Jean Servais

Jean Servais was a Belgian film and stage actor. He acted in many 20th century French cinema productions, from the 1930s through the early 1970s.
He was married to actress Dominique Blanchar and later to Gilberte Graillot.

Career

Servais trained at the Brussels Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, where he won the Second Prize. His acting skills came to the attention of Raymond Rouleau, and he was hired at the Théâtre du Marais, where he acted in Le mal de jeunesse, which was successful in Brussels and in Paris. He was also a member of Jean-Louis Barrault's theatre company.
His first film role was as the simple country dweller who was the victim of an error by the justice system in the film Criminel, directed by Jack Forrester. Servais's film career continued in the 1930s with roles in films such as La Chanson De L'Adieu and La Vie Est Magnifique. After a break in acting during World War II, he returned to the screen with roles in films such as La Danse De Mort.
In the 1950s, he appeared in the crime drama Rififi, which François Truffaut ranked as the best film noir, directed by American Jules Dassin, in which he played a leader of a gang of jewel thieves.
He appeared in another film directed by Jules Dassin in 1957, He Who Must Die (Celui qui doit mourir). He also appeared in a film written and directed by Luis Buñuel, La fièvre monte à El Pao.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Servais rejoined the Renaud-Barrault theatre troupe for several plays, including La Répétition ou l'Amour puni, Volpone, and Marat/Sade.
In the 1960s, Servais took small character roles in popular international fare such as The Longest Day, an epic recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy, and That Man from Rio. Other films in which he acted include Le Sahara brûle, Un Soir Par Hasard, and Avec la peau des autres.
He had roles in several films in the early 1970s, such as The Devil's Nightmare, an Italian horror series, and Le Protecteur, about a recently released prisoner who tries to find his daughter who has fallen into the underworld of prostitution.

Selected filmography

Films with roles played by Jean Servais include:Mater dolorosa Criminal – Bob GrahamYouth – PierreThe Faceless Voice – GérardLes Misérables – Marius PontmercyAngèle – AlbinAmok – JanSong of Farewell – Frédéric ChopinLast Hour – Jean BenoitBourrasque – Marcel BardetRose – Jean SergentValse éternelle – Pierre KramerUne fille à papa – Henri Guiraud

The Forsaken – PrieurGigolette – Docteur Jacques Bernais' – l'ingénieur Philippe Dancourt
' – Maxime / Massimo' – Le docteur MaireQuartier sans soleil – Jo
' – PaulThose of the Sky – MonvalFromont jeune et Risler aîné – Fromont jeunePatricia – Fabien' – AndersFinance noire – François CarréMahlia the Mestiza – Henri de Roussière -le fils des parents adoptifs de Mahlia
' – Le vicomte Roland de la Chaume – un oisifThe Seventh Door – Le chauffeur du carPrelude to Madness – Enrico Miller – il violinistaThe Dance of Death – KurtUne si jolie petite plage – FredMademoiselle de La Ferté – Lord OsborneLe furet – StadlerThe Glass Castle Une si jolie petite plage – Laurent Bertal Le Plaisir – L'ami de Jean / La voix de Maupassant Mina de Vanghel – RuppertRue de l'Estrapade – Jacques ChristianTourbillon – Fred MaurinLe Chevalier de la nuit – Le châtelainLes crimes de l'amour – Ruppert Rififi – Tony le StéphanoisThe Heroes Are Tired – François SéverinLe couteau sous la gorge – Marc HourtinThe Lebanese Mission – Maj. Charles HobsonHe Who Must Die – Priest FotisThe Wheel – Pierre PelletierSend a Woman When the Devil Fails – Henri GodotTamango – Doctor CorotThat Night – André ReverdyLes Jeux dangereux – Fournier, le détective privéLa Fièvre Monte à El Pao – Alejandro GualMurder at 45 R.P.M. – Maurice FaugèresLe Sahara brûle – WagnerWorld in My Pocket – GypoLes Menteurs – Paul DutrazLe jeu de la vérité – Jean-François VérateThe Corsican Brothers – Gerolamo SagonaLe Crime ne paie pas – Ernest Vaughan The Longest Day – Rear Admiral Robert JaujardThe Cage – Rispal' – Commissaire Beronnet
' – PiortRififi in the City – Maurice LeprinceThat Man from Rio – Prof. Norbert Catalan' – Dr. RousselThomas the Impostor – Pasquel-DuportLost Command – General MeliesAvec la peau des autres – WegeltQualcuno ha tradito – JeanCoplan Saves His Skin – SaroghuBlack Jesus – CommanderBetter a Widow – Baron MisceniThey Came to Rob Las Vegas – GinoPeau d'âne – La voix de The Devil's Nightmare – Baron von Rhoneberg
' – De Gournais, le directeur de la galerieL'Affaire Crazy Capo – Joseph Marchesi, dit Crazy CapoLe Protecteur – AncelinUn tueur, un flic, ainsi soit-il... – Forzi