Charles Boyer | |
|---|---|
 Boyer in 1942 | |
| Born | (1899-08-28)28 August 1899 Figeac, France |
| Died | 26 August 1978(1978-08-26) (aged 78) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Burial place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Sorbonne |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1920–1976 |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Academy Honorary Award (1943) |
Charles Boyer (French:[ʃaʁlbwaje]; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976.[1] After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American films during the 1930s. His memorable performances were among the era's most highly praised, in romantic dramas such asThe Garden of Allah (1936),Algiers (1938), andLove Affair (1939), as well as the mystery-thrillerGaslight (1944). He received fourOscar nominations for Best Actor. He also appeared as himself on theCBS sitcomI Love Lucy.
Boyer was born inFigeac, Lot,France, the son of Augustine Louise Durand and Maurice Boyer, a merchant.[2] Boyer (whose surname comes fromboièr, theOccitan word for "cowherd") was a shy small-town boy who discovered the movies and theatre at the age of eleven.
Boyer performed comic sketches for soldiers while working as a hospital orderly during World War I.[3] He began studies briefly at theSorbonne, and was waiting for a chance to study acting at theParis Conservatory.[4]
He went to the capital city to finish his education, but spent most of his time pursuing a theatrical career. In 1920, his quick memory won him a chance to replace the leading man in a stage production,Aux jardins de Murcie. He was successful. Then he appeared in a playLa Bataille and Boyer became a theatre star overnight.[3][5][6]
In the 1920s, he played charming and charismatic characters on both stage and in silent films.[7]
Boyer's first film wasL'homme du large (1920), directed byMarcel L'Herbier. He had roles inChantelouve (1921),Le grillon du foyer (1922), andEsclave (1922).[7] At first, he performed film roles only for the money and found that supporting roles were unsatisfying. However, with the coming of sound, his deep voice made him a romantic star.[3] Boyer focused on theatre work for a number of years. He returned to the screen withInfernal Circle (1928),Captain Fracasse (1929), andLa barcarolle d'amour (1930).
Boyer was first brought to Hollywood byMGM who wanted him to play theChester Morris part in a French version ofThe Big House (1930),Révolte dans la prison (1931). Boyer had an offer from Paramount to appear in a small role inThe Magnificent Lie (1931) withRuth Chatterton, directed byBerthold Viertel. It was his first English speaking role.[7] He went back to MGM to makeLe procès de Mary Dugan (1931), the French version ofThe Trial of Mary Dugan (1929). He didTumultes (1932) for directorRobert Siodmak. Then he did the English-languageThe Man from Yesterday (1932) withClaudette Colbert at Paramount again directed by Viertel. He had a choice small role inJean Harlow'sRed-Headed Woman (1932) at MGM.[8]
Boyer went back to France where he starred inF.P.1 Doesn't Answer (1932),Moi et l'impératrice (1933),Les Amoureux (1933) (The Sparrowhawk), andLa bataille (1933) withAnnabella. The last was also filmed in an English-language version calledThe Battle, withMerle Oberon replacing Annabella and Boyer reprising his role. He didThe Only Girl (1933) withLilian Harvey and performed on the Paris stage inLe Bonheur which was another success. It would be the last time he appeared on the Parisian stage.[6]
He returned to Hollywood forCaravan (1934) withLoretta Young at Fox. He was also in the French-language versionCaravane, again with Annabella.[9] Then in France he starred inLiliom (1934), directed byFritz Lang, his first classic.[10] Boyer starred in some English language movies:Thunder in the East (1934). In France, he was inLe bonheur (1934), reprising his stage performance for directorMarcel L'Herbier.[citation needed]
.jpg)
Boyer co-starred withClaudette Colbert in the psychiatric dramaPrivate Worlds (1935) forWalter Wanger at Paramount. He signed a five-year contract with Wanger.[11] Then he romancedKatharine Hepburn inBreak of Hearts (1935) for RKO, and Loretta Young inShanghai (1935) for Wanger. Boyer became an international star withMayerling (1936), co-starringDanielle Darrieux and directed byAnatole Litvak. Boyer playedRudolf, Crown Prince of Austria. Back in Hollywood he was teamed withMarlene Dietrich inThe Garden of Allah (1936) forDavid O. Selznick. He and Dietrich were reunited onI Loved a Soldier (1936) for directorHenry Hathaway at Paramount but the film was abandoned.[citation needed]
Boyer paired withJean Arthur inHistory Is Made at Night (1937) for Wanger, andGreta Garbo inConquest (1937) at MGM (where he playedNapoleon Bonaparte). Boyer's fee for the latter was $150,000 but with all the re-takes he wound up earning $450,000.[citation needed] Boyer returned to France briefly to makeOrage (1938), oppositeMichèle Morgan for directorMarc Allégret.[3] Back in Hollywood, he had the lead inTovarich (1937) with Colbert, directed by Litvak.
In 1938, he landed his famous role as Pepe le Moko, the thief on the run inAlgiers, an English-language remake of the classic French filmPepe le Moko withJean Gabin, produced by Wanger. Although in the movie Boyer never said to costarHedy Lamarr "Come with me to the Casbah," this line was in the movie trailer. The line would stick with him, thanks to generations of impressionists andLooney Tunes parodies.[3][12] Boyer's role as Pepe Le Moko was already world-famous when animatorChuck Jones based the character ofPepé Le Pew, the romantic skunk introduced in 1945, on Boyer and his best-known performance.[13] Boyer's vocal style was also parodied on the Tom and Jerry cartoons, most notably when Tom was trying to woo a female cat. (SeeThe Zoot Cat).
Boyer made three films withIrene Dunne:Love Affair (1939) at RKO,When Tomorrow Comes (1939) at Universal andTogether Again (1944) at Columbia.[14][15]
_-_2.jpg)
He went back to France to makeLe corsaire (1939) forMarc Allégret. He was making the movie in Nice when France declared war on Germany in September 1939. Production ceased on the declaration of war. Boyer joined the French army.[16] The film was never completed, although some footage of it was later released.[17][18]
By November, Boyer was discharged from the army and back in Hollywood as the French government thought he would be of more service making films.[19]
Boyer played in three classic film love stories:All This, and Heaven Too (1940) withBette Davis, directed by Litvak at Warners; as the ruthless cad inBack Street (1941) withMargaret Sullavan, at Universal; andHold Back the Dawn (1941) withOlivia de Havilland andPaulette Goddard, at Paramount.[20]
In contrast to his glamorous image, Boyer began losing his hair early, had a pronouncedpaunch, and was noticeably shorter than leading ladies likeIngrid Bergman. When Bette Davis first saw him on the set ofAll This, and Heaven Too, she did not recognize him and tried to have him removed.[13]
In January 1942, Boyer signed a three-year contract with Universal to act and produce. The contract would cover nine films.[21] Before he started the contract he finished a film at Warners,The Constant Nymph (1943) withJoan Fontaine.
Boyer was reunited with Sullavan inAppointment for Love (1942) at Universal and was one of many stars inTales of Manhattan (1942), directed byJulien Duvivier andImmortal France (1942). He became a US citizen in 1942.[22] He was one of many stars inFlesh and Fantasy (1943) which he also produced withJulien Duvivier at Universal. He was an uncredited producer on Duvivier'sDestiny (1944). In 1943, he was awarded an Honorary Oscar Certificate for "progressive cultural achievement" in establishing the French Research Foundation in Los Angeles as a source of reference (certificate).
Boyer had one of his biggest hits withGaslight (1944) withIngrid Bergman andJoseph Cotten. He followed it withTogether Again (1944) re-uniting with Irene Dunne;Congo (1944), a short; andConfidential Agent (1945) withLauren Bacall, at Warners.
Boyer began his post war career withCluny Brown (1946) withJennifer Jones directed byErnst Lubitsch. He was Warners highest paid actor at this stage earning $205,000 in 1945.[23] In 1947, he was the voice of Capt. Daniel Gregg in theLux Radio Theater's presentation ofThe Ghost and Mrs. Muir,[24] played in the film byRex Harrison. In 1948, he was made achevalier of the FrenchLégion d'honneur. That year he did a thrillerA Woman's Vengeance (1948).
Another film he did with Bergman,Arch of Triumph (1948), failed at the box office and Boyer was no longer the box office star he had been. "If you are in a big flop, nobody wants you," he said later.[6]
Boyer went to Broadway, where he made his first appearance inRed Gloves (1948–49), based onDirty Hands byJean-Paul Sartre,[25] which went for 113 performances.[26]
In 1951, he appeared on the Broadway stage in one of his most notable roles, that ofDon Juan, in a dramatic reading of the third act ofGeorge Bernard Shaw'sMan and Superman. This is the act popularly known asDon Juan in Hell. In 1952, he won Broadway's 1951Special Tony Award forDon Juan in Hell. It was directed by actorCharles Laughton. Laughton co-starred as the Devil, withCedric Hardwicke as the statue of the military commander slain by Don Juan, andAgnes Moorehead as Dona Anna, the commander's daughter, one of Juan's former conquests. The production was a critical success, and was subsequently recorded complete byColumbia Masterworks, one of the first complete recordings of a non-musical stage production ever made. As of 2006, however, it has never been released on CD, but in 2009 it became available as an MP3 download.[27]
Boyer did not abandon cinema: he had leading roles inThe 13th Letter (1951),The First Legion (1952), andThe Happy Time (1952). He had a character role inThunder in the East (filmed 1951, released 1953) anAlan Ladd film.
Boyer moved into television as one of the pioneering producers and stars of the anthology showFour Star Playhouse (1952–56). It was made byFour Star Productions which would make Boyer and partnersDavid Niven andDick Powell rich.[3][28]
Boyer returned to France to star inThe Earrings of Madame de... (1953) forMax Ophüls alongside Darrieux. While there he was one of many names inBoum sur Paris (1953).[29]
He returned to Broadway forNorman Krasna'sKind Sir (1953–54) directed byJoshua Logan which ran for 166 performances. (In the film version,Indiscreet (1958),Cary Grant was cast in Boyer's role.)[30] Back in Hollywood, Boyer had a supporting role in MGM'sThe Cobweb (1955). He went back to France to star inNana (1955) withMartine Carol and then to Italy forWhat a Woman! (1956) withSophia Loren. In 1956, Boyer was a guest star onI Love Lucy and had a cameo inAround the World in 80 Days (1956). In France he had the lead inParis, Palace Hotel (1956).
He appeared as the mystery guest on the 10 March 1957 episode ofWhat's My Line?[31] On 17 March 1957, Boyer starred in an adaptation for TV of thePulitzer Prize-winning play,There Shall Be No Night, byRobert E. Sherwood. The performance starredKatharine Cornell, and was broadcast onNBC as part of theHallmark Hall of Fame.[32] He appeared several times inGoodyear Theatre andAlcoa Theatre on TV.
In France, Boyer was one of several stars inIt Happened on the 36 Candles (1957) and he co-starred withBrigitte Bardot inLa Parisienne (1957) andMichele Morgan inMaxime (1958), the latter directed byHenri Verneuil.
In Hollywood Boyer had a strong supporting role as real life privateer Dominique You alongside Yul Brynner's Jean LaFitte inThe Buccaneer (1958).
Boyer co-starred again with Claudette Colbert in the Broadway comedyThe Marriage-Go-Round (1958–1960), but said to the producer, "Keep that woman away from me".[33] The production was a hit and ran for 431 performances. Boyer did not reprise his performance in the film version. He kept busy doing work for Four Star.[34]
Onscreen, he continued in older roles: inFanny (1961) starringLeslie Caron; MGM's remake ofThe Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962);Adorable Julia (1962) withLilli Palmer; several episodes ofThe Dick Powell Theatre; andLove Is a Ball (1963).
He was nominated for the Tony Award asBest Actor (Dramatic) in the 1963 Broadway production ofLord Pengo, which ran for 175 performances.[35] Later that same year Boyer performed inMan and Boy on the London and New York stage. The Broadway run only went for 54 performances.[36]
Boyer was reunited with David Niven inThe Rogues (1964–65), a television series also starringGig Young. Niven, Boyer and Young revolved from week to week as the episode's leading man, sometimes appearing together, although most episodes wound up being helmed by Young since both Niven and Boyer had flourishing movie careers.
He had good supporting roles inA Very Special Favor (1965) withRock Hudson;How to Steal a Million (1966) withAudrey Hepburn andPeter O'Toole;Barefoot in the Park (1967) withRobert Redford andJane Fonda. He had cameos inIs Paris Burning? (1966) andCasino Royale (1967) and was top billed inThe Day the Hot Line Got Hot (1968).[37]
His career had lasted longer than that of other romantic actors, winning him the nickname "the last of the cinema's great lovers."[20] He recorded a laid-back album calledWhere Does Love Go in 1966, it being a minor commercial success, peaking at No. 148 in theUS.[38] The album consisted of famous love songs sung (or rather spoken) with Boyer's distinctive deep voice and French accent. The record was reportedlyElvis Presley's favorite album for the last 11 years of his life, the one he most listened to.[39]
Boyer supported inThe April Fools (1969) andThe Madwoman of Chaillot (1969) and guest starred onThe Name of the Game.[6]
Boyer's son had died in 1965 and Boyer was finding it traumatic to continue living in Los Angeles so in March 1970 he decided to relocate to Europe.[6]
Boyer's final credits included the musical remake ofLost Horizon (1973) and the French filmStavisky (1974), starringJean-Paul Belmondo, the latter winning him theNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor,[3] and also received the Special Tribute atCannes Film Festival.[40]
Boyer's final performance was inA Matter of Time (1976) withLiza Minnelli and Ingrid Bergman, directed byVincente Minnelli.
Boyer was the star ofHollywood Playhouse onNBC in the 1930s, but he left in 1939 "for war service in France," returning on the 3 January 1940, broadcast.[41] When he went on vacation in the summer of 1940, an item in a trade publication reported: "It is an open secret that he doesn't like the present policy of a different story and characters each week. Boyer would prefer a program in which he could develop a permanent characterization."[42] Boyer would later star in his own radio show entitledPresenting Charles Boyer during 1950 over NBC.
Boyer became a naturalized citizen of the United States on June 15, 1942, inLos Angeles.[43] In addition to French and English, Boyer spoke Italian, German, and Spanish.[4]
Boyer married to British actressPat Paterson, whom he met at a dinner party in 1934. The two became engaged after two weeks ofcourtship and were married three months later.[13] Later, they moved from Hollywood toParadise Valley, Arizona.[44] The marriage lasted 44 years until her death. The couple's only child, Michael Charles Boyer (9 December 1943 – 23 September 1965),[45] died by suicide at age 21, after separating from his girlfriend.[citation needed]
On 26 August 1978, Boyer died by suicide, aged 78, from an overdose ofSeconal while at a friend's home inScottsdale, Arizona. He was taken to the hospital inPhoenix, Arizona, where he died,[44] two days after his wife's death from cancer. He was interred inHoly Cross Cemetery,Culver City, California, alongside his wife and son.
Boyer never won anOscar, though he was nominated for Best Actor four times inConquest (1937),Algiers (1938),Gaslight (1944) andFanny (1961), the latter also winning him a nomination for theLaurel Awards for Top Male Dramatic Performance. He is particularly well known forGaslight in which he played a thief/murderer who tries to convince his newlywed wife that she is going insane.
He was nominated for theGolden Globe as Best Actor for the 1952 filmThe Happy Time; and also nominated for theEmmy for Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Series for his work inFour Star Playhouse (1952–1956).
In 1960, Boyer was inducted into theHollywood Walk of Fame with amotion pictures star and a television star. Both stars are located at 6300Hollywood Boulevard.[46][47]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | L'Homme du large | Guenn la Taupe – le mauvais génie de Michel | |
| 1921 | Chantelouve | Roger de Thièvres | |
| 1922 | Le Grillon du foyer | Edouard Caleb | |
| Esclave | Claude Laporte | ||
| 1928 | Infernal Circle | ||
| 1929 | Captain Fracasse | Duc de Vallombreuse | |
| 1930 | La Barcarolle d'amour | Andre le Kerdec | |
| Revolt in the Prison | Fred Morgan | ||
| 1931 | The Magnificent Lie | Jacques | |
| Le Procès de Mary Dugan | Le procureur | ||
| 1932 | Tumultes | Ralph Schwarz | |
| The Man from Yesterday | Rene Gaudin | ||
| Red-Headed Woman | Albert | ||
| 1933 | La Bataille | Le marquis Yorisaka | |
| The Only Girl | The Duke | ||
| I.F.1 ne répond plus | Ellisen | ||
| The Empress and I | |||
| L'Épervier | Comte Georges de Dasetta | ||
| F.P.1 Doesn't Answer | |||
| 1934 | The Battle | Marquis Yorisaka | |
| Liliom | Liliom Zadowski | ||
| Caravan | Latzi | ||
| Le Bonheur | Philippe Lutcher | ||
| 1935 | Private Worlds | Dr. Charles Monet | |
| Break of Hearts | Franz Roberti | ||
| Shanghai | Dimitri Koslov | ||
| 1936 | Mayerling | L'archiduc Rodolphe | |
| The Garden of Allah | Boris Androvsky | ||
| I Loved a Soldier | Leutnant Baron Almasy | Unfinished film | |
| 1937 | History Is Made at Night | Paul Dumond | |
| Conquest | Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte | ||
| Tovarich | Prince Mikail Alexandrovitch Ouratieff | ||
| 1938 | Orage | André Pascaud | |
| Algiers | Pepe le Moko | ||
| 1939 | Love Affair | Michel | |
| When Tomorrow Comes | Philip Chagal | ||
| Le Corsaire | Unfinished film | ||
| 1940 | All This, and Heaven Too | Duc de Praslin | |
| 1941 | Back Street | Walter Saxel | |
| Hold Back the Dawn | Georges Iscovescu | ||
| Appointment for Love | Andre 'Pappy' Cassil | ||
| 1942 | Tales of Manhattan | Paul Orman | |
| 1943 | Flesh and Fantasy | Paul Gaspar | Episode 3 |
| The Heart of a Nation | Introductory Narrator | US version only | |
| The Constant Nymph | Lewis Dodd | ||
| 1944 | Gaslight | Gregory Anton | |
| Together Again | George Corday | ||
| The Fighting Lady | Narrator | French version only | |
| 1945 | Confidential Agent | Luis Denard | |
| 1946 | The Battle of the Rails | Narrator | voice, uncredited |
| Cluny Brown | Adam Belinski | ||
| 1948 | A Woman's Vengeance | Henry Maurier | |
| Arch of Triumph | Dr. Ravic | ||
| 1951 | The 13th Letter | Dr. Paul Laurent | |
| The First Legion | Father Marc Arnoux | ||
| 1952 | The Happy Time | Jacques Bonnard | |
| Thunder in the East | Prime Minister Singh | ||
| 1953 | The Earrings of Madame de... | Général André de... | |
| Boum sur Paris | Himself | ||
| 1955 | The Cobweb | Dr. Douglas N. Devanal | |
| Nana | Comte Muffat | ||
| 1956 | Lucky to Be a Woman | Count Gregorio Sennetti | |
| Around the World in 80 Days | Monsieur Gasse, balloonist | ||
| Paris, Palace Hotel | Henri Delormel | ||
| 1957 | It Happened on the 36 Candles | Himself | Uncredited |
| La Parisienne | Le prince Charles | ||
| 1958 | Maxime | Maxime Cherpray | |
| The Buccaneer | Dominique You | ||
| 1961 | Fanny | Cesar | |
| 1962 | Midnight Folly [fr] | Pierre | |
| The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse | Marcelo Desnoyers | ||
| Adorable Julia | Michael Grosselyn | ||
| 1963 | Love Is a Ball | M. Etienne Pimm | |
| 1965 | A Very Special Favor | Michel Boullard | |
| 1966 | How to Steal a Million | DeSolnay | |
| Is Paris Burning? | Docteur Monod | ||
| 1967 | Casino Royale | Le Grand | |
| Barefoot in the Park | Victor Velasco | ||
| 1968 | Hot Line | Vostov | |
| 1969 | The April Fools | Andre Greenlaw | |
| The Madwoman of Chaillot | The Broker | ||
| 1973 | Lost Horizon | The High Lama | |
| 1974 | Stavisky | Le baron Jean Raoul | |
| 1976 | A Matter of Time | Count Sanziani | Final film role |
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Best Actor | Conquest | Nominated |
| 1938 | Best Actor | Algiers | Nominated |
| 1944 | Best Actor | Gaslight | Nominated |
| 1961 | Best Actor | Fanny | Nominated |
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Best Actor – Drama | The Happy Time | Nominated |
Only the motion pictures star is listed
Both stars are listed
