Entertainment
French filmmaker and Cinema Paradiso actor Jacques Perrin dies aged 80Sabrina Barr
His 1969 film Z won two Oscars (Picture: Frederic Reglain/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
French filmmaker Jacques Perrin, known for his starring role in the critically-acclaimed film Cinema Paradiso, has died at the age of 80.
The news was confirmed by his family, who released a statement which was sent by the late actor’s son, Mathiew Simonet. No cause of death was given.
‘The family has the immense sadness of informing you of the death of filmmaker Jacques Perrin, who died on Thursday, April 21 in Paris. He passed away peacefully,’ they told Agence France-Presse.
Heartfelt tributes have been made in honour of the actor, who worked on more than 70 films as an actor as well as achieving an accomplished career as a producer.
Cannes Film Festival tweeted a picture of Perrin from Cinema Paradiso, in which he played the adult Salvatore, writing: ‘To remain forever seated next to Jacques Perrin.’
Former president of the festival Gilles Jacob tweeted that he was ‘pure charm’, saying that he ‘succeeded in everything he touched’.
Xavier Beauvois, who directed Perrin in the 2005 film Le Petit Lieutenant, tweeted his admiration for the late star.
‘I admired Jacques Perrin, and then I had the chance to shoot him, his talent, his availability, his kindness meant that after filming I admired him even more,’ he said.
Born in Paris in 1941, Perrin’s first leading role came in 1961, when he starred opposite Claudia Cardinale in Girl with a Suitcase.
Perrin pictured with Claudia Cardinale in Girl With The Suitcase (Picture: Titanus/S G C/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
He also appeared in various military films including The 317th Platoon, Drummer-Crab and A Captain’s Honor, as well as musicals including The Young Girls of Rockefort and Donkey Skin.
Perrin produced and starred in the 1969 film Z, which was nominated for several gongs at the Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film, which it won for the latter.
Perrin’s family said he died ‘peacefully’ (Picture: George Pimentel/FilmMagic)
He appeared in several military films, including Drummer-Crab (Picture: Amlf/Bela Prods/Lira/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
Cinema Paradiso, also known as Nuovo Cinema Paradiso in Italian, saw Perrin play the role of a filmmaker called Salvatore, with Salvatore Cascio depicting him as a child and Marco Leonardo as a teenager.
The movie is frequently regarded as one of the greatest in the history of cinema, winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1989 as well as the Grand Prix du Jury at Cannes Film Festival.
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Several fans of Perrin remembered the powerful performance he delivered in the picture, with one tweeting: ‘Many of us have lived and will live with Cinema Paradiso. Jacques Perrin (adult Toto), passed away today. RIP.’
‘Farewell and rest in peace, Jacques Perrin. An essential centrepiece to two of the greatest films ever, Z and Cinema Paradiso,’ another said.
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Entertainment – Metro
