Serge Reggiani

Serge Reggiani was an Italian-French actor and singer.

Biography

He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and moved to France with his parents at the age of eight.
After studying acting at the Conservatoire des arts cinématographiques, he was discovered by Jean Cocteau and appeared in the wartime production of Les Parents terribles. He then left Paris to join the French Resistance.
His first feature film was Les portes de la nuit, released in 1946. He went on to perform in 80 films in total, including Casque d'or, Les Misérables, Tutti a casa, Le Doulos, Il Gattopardo, La terrazza, The Pianist.
Reggiani also triumphed in the theatre in 1959 with his performance in Jean-Paul Sartre's play Les Séquestrés d'Altona. In 1961, Reggiani co-starred with Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier in the film Paris Blues, filmed on location in Paris.
In 1965, at the age of 43, he began a second career as a singer, with the help of Simone Signoret and her husband Yves Montand, and later with the assistance of the French singer Barbara. Reggiani became one of the more acclaimed performers of French chanson, and although he was in his 40s, his rugged image made him popular with both younger and older listeners. His best-known songs include Les loups sont entrés dans Paris and Sarah , the latter written by Georges Moustaki. He regularly sang songs by Boris Vian. His young fans identified with his left-wing ideals and anti-militarism, most notably during the student revolts in France in 1968. With age, he became acclaimed as being one of the better interpreters of the chanson and for bringing the poems of Rimbaud, Apollinaire, and Prévert to new audiences.
From 1980, when his son died, Reggiani struggled with alcoholism and depression. In 1995, however, he made a comeback to singing, giving a few concerts despite his deteriorated health and personal distress, the last one being held as late as the spring of 2004.
In later life, he became a painter and gave a number of exhibitions of his works.
Serge Reggiani died in Paris of a heart attack at the age of 82. He is buried in Montparnasse Cemetery.

Selected filmography

Boys' School – Un élève Conflict – Night in December – Un figurantSaturnin de Marseille Strange Inheritance – Bob ÉloiLe carrefour des enfants perdus – JorisFrançois Villon – François VillonStar Without Light – Gaston LansacGates of the Night – Guy Sénéchal

Coincidences – Jean MénétrierLa fleur de l'âge Manù il contrabbandiere – Manuel Ambrosini, detto 'Manù'Under the Cards – ManuThe Lovers Of Verona – Angelo Manon – Leon LescautThe Mystery of the Yellow Room – Joseph RouletabilleReturn to Life – Louis, le mari de la jeune allemande The Sinners – Pierre MassotThe Perfume of the Lady in Black – Joseph RouletabilleLa Ronde – Franz the SoldierOld Boys of Saint-Loup – L'abbé Paul ForestierGood Enough to Eat – Jean-Louis dit LoupSecret People – LouisCasque d'or – Georges MandaRed Shirts – LantiniThe King and the Mockingbird – The chimney sweep Storms – Sergio ParnellThe World Condemns Them – AndréAct of Love – Claude LacaudNapoléon – Lucien BonaparteThe Wicked Go to Hell – RudelThe Doll That Took the Town – Mario GrimaldiÉlisa – Bernard VoisinNot Delivered – Bastien SasseyLes Misérables – EnjolrasThe Stowaway – Alfred MouginsMarie-Octobre – Antoine RougierEverybody Go Home – Assunto CeccarelliParis Blues – Michel "Gypsy" DevigneWarriors Five – LiberoLe Doulos – Maurice FaugelThe Leopard – Don Francisco TumeoL'enfer – Marcel #1Marie-Chantal contre le docteur Kha – IvanovThe 25th Hour – Trajan KorugaThe Last Adventure – The pilotIl giorno della civetta – ParriniedduThe Seven Cervi Brothers – Inmate FerrariArmy of Shadows – The hairdresser' – François NolanTrois milliards sans ascenseur – Pierrot
' – ThiaDon't Touch the White Woman! – The Mad IndianVincent, François, Paul... et les autres – PaulLe Chat et la souris – LechatThe Good and the Bad – Le chef de la résistanceUne fille cousue de fil blanc – JérômeViolette & François – Père de FrançoisSolemn Communion – Le récitant chanteur La terrazza – Sergio' – FouldrouleFantastica – Euclide BrownThe Beekeeper – Sick ManMauvais Sang – CharlieLet Sleeping Cops Lie – Le StéphanoisCoupe-franche – MathieuThere Were Days... and Moons – Sophie's fatherI Hired a Contract Killer – Vic of Vic's French BurgersPlein fer – EmilioDe force avec d'autres – Sergio
' – Dr. LevyLe petit garçon – GermainHéroïnes – MontgolfierThe Pianist – Rossell mayor