Christian Duvaleix(1923-1979)
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
A "funny face", Christian Duvaleix was for nearly four decades a
faithful companion of French light théâtre
(Alfred Adam's "Sylvie et le fantôme" in
1942, Sacha Guitry 's "Deburau" in 1950,
Gaby Bruyère's "Ange pur" in 1966),
music-hall (he was a member of
Robert Dhéry's famous company of loonies
"Les Branquignols" from 1948), stand-up comedy and radio. He was also
present in many a movie comedy,
(Robert Dhéry's
Branquignol (1949),
The American Beauty (1961)
and
Vos gueules les mouettes! (1974);
Norbert Carbonnaux's
Les corsaires du Bois de Boulogne (1954)),
imposing a rather subtle style of comic effects. He also appeared in
three of Jean-Pierre Mocky's movies,
but paradoxically enough, not in comedies,
Un couple (1960),
Solo (1970) and
Un linceul n'a pas de poches (1974).
And he was often chosen for supporting roles in international
English-speaking productions such as
Paris When It Sizzles (1964)
and Isadora (1968) for his typically
French looks. Born in Tunis in 1923, he was the son of another
comedian, Albert Duvaleix and the father
of painter Jean-Pierre Duvaleix. The 'Like Father LIke Son' chain was
not really broken with Jean-Pierre, since both Albert and Christian had
been amateur artists themselves. Christian Duvaleix was only 56 when he
died. He is buried beside his father in the cemetery of Garches, near
Paris.
