Gérard Depardieu was born in Châteauroux, Indre, France, to Anne Jeanne
Josèphe (Marillier) and René Maxime Lionel Depardieu, who was a metal
worker and fireman. Young delinquent and wanderer in the past,
Depardieu started his acting career at the small traveling theatre
"Café de la Gare", along with
Patrick Dewaere and
Miou-Miou. After minor roles in cinema, at
last, he got his chance in
Bertrand Blier's
Die Ausgebufften (1974). That film
established a new type of hero in the French cinema and the actor's
popularity grew enormously. Later, he diversified his screen image and
became the leading French actor of the 80s and 90s. He was twice
awarded a César as Best Actor for
Die letzte Metro (1980) and
Cyrano von Bergerac (1990),
also received an Oscar nomination for "Cyrano" and a number of awards
at international film festivals. In 1996, he was distinguished by the
highest French title of "Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur". He married
Elisabeth Depardieu in 1971, and
they divorced in 1996; she appeared with him in
Jean Florette (1986) and
Manons Rache (1986); their
children Guillaume Depardieu and
Julie Depardieu are both actors.
