Charles Boyer (French: [bwaye]; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American movies during the 1930s. His memorable performances were among the era's most highly praised, in romantic dramas such as The Garden of Allah (1936), Algiers (1938), and Love Affair (1939). Another famous role was in the 1944 mystery-thriller Gaslight. He received four Academy Award nominations for Best Actor.
Academy Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama, Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Continuing Performance - Actor i...
Movies
Gaslight, Love Affair, Algiers, All This, and Heaven Too, Barefoot in the Park, How to Steal a Million, Arch of Triumph, Cluny Brown, Hold Back the Dawn, Around the World in 80 Days, The Garden of Allah, The Earrings of Madame de…, History Is Made at Night, Tales of Manhattan, Casino Royale, The C...
TV Shows
The Rogues, The Dick Powell Show, Four Star Playhouse, Alcoa Theatre, The Louvre
Star Sign
Virgo
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Quote
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That love at first sight should happen to me was Life's most delicious revenge on a self-opinionated fool.
2
Mostly I've played other roles, but even when I've played other parts people see me differently. In America, when you have an accent, in the mind of the people they associate you with kissing hands and being gallant. I think that has harmed me, just as it has harmed me to be followed and plagued by a line I never said.
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Fact
1
In addition to English and French, he spoke German, Italian and Spanish.
2
Became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1942.
3
His favorite film was the romantic drama Love Affair (1939).
Anatole Litvak thought Boyer was the best actor he ever worked with.
6
Boyer was the first choice of director Claude Chabrol in 1959 for "A Double Tour", but the role was ultimately played by Jacques Dacqmine.
7
Chuck Jones used his French voice and mannerisms when he created famed cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew.
8
Off-screen was a happily married bookworm; referred to by his friends as a "stick-in-the-mud".
9
Vice president of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964.
10
Won a special Tony Award in 1952 "for distinguished performance in 'Don Juan in Hell', thereby assisting in a new theatre trend". He was also nominated for Broadway's 1963 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Lord Pengo".
11
Half bald by his twenties, he only wore a toupee for his movie roles. Out in public, he never wore it.
12
Received a degree in philosophy from the Sorbonne.
13
Following his death, he was interred with his wife Pat Paterson at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
14
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
15
Had one son: Michael Charles Boyer (born December 9, 1943); committed suicide September 21, 1965. He apparently played Russian roulette with a .38-caliber revolver after quarreling with a girlfriend.
16
Took a fatal dose of barbiturates two days after his wife's death, which was also two days before his own seventy-ninth birthday.
$300,000
