Pierre Richard

In France and in Germany, he went down in film history with "The tall Blond man with one black Shoe". That is the name of a 1972 comedy by Yves Robert, and Pierre Richard played in this secret service parody a talented violinist who is thrust into the role of a dangerous agent. The rather gentle comedy became a box office success in Germany not least because the film was recut and "spiced up" with a decidedly flippant dubbing (by Rainer Brandt). The film won the Silver Bear award at the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival in 1973, and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film by the U.S. National Board of Review. Pierre Richard's (born 1934 in Valenciennes) career began in his native France in 1967: he starred with Philippe Noiret in "Blissful Alexander", while in the 1980s he had success as a friendly, gentle contemporary alongside Gérard Depardieu - and co-founded the genre of "buddy movies". He has directed several films himself. In recent years he has worked as a narrator and dubbing artist, and he can also be admired in some beautiful roles as an old man.