In Remembrance: Jean-Claude Brialy

     Jean-Claude Brialy, the French actor who worked with numerous directors closely identified with the New Wave film movement, has passed away on May 30, 2007 in Paris, France. He was 74.

     Born on March 30, 1933 in Aumale, Algeria, Brialy’s family moved often while he was growing up due to his father’s military career. After studying drama at a Strasbourg, France conservatory, he began to work as a stage actor. He began his film career appearing in Jacques Rivette's short Le coup de Berger (Fool’s Mate, 1956), as well as numerous small roles in such films as Un Amor De Poche (Girl In His Pocket, 1957) and Ascenseur Pour L’echafaud (Elevator To The Gallows, 1958), Louis Malle’s debut feature film.

     Brialy’s first major role came in 1958 with Le Beau Serge (Handsome Serge) for the New Wave director Claude Chabrol. For playing the proper and somewhat timid titular character, Brialy received rave critical notices. He teamed with Chabrol the following year for Les Cousins (The Cousins), in which he played a hedonistic dandy, to similar critical acclaim.

     Brialy also worked with such New Wave directors as Jean-Luc Goddard’s Une Femme Est Une Femme (A Woman Is A Woman, 1961), Eric Rohmer in Le Genou De Claire (Claire’s Knee, 1970) and Luis Bunuel in Le Fantome De La Liberte (The Phantom Of Liberty, 1974).

     In addition to acting, Brialy also gave writing a directing a try. He would write the screenplays for four of the six theatrical films he directed. He also directed several made-for-television films. He also continued to work in theatre, acting and directing productions between film work.

     Highly critical of his own career, Brialy once stated that only 30 of his some 150 film roles to be worthwhile.