Daniel Gélin

Daniel Gélin

Acting • Born 1921-05-19 – Died 2002-11-29

Acting1Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France

Biography

Daniel Yves Alfred Gélin (19 May 1921 – 29 November 2002) was a French actor. Gélin was born in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, the son of Yvonne (née Le Méner) and Alfred Ernest Joseph Gélin. When he was ten, his family moved to Saint-Malo where Daniel went to college until he was expelled for 'uncouthness'. His father then found him a job in a shop that sold cans of salted cod. It was seeing the shooting of Marc Allégret's film Entrée des artistes that triggered his desire to go to Paris to train to be an actor. He trained at the Cours Simon in Paris before entering the Conservatoire national d'art dramatique. There he met Louis Jouvet and embarked on a theatrical career. He made his first film appearance in 1940 in Miquette and for several years was an extra or played small roles in French films. He appeared with Jean Gabin and Marlene Dietrich in Martin Roumagnac (1946). He won his first leading role in Rendez-vous de juillet (1949). From that time, he went on to appear in more than 150 films, including Max Ophüls' films La Ronde (1950) and Le Plaisir (1952), Jacques Becker's Édouard et Caroline (1951), Sacha Guitry's films Si Versailles m'était conté (Royal Affairs in Versailles) (1954) and Napoléon (1955), Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Jean Cocteau's Le Testament d'Orphée (1960), Le souffle au cœur (Murmur of the Heart) (1971), and La Nuit de Varennes (That Night in Varennes) (1982). He also wrote and directed one film, The Long Teeth, in 1952. Gélin was a leading man in French cinema during the 1950s, but his career declined with the coming of the New Wave. He worked in theater for several years, but later found new success on screen as a character actor. He appeared extensively in French films and television productions from the 1970s until his death, often playing cynical characters or grumpy old men. In 1946, Gélin married actress Danièle Delorme with whom he had a son, actor, director and producer Xavier Gélin. They divorced in 1954. While still married to Delorme, he had an affair with 17 year old model Marie Christine Schneider that produced a daughter, Maria Schneider. Due to his status as a married man, Gélin could not recognize Maria as his daughter. He visited the child several times but eventually severed his relationship with her mother. Maria Schneider and Daniel Gélin reconnected when she was sixteen and came to visit him. They remained in contact, although their relationship was irregular. Gélin was married to model Sylvie Hirsch from 1954 until their divorce in 1968. This marriage produced three children, Pascal (who died aged one year), Fiona , and Manuel, the latter two also becoming actors. In 1973, he remarried to Lydie Zaks with whom he had a daughter, Laura. Gélin died in Paris on 29 November 2002 of kidney failure. Source: Article "Daniel Gélin" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Filmography

164 credits
The Man Who Knew Too Much

The Man Who Knew Too Much

Movie • 1956

Louis Bernard

Trop c'est trop

Trop c'est trop

Movie • 1975

Flic

Season of Peace in Paris

Season of Peace in Paris

Movie • 1981

Life Is a Long Quiet River

Life Is a Long Quiet River

Movie • 1988

Docteur Mavial

The Sleeping Car Murders

The Sleeping Car Murders

Movie • 1965

Le vétérinaire titulaire, chargé de cours (uncredited)

Is Paris Burning?

Is Paris Burning?

Movie • 1966

Yves Bayet

Port of Desire

Port of Desire

Movie • 1958

Pierre

Mister Frost

Mister Frost

Movie • 1990

Simon Scolari

We Will All Meet in Paradise

We Will All Meet in Paradise

Movie • 1977

Bastien, stage director

That Night of Varennes

That Night of Varennes

Movie • 1982

De Wendel

Murmur of the Heart

Murmur of the Heart

Movie • 1971

Charles Chevalier

Testament of Orpheus

Testament of Orpheus

Movie • 1960

The Intern (uncredited)

Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy

Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy

Movie • 1994

Mr. Mireille, the 2nd projectionist

Napoleon

Napoleon

Movie • 1955

Napoléon Bonaparte

Le Plaisir

Le Plaisir

Movie • 1952

Jean

Itinerary of a Spoiled Child

Itinerary of a Spoiled Child

Movie • 1988

Pierre Duvivier, Albert's father

No Pockets in a Shroud

No Pockets in a Shroud

Movie • 1974

Laurence

Young Love

Young Love

Movie • 1951

Jean Bompart

Plucking the Daisy

Plucking the Daisy

Movie • 1956

Daniel Roy

Les Dents longues

Les Dents longues

Movie • 1953

Louis Commandeur

The Suspended Vocation

The Suspended Vocation

Movie • 1978

Malagrida

La Ronde

La Ronde

Movie • 1950

Alfred, le jeune homme

The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck

The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck

Movie • 1991

Roland Grumaud

The Moment of Truth

The Moment of Truth

Movie • 1952

Daniel Prévost

Line of Demarcation

Line of Demarcation

Movie • 1966

Doctor Jacques Lafaye

Strangers in the House

Strangers in the House

Movie • 1942

(uncredited)

Soyez les bienvenus

Soyez les bienvenus

Movie • 1942

Her First Affair

Her First Affair

Movie • 1941

Chauveau-Laplace (uncredited)

Radio Surprises

Radio Surprises

Movie • 1940

Extra (uncredited)

On Trial

On Trial

Movie • 1954

Léonard Maurizius

The Little Ones of the Flower Platform

The Little Ones of the Flower Platform

Movie • 1944

(uncredited)

Woman of Rome

Woman of Rome

Movie • 1954

Mino

La Nuit de Sybille

La Nuit de Sybille

Movie • 1947

Stany

The Woman in Red

The Woman in Red

Movie • 1947

Saladin

Men, Women: A User's Manual

Men, Women: A User's Manual

Movie • 1996

le veuf

The Hell of Lost Pilots

The Hell of Lost Pilots

Movie • 1949

Lieutenant Villeneuve

The Children

The Children

Movie • 1985

Enrico

Venom and Eternity

Venom and Eternity

Movie • 1952

Self

Hitch-Hike

Hitch-Hike

Movie • 1962

le comédien qui répète "Cyrano"

Martin Roumagnac

Martin Roumagnac

Movie • 1946

Le surveillant du collège

Three Days to Live

Three Days to Live

Movie • 1958

Simon Belin

Rendezvous in July

Rendezvous in July

Movie • 1949

Lucien Bonnard

Obsession

Obsession

Movie • 1997

Xavier Favre

Warrior Spirit

Warrior Spirit

Movie • 1994

John Ball

Lovers' Net

Lovers' Net

Movie • 1955

Pierre Roubier

Black Sun

Black Sun

Movie • 1966

Guy Rodier

Uncertain Verification

Uncertain Verification

Movie • 1965

(archive footage)

Mirror

Mirror

Movie • 1947

Charles

Killing Cars

Killing Cars

Movie • 1986

Kellermann

L'Enquête du 58

L'Enquête du 58

Movie • 1945

The Sultans

The Sultans

Movie • 1966

Léo

Dandin

Dandin

Movie • 1988

Monsieur de Sotenville

Coup de jeune

Coup de jeune

Movie • 1993

Gaudeamus at 70

Roulez jeunesse !

Roulez jeunesse !

Movie • 1993

Jean Moulinier

The summer of all sorrows

The summer of all sorrows

Movie • 1989

papy

Carthage in Flames

Carthage in Flames

Movie • 1960

Phegor

Shadows of Adultery

Shadows of Adultery

Movie • 1961

Eric Kraemmer

Edward and Caroline

Edward and Caroline

Movie • 1951

Edouard Mortier

Arrête de ramer, t'attaques la falaise !

Arrête de ramer, t'attaques la falaise !

Movie • 1979

Don Gomez

Dirty Hands

Dirty Hands

Movie • 1951

Hugo

Rue de l'estrapade

Rue de l'estrapade

Movie • 1953

Robert

A Friend Will Come Tonight

A Friend Will Come Tonight

Movie • 1946

Pierre Ribault

Les Bidochon

Les Bidochon

Movie • 1996

Le père Bidochon

Signé Furax

Signé Furax

Movie • 1981

Broutechoux

Ghost with Driver

Ghost with Driver

Movie • 1996

Le passeur (Le guide céleste)

Witness Out of Hell

Witness Out of Hell

Movie • 1967

Bora Petrović

The Police Serve the Citizens?

The Police Serve the Citizens?

Movie • 1973

Brera

Swedish Fly Girls

Swedish Fly Girls

Movie • 1971

André

There's Always a Price Tag

There's Always a Price Tag

Movie • 1957

Robert Montillon

Adorable Creatures

Adorable Creatures

Movie • 1952

André Noblet

Love in a Hot Climate

Love in a Hot Climate

Movie • 1954

Ricardo Garcia

This Desired Body

This Desired Body

Movie • 1959

Guillaume Féraud

À belles dents

À belles dents

Movie • 1966

Bernard

Une femme d'action

Une femme d'action

Movie • 1997

Charles

An Affair of States

An Affair of States

Movie • 1966

Ballard

Too Many Lovers

Too Many Lovers

Movie • 1957

Alain Cartier

Schwüle Tage

Schwüle Tage

Movie • 1978

Vater

Guy de Maupassant

Guy de Maupassant

Movie • 1982

Gustave

Three Girls in Paris

Three Girls in Paris

Movie • 1963

Raymond

Far from Dallas

Far from Dallas

Movie • 1972

Jean

Blitz

Blitz

Movie • 1985

Kellerman

Public Opinion

Public Opinion

Movie • 1954

Paolo Jaier

Slogan

Slogan

Movie • 1969

Evelyne's father

Lucrèce

Lucrèce

Movie • 1943

College student

Règlements de compte

Règlements de compte

Movie • 1963

Nicky

The Boy and the Ball and the Hole in the Wall

The Boy and the Ball and the Hole in the Wall

Movie • 1965

Gunther Smith

La Jalousie

La Jalousie

Movie • 1976

Albert Blondel

Pétition

Pétition

Movie • 1987

Stanek

Voice of Silence

Voice of Silence

Movie • 1953

L'ancien prisonnier

Royal Affairs in Versailles

Royal Affairs in Versailles

Movie • 1953

Jean Collinet

Torticola versus Frankensberg

Torticola versus Frankensberg

Movie • 1952

The Man who sleeps in a Coffin

Mauvaise fille

Mauvaise fille

Movie • 1991

Fernand

Ariane

Ariane

Movie • 1974

The comedian

Sadistic Hallucinations

Sadistic Hallucinations

Movie • 1969

Charles

The Temptation of Barbizon

The Temptation of Barbizon

Movie • 1946

Michel

The Hour of Truth

The Hour of Truth

Movie • 1965

Davod

Les Cadets de l'océan

Les Cadets de l'océan

Movie • 1945

Philippe Demantes

Follow Me Young Man

Follow Me Young Man

Movie • 1958

Michel Corbier

God Needs Men

God Needs Men

Movie • 1950

Joseph Le Berre

Dialogues of the Exiles

Dialogues of the Exiles

Movie • 1975

Public Security

Public Security

Movie • 1987

Martino Morando

Via Montenapoleone

Via Montenapoleone

Movie • 1987

padre di Elena

The Truce

The Truce

Movie • 1968

Arno

De force avec d'autres

De force avec d'autres

Movie • 1993

L'autre lui-même

The Cheerful Squadron

The Cheerful Squadron

Movie • 1954

Frédéric d'Héricourt

Mort en fraude

Mort en fraude

Movie • 1957

Paul Horcier

I'll Get Back to Kandara

I'll Get Back to Kandara

Movie • 1956

Bernard Cormière

Julie la rousse

Julie la rousse

Movie • 1959

Édouard Lavigne / Jean Lavigne

The Season for Love

The Season for Love

Movie • 1961

Jacques Saint-Ford

Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits

Movie • 1994

Le père de Fiona

How to Make a French Dish

How to Make a French Dish

Movie • 1964

Raymond

Runaways

Runaways

Movie • 1995

Bruno

Miquette

Miquette

Movie • 1940

Réveille-toi, chérie

Réveille-toi, chérie

Movie • 1961

Masure

Stain on the Snow

Stain on the Snow

Movie • 1954

Frank Friedmayer

Working with Max Ophuls: Daniel Gélin on "Le Plaisir"

Working with Max Ophuls: Daniel Gélin on "Le Plaisir"

Movie • 2008

Self (archive footage)

Working with Max Ophuls: Daniel Gélin on "La Ronde"

Working with Max Ophuls: Daniel Gélin on "La Ronde"

Movie • 2008

Self (archive footage)

In the Mouth of the Wolf

In the Mouth of the Wolf

Movie • 1961

Un drogué

À l'abri des regards indiscrets

À l'abri des regards indiscrets

Movie • 2002

Abdel-Robert

Max Ophüls - Den schönen guten Waren

Max Ophüls - Den schönen guten Waren

Movie • 1990

Self

The Murdered Model

The Murdered Model

Movie • 1948

Léopold

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Movie • 1987

Self (archive footage)

Good Evening Paris

Good Evening Paris

Movie • 1956

Georges Bernier / Self

The Slave

The Slave

Movie • 1953

Michel Landa

Three Etc.'s and the Colonel

Three Etc.'s and the Colonel

Movie • 1960

Lieutenant Miguel Villard

Destroy, She Said

Destroy, She Said

Movie • 1969

Bernard Alione

La légende cruelle

La légende cruelle

Movie • 1951

Narrator (voice)

The Servant

The Servant

Movie • 1970

Dr. Robert Marbois

The Most Beautiful Month

The Most Beautiful Month

Movie • 1968

Le capitaine

Max par Marcel: Lola Montès

Max par Marcel: Lola Montès

Movie • 2009

Self (archive footage)

Double Assassinat dans la rue Morgue

Double Assassinat dans la rue Morgue

Movie • 1973

Dupin

Cherchez l'idole

Cherchez l'idole

Movie • 1964

Self, guest at Sylvie Vartan's show (uncredited)

Maid in Paris

Maid in Paris

Movie • 1956

Antoine du Merlet

Portuguese Vacation

Portuguese Vacation

Movie • 1963

Daniel

Un enfant dans la ville

Un enfant dans la ville

Movie • 1971

Gustave, the bartender

Promotion canapé

Promotion canapé

Movie • 1990

Le responsable des inspecteurs de la Justice

Poorly Extinguished Fires

Poorly Extinguished Fires

Movie • 1994

The gentleman from the beach

La Discorde

La Discorde

Movie • 1978

Bernard

Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances

Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances

Movie • 1954

Narrator (voice)

Chicago Digest

Chicago Digest

Movie • 1951

Coffino

Les murs

Les murs

Movie • 1964

François Bonjean

Un delitto

Un delitto

Movie • 1984

Judge Freshville

Urgent ou à quoi bon exécuter des projets puisque le projet est en lui-même une jouissance suffisante

Urgent ou à quoi bon exécuter des projets puisque le projet est en lui-même une jouissance suffisante

Movie • 1977

Self

Un type bien

Un type bien

Movie • 1991

Docteur Avril

Belmondo: The Incorrigible

Belmondo: The Incorrigible

Movie • 2022

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

TV • 1975

Self

Arsène Lupin

Arsène Lupin

TV • 1971

Daubrecq

Midi Première

Midi Première

TV • 1975

Self

The Legacy of Guldenburgs

The Legacy of Guldenburgs

TV • 1987

Gregor Baschkurin

Le Tiroir secret

Le Tiroir secret

TV • 1986

Jean-Pierre Jolivet

Le Grand Échiquier

Le Grand Échiquier

TV • 1972

Self

Marc et Sophie

Marc et Sophie

TV • 1987

Edmond, le beau-père

Numéro un

Numéro un

TV • 1975

Self

Système 2

Système 2

TV • 1975

Self

Cinépanorama

Cinépanorama

TV • 1956

Self

Les Saintes Chéries

Les Saintes Chéries

TV • 1965

Pierre Lagarde

Les Nuls, l'émission

Les Nuls, l'émission

TV • 1990

Self - Guest

Tarendol

Tarendol

TV • 1980

Bazalo

Der große Preis

Der große Preis

TV • 1974

Self

Reflets de Cannes

Reflets de Cannes

TV • 1954

Self

Sacrée Soirée

Sacrée Soirée

TV • 1987

Self

Olga e i suoi figli

Olga e i suoi figli

TV • 1985

Il primario

Maigret

Maigret

TV • 1991

Le père Nicolas

Iran: Days of Crisis

Iran: Days of Crisis

TV • 1991

Shah