Remembering Philippe Noiret

Philippe Noiret was born on Ocotber 1, 1930 in Lille, Nord, France. An indifferent scholar he failed several time to graduate college so turned to acting. He trained at the Centre Dramatique de l'Ouest and toured with the Théâtre National Populaire for seven years. There, he met Monique Chaumette, whom he married in 1962. During that time he developed a career as a nightclub comedian in a duo act with Jean-Pierre Darras. Philippe's first film appearance was in 1949's “Gigi”. After playing second leads in Georges Franju's “Thérèse Desqueyroux” romantic adventure, he became a regular on the French screen, without being cast in major roles until "La vie de château" directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau in 1966. He became a star in France with Yves Robert's “Alexandre le Bienheureux” iin 1967. After that he devoted himself entirely to film roles. Noiret became an international star appearing in Hitchcock's “Topaz” (1969), Peter Yates' “Murphy's War” (1971) and probably his most remembered role as Alfredo in “Cinema Paradiso” (1989) and Pablo Neruda in “Il Postino” (1994). Philippe appeared in only one Euro-western “Don't Touch the White Woman” (1973). Noiret died of cancer on November 23, 2006 in Paris. Today we remember Philippe Noiret on what would have been his 80th birthday.