Discrete star of cinema and theater giant, Michel Aumont died at the age of 82

He has brilliantly played the role of Harpagon in the "house Molière" for more than twenty years. Actor Michel Aumont, honorary member of the Comédie-Française who also excelled in supporting roles in the cinema, died Wednesday, August 28 at the age of 82 years.

His name is associated with more than 150 films and serials, and a hundred plays. A discreet star of French cinema, Michel Aumont, has had a huge career. From Chabrol to Tavernier via Francis Veber, he was offered many supporting roles in which he was known to be excellent.

"Huge popular comedian, embodying both mocking and humanistic characters, the 7th art loses one of his irreplaceable talents," summed up Alain Terzian, president of the Academy of Caesar, who paid tribute to him.

Lovers of the scene

The cinema did not give him roles of young first, certainly, but since the 60s, the actor has also, and above all, been a giant of the theater. Perfectly embodying Molière's Avare for 20 years in the Comédie-Française, where he wore the Harpagon costume, he was, according to actor Christian Clavier, "probably the most exceptional of the 'Avare' ever seen at the French comedy."

A lot of sadness for the disappearance of #MichelAumont, a delicious man and a great actor, probably the most exceptional "Avare" ever seen at the Comédie-Française. Goodbye Artist ...

Smile a little weary, delicate look ... Michel Aumont was a modest man and full of humor, fell in love with the scene by following from his youngest age at the Avignon Festival his mother actress, Hélène Gerber, and playing roles of child in small shows.

Born on October 15, 1936 in Paris, he entered the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts at the age of 18 and, just two years later, obtained a first prize in modern comedy before being hired at the Comédie-Française.

Michel Aumont played everything

On the big screen as well as on stage, Michel Aumont knew how to let contradictory emotions filter and give a deeply human touch to his characters.

On his site, the "house of Molière" said of him that it belonged "to the brotherhood of the comedians of the discomfort, ready and able to interpret the most demanding jobs of the in-between, while at the same time heartbreaking or mocking, natural or composed, disturbing or amusing. "

In cinema especially, Michel Aumont had been called to play a cascade of supporting roles, often police commissioner, lawyer or politician.

Awarded several Molières for his roles in the theater, his best memory on stage is "Richard III", in Avignon in 1972, where he triumphs by taking over the role played by Robert Hirsch: "My greatest memory and my greatest fear" he will say.

From Shakespeare to Woody Allen, from Feydeau and Beckett to the greatest directors who asked for it, Michel Aumont played everything.

Lack of confidence in him

The Minister of Culture, Franck Riester, hailed "a popular actor who had conquered the heart of the French, from theater to cinema with that discreet generosity that filled each of his roles (...), he had the ease big ones".

Michel Aumont was a popular actor who had conquered the hearts of the French, moving from theater to cinema with the discreet generosity that filled each of his roles. Honorary member of the @ComedieFr, he had the ease of the big ones. We will miss him very much. pic.twitter.com/uENpVADtoY

It was after shooting for television, in "The ladies of the coast" that Michel Aumont embarks on the cinema, at the age of 35 years. With "La Femme en bleu" (1973), Michel Deville gives him his first acting role. The first of a long series among which "Nada" Claude Chabrol (1974), "spoiled children" (1977), "A Sunday in the country" (1984) Bertrand Tavernier or "Edith and Marcel" Claude Lelouch (1983).

Complete artist, Michel Aumont also marked the spirits by his comic fiber, incarnating a commissioner in the delightful "Ripoux contre ripoux" in front of the camera of Francis Veber, with whom he will have a long collaboration, but also in his hilarious role as head of the protocol in "Royal Palace!" (2005) by Valérie Lemercier.

His main trait is "naivety," he told the Express, admitting to suffer from a lack of confidence in him "bordering on cowardice". He added, "I did not become a star, but at my level, I was pretty successful."

With AFP