails Félix Seguin Yves Allégret
1958 La Bonne Tisane [fr] René Lecomte Hervé Bromberger
Les Misérables Inspector Javert Jean-Paul Le Chanois
The Cat Capitaine Debrun Henri Decoin
L'École des cocottes Monsieur Labaume Jacqueline Audry
En légitime défense [fr] Inspector Gustave Martinet André Berthomieu
Sans famille [fr] Renato Garofoli André Michel
Le Joueur [fr] General Zagoriansky Claude Autant-Lara
The Possessors Simon Lachaume Denys de La Patellière
1959 Marie-Octobre Julien Simoneau Julien Duvivier
Archimède le clochard Monsieur Pichon Gilles Grangier
The Great War Captain Castelli Mario Monicelli
Le Secret du chevalier d'Éon Baron d'Exter Jacqueline Audry
Eyes of Love Doctor Andrieux Denys de La Patellière
1960 Marche ou crève [fr] Lenzi Georges Lautner
L'ennemi dans l'ombre Le Patron du contre-espionage Charles Gérard
The Hunchback of Rome Maresciallo Carlo Lizzani
Crimen the police inspector Mario Camerini
1961 The Fenouillard Family Un voyageur Yves Robert Uncredited
Arrêtez les tambours [fr] Doctor Leproux Georges Lautner
The President Philippe Chalamont Henri Verneuil
Vive Henri IV, vive l'amour [fr] Sully Claude Autant-Lara
Le cave se rebiffe Charles Lepicard Gilles Grangier
The Black Monocle Commissaire Tournemire Georges Lautner
I briganti italiani Colonel Breviglieri Mario Camerini
1962 Operation Gold Ingot Georges Lautner
Girl on the Road Monsieur Rameau Jacqueline Audry
The Seventh Juror Grégoire Duval Georges Lautner
Pourquoi Paris? Le concierge de l'immeuble Denys de La Patellière
Marco Polo Hugo Fregonese
Piero Pierotti
1963 Mathias Sandorf Toronthal Georges Lampin
Les saintes-nitouches Ribois Pierre Montazel
Il magnifico avventuriero Pope Clement VII Riccardo Freda
Germinal Hennebeau Yves Allégret
Les Tontons flingueurs Raoul Volfoni Georges Lautner
The Organizer Martinetti Mario Monicelli
1964 High Infidelity Sergio Mario Monicelli (segment "Gente Moderna")
La Bonne Soupe Joseph Robert Thomas
Greed in the Sun Mitch-Mitch Henri Verneuil
Male Hunt Monsieur Heurtin Édouard Molinaro
The Magnificent Cuckold Roberto Mariotti Antonio Pietrangeli Various directors
La Chance et l'Amour Camille (segment "Une chance explosive")
The Great Spy Chase Eusebio Cafarelli Georges Lautner
1965 Casanova 70 the detective Mario Monicelli Uncredited
Quand passent les faisans Hyacinthe Camus Édouard Molinaro
Les Bons Vivants Monsieur Charles Gilles Grangier
Georges Lautner
1966 A Question of Honour Don Léandro Sanna Luigi Zampa
The Almost Perfect Crime Colonel Robson Mario Camerini
The Big Restaurant the chief superintendent Jacques Besnard
Ring Around the World Lord Richard Berry Luigi Scattini
Georges Combret
How to Seduce a Playboy Michael Pfleghar
1967 An Idiot in Paris Léon Dessertine Serge Korber
To Commit a Murder Commandant Rhome Édouard Molinaro
If I Were a Spy Doctor Lefèvre Bertrand Blier
Du mou dans la gâchette Nicolas Pappas Louis Grospierre
The Stranger the criminal defense lawyer Luchino Visconti
Le fou du labo IV Beauchard Jacques Besnard
1968 Darling Caroline Georges Berthier Denys de La Patellière
Coplan Saves His Skin Mascar Yves Boisset
Quarta parete Andrea Brusa Adriano Bolzoni
Leontine Charles Michel Audiard
Will Our Heroes Be Able to Find Their Friend Who Has Mysteriously Disappeared in Africa? Ubaldo Palmerini Ettore Scola
1969 Mon oncle Benjamin the Marcquis of Cambise Édouard Molinaro
Appelez-moi Mathilde Charles de Blanzac, l'époux de Mathilde Pierre Mondy
1970 Elle boit pas, elle fume pas, elle drague pas, mais... elle cause ! Liethard Michel Audiard
Le Distrait Alexandre Guiton Pierre Richard
1971 Le cri du cormoran, le soir au-dessus des jonques Monsieur K. Michel Audiard
Laisse aller... c'est une valse Commissaire Caillaud Georges Lautner
Il furto è l'anima del commercio!?... Persicelli Bruno Corbucci
Jo Inspector Ducros Jean Girault
To Catch a Spy Webb Dick Clement
Man of the Year Dr. Mezzini Marco Vicario
1972 Le Tueur [fr] François Tellier Denys de La Patellière
Boccaccio Dr. Mazzeo Bruno Corbucci
Tout le monde il est beau, tout le monde il est gentil Louis-Marcel Thulle Jean Yanne
Elle cause plus... elle flingue Le commissaire Camille Bistingo Michel Audiard
The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe Bernard Milan Yves Robert
1973 Moi y'en a vouloir des sous Adrien Colbart Jean Yanne
I Don't Know Much, But I'll Say Everything M. Gastié-Leroy Pierre Richard
1974 Chinese in Paris Le Président de la République Jean Yanne
La Main à couper [fr] Commissaire Moureu Étienne Périer
By the Blood of Others (Par le sang des autres) the mayor Marc Simenon
Ante Up the priest Paolo Nuzzi
Bons baisers... à lundi Frankie Strong Le Lion Michel Audiard
Processo per direttissima the judge Lucio De Caro
1975 C'est pas parce qu'on n'a rien à dire qu'il faut fermer sa gueule! Phano Jacques Besnard
Cher Victor Anselme Robin Davis
C'est dur pour tout le monde Paul Tardel Christian Gion
My Friends Righi Niccolò Mario Monicelli
Le faux-cul Maxime Roger Hanin
1976 Calmos Émile Bertrand Blier
Body of My Enemy Jean-Baptiste Liégard Henri Verneuil
Golden Night Commissaire Pidoux Serge Moati
1979 Série noire Staplin Alain Corneau
Buffet froid Inspector Morvandieu Bertrand Blier
Il malato immaginario Purgone, the doctor Tonino Cervi
1980 Voltati Eugenio Grandpa Eugenio Luigi Comencini
1981 Passion of Love Major Tarrasso Ettore Scola
Pétrole! Pétrole! Christian Gion L'émir Abdullah
Il turno Don Marcantonio Tonino Cervi
1983 La fuite en avant Rene Christian Zerbib
1985 Ça n'arrive qu'à moi M. Guilledou Francis Perrin
Madman at War Major Belluci Dino Risi
The Two Lives of Mattia Pascal Anselmo Paléari Mario Monicelli
Amici miei – Atto III Stefano Lenzi Nanni Loy
1986 Let's Hope It's a Girl Uncle Gugo Mario Monicelli
Je hais les acteurs Jerome B. Cobb Gérard Krawczyk
Twist again à Moscou Alexei Jean-Marie Poiré
1987 Under the Chinese Restaurant Il professore Bruno Bozzetto
The Rogues the pimp Mario Monicelli
1988 The Possessed the governor Andrzej Wajda
Ada dans la jungle Le major Collins Gérard Zingg
Mangeclous Saltiel Moshé Mizrahi
Una botta di vita Giuseppe Mondardini Enrico Oldoini
1989 Paganini Father Caffarelli Klaus Kinski
Migrations Opat Zorzel Aleksandar Petrovic

References

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  1. ^ "Bernard Blier". unifrance.org. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ^ "In the later stages of his career, Blier divided his time between France and Italy". french_cinema.enacademic.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ^ "He was awarded an honorary Cesar (the French Oscar) in 1989 for lifetime achievement". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
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