Jean-Pierre Cassel

Jean-Pierre Cassel (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ pjɛʁ ka'sɛl]; born Jean-Pierre Crochon; 27 October 1932 – 19 April 2007) was a French actor and dancer. A popular star of French cinema, he was initially known for his comedy film appearances, though he also proved a gifted dramatic actor, and accrued over 200 film and television credits in a career spanning over 50 years. He worked with many notable directors, including Jean-Pierre Melville, Luis Buñuel, Abel Gance, Jean Renoir, Claude Chabrol, Sidney Lumet, Joseph Losey, Chantal Akerman and Robert Altman.

He was nominated for a César Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in La Cérémonie (1995). Cassel was also the father of actor Vincent Cassel, actress/singer Cécile Cassel, and rapper Mathias Cassel.