
Bourvil
Acting
André Robert Raimbourg (27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil, and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in the films Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). For his performance in Le Corniaud, he won a Special Diploma at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival. Bourvil's father was killed in the First World War before he was born. As a result, he spent his entire childhood in the village of Bourville, from which he took his stage name. He married Jeanne Lefrique on 23 January 1943. After a battle with Kahler's syndrome, which attacks the bone marrow, he died at the age of 53. He is buried in Montainville, Yvelines. In his comic performances Bourvil principally played roles of gentle and well-meaning characters who were often a bit obtuse or naïve, such as his roles opposite the hyperactive, dishonest and bossy ones played by Louis de Funès. Bourvil's characters not only managed to make viewers laugh, but also to save themselves, often unwittingly, from the Machiavellian designs of his adversaries. Bourvil was, however, also capable of more dramatic roles such as the handyman in L'Arbre de Noël (1969). In this role he observes the relationship between a man he works for and the young son who has fallen ill. The audience can identify with the character played by Bourvil, just as they can in his comic roles, so often as a simple man. One can also note his role of Monsieur Thénardier in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (1958), and his penultimate role as the policeman Mattei in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Cercle rouge (1970). In March 1948, Bourvil took part in the complete recording of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann with artists of the Paris Opéra-Comique conducted by André Cluytens, playing the four 'servant' roles. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bourvil, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
TV Shows(4)
Movies(74)

Bourvil : le rire et la tendresse
Self (Footage Archives)
2025

Les Rois de la comédie
Self (archive footage)
2023

La Traversée de Bourvil
Self (archive footage)
2022

Belmondo: The Incorrigible
2022

A Night at the Opera
2020

Lino Ventura, la part intime
Self (archive footage)
2018

Bourvil, un homme vrai
Self (archive footage)
2016

Le Tournage du Corniaud… Tout sauf un long fleuve tranquille
Self (archive footage)
2015

Bourvil, du comique paysan au génie de l'acteur
Self (archive footage)
2015

Jean Gabin, le dernier des géants
Self (archive footage)
2015

Bourvil : Bien... si bien
Self (archive footage)
2009

Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)
Self (archive footage)
2009

Clodo
Gaston (uncredited)
1971

Le Cercle Rouge
Commissioner François Mattei
1970

Atlantic Wall
Léon Duchemin, Norman restaurateur
1970

The Stud
William Chaminade
1970

The Christmas Tree
Verdun
1969

Monte Carlo or Bust!
Monsieur Dupont
1969

The Brain
Anatole
1969

The Big Wash
Armand Saint-Just
1968

The Hotshots
Jules Auguste Duroc
1968

Les Arnaud
Judge Henri Arnaud
1967

Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!
Augustin Bouvet
1966

Three Disordered Children
Eugène Laporte, entrepreneur de travaux publics
1966

The Wise Guys
Hector Valentin
1965

The Big Swag
Louis Bourdin, metro ticket puncher and writer
1965

The Dirty Game
Lalande
1965

The Sucker
Antoine Maréchal
1965

The Big Scare
1964

La Bonne Planque
Antoine Perrin
1964

My Wife's Husband
André Colombey
1963

Thank Heaven for Small Favors
Georges Lachaunaye
1963

Josefa's Loot
Pierre Corneille
1963

Don't Tempt the Devil
Albert Gaudet, investigating judge
1963

Un clair de Lune à Maubeuge
Le chanteur à la télévision
1962

Les Culottes rouges
Fendard
1962

Tartarin de Tarascon
Priest who reinflates the tire of his moped
1962

The Longest Day
Mayor of Colleville
1962

The Busybody
André Loriot
1961

All the Gold in the World
Mathieu Dumont / Antoine Dumont / Martial Dumont
1961

Fortunate
Noël Fortunat
1960

Captain Blood
Baladin Cogolin
1960

The Hunchback of Paris
Passepoil
1959

The Green Mare
Honoré Haudouin
1959

Way of Youth
Charles Michaud, père
1959

Serenade of Texas
Me Jérôme Quilleboeuf
1958

Sunday Encounter
Jean Brévent
1958

The Mirror Has Two Faces
Pierre Tardivet
1958

Les Misérables
Thénardier
1958

The Singer from Mexico
Bilou
1957

La Traversée de Paris
Marcel Martin, unemployed taxi driver
1956

The Hussars
le trompette Flicot Jean-Louis
1955

Le Fil à la patte
Camille Bouzin, clerc de notaire et auteur de chansonnettes lestes
1954

Cadet Rousselle
Jérôme Baguindet
1954

April Fools' Day
Émile Dupuy
1954

Royal Affairs in Versailles
Museum guard
1953

The Three Musketeers
Planchet
1953

One Hundred Francs Per Second
Self
1953

Crazy for Love
Hippolyte Lemoine, neveu d'Augustine
1952
Grrr....
Lui-même
1952

Alone in Paris
Henri Milliard, le jeune marié campagnard
1951

Mr. Peek-a-Boo
Léon Dutilleul
1951

The Prize
Isidore Pastouret
1950

Miquette
Urbain de la Tour-Mirande
1950

Le Roi Pandore
Léon Ménard, le gendarme
1950

Wear His Heart on His Sleeve
Leon Ménard
1949

White as Snow
Léon Ménard
1948

By the Window
Gaston 'Pilou'
1948

Not So Stupid
Léon Ménard
1947
Studio en folies
Self
1947

Hanged Man's Farm
Le bourrelier, le chanteur à la noce
1945

A Star to the Sun
(uncredited)
1943

Sideral Cruises
Scientist
1942

Foutraque (!)
himself


