Jean Dasté


Jean Dasté was a French actor and theatre director.
Although Jean Dasté is best known for his career on stage as both an actor and director in a variety of works including those by Shakespeare and Molière, he made his first appearance on screen in a 1932 Jean Renoir film, and 57 years later appeared in his final film at the age of 85. He played also the main character in two Jean Vigo movies, L'Atalante and Zéro de conduite. Later, he worked also with Alain Resnais and François Truffaut.

Personal life

He married Danish-born actress Marie-Hélène Copeau, the daughter of the influential French writer, editor, and drama critic Jacques Copeau and Agnès Thomsen. His daughter, Catherine Dasté, married Graeme Allwright, both were students at the Old Vic Theatre School in London In 1947,Jean Dasté became the founding director of the Comedie de St.-Etienne stage company in the town of Saint-Étienne in the Loire department. A theatre, La Comédie de Saint-Étienne, with its own acting school, is located in a square, Place Jean Dasté, named in his honour.

Filmography as actor

Boudu sauvé des eaux - The studentZéro de conduite - Surveillant HuguetL'Atalante - JeanLe Crime de monsieur Lange - The Model makerSous les yeux d'occident - GeorgesLa vie est à nous - L'instituteur/TeacherLa Grande Illusion - The teacherLe Temps des cerises - Le fils du directeur / The director's sonRemorques - Le radioCroisières sidérales - PépinPicpus - Le clercUne étoile au soleil Adieu Léonard - Le raccommodeur de porcelaineLa Grande Meute - L'huissierLe Mystère Saint-Val - L'huissierMuriel ou Le temps d'un retour - L'homme à la chèvre / The Goat ManHeaven on One's Head - M. BazinLa guerre est finie - Le chef du réseau clandestin / ChiefZ - Illya CosteL'Enfant sauvage - Professor Philippe PinelBeau Masque - CuvrotLes Jours gris - Le vieil hommeLe Petit Marcel - BergerLe Corps de mon ennemi - Le gardien du chantier / KeeperL'Homme qui aimait les femmes - Docteur BicardLa Chambre verte - Bernard HumbertUtopia - JeanMolière - The grandfatherLa Tortue sur le dos - Bad-tempered invalidRue du Pied de Grue - TontonMon oncle d'Amérique - M. LouisUne semaine de vacances - Le père de LaurenceLe Crime d'amour - L'homme de l'asileLes Îles - JeanL'Amour à mort - Dr. RozierLe Moine et la Sorcière - ChristopheNuit docile - Le chauffeur de taxiNoce blanche - Le conciergeProjections - Le propriétaire de la salle de cinéma

Additional resources

  • Dasté, Jean. Voyage d'un comédien. Paris: Stock, 1977.
  • Mignon, Paul-Louis. Jean Dasté. Paris: Les Presses Littéraires de France, 1953.
  • Rousset, Hughues, editor. Jean Dasté: un homme de théâtre dans le siècle. L'Etrat: Actes graphiques, 2015.