Joseph Isidore Samson


Joseph Isidore Samson was a 19th-century French actor and playwright.

Life

Samson was born at Saint-Denis, near Paris, the son of a restaurateur. He took first prize for comedy at the Conservatoire in 1812, married an actress with whom he had toured in France, and joined the Comédie-Française in 1826. There he remained until 1863, creating more than 250 parts.
In 1829 Samson became a professor at the Conservatoire, under whom Rachel Félix, Rose Cheri, the Brohans and others were trained. He wrote several comedies, among them La Belle-Mère et le gendre, and La Famille poisson. Samson died in Paris on 28 March 1871.

Works

;Theatre
;Other
  • Collection des rapports faits par M. Samson, de l'Association de secours mutuels entre les artistes dramatiques, 1851
  • Mémoires de Samson, de la Comédie française, 1862
  • L'Art théâtral, 2 vols, 1863–1865