Bernard Blier (; 11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor.
Life and career
Blier was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time.
His rotund features and premature baldness allowed him to often play cuckolded husbands in his early career. He is notable for being one of France's most versatile and sought-after character actors, performing interchangeably in comedies and dramas. His complete filmography includes 175 titles. He often appeared in Italian films too, particularly in the last decade of his life. He was awarded an Honorary César (the French Oscar) in 1989, 24 days before he died.
Personal life Blier was born in Buenos Aires, the son of Suzanne (Bargy) and Louis Blier. He is the father of director Bertrand Blier. He has appeared in a number of his son's films, most notably Buffet froid (1979). A fictionalised version of him appears in his son's 2022 autobiographical novel Fragile des bronches.
Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes1937Trois... six... neufRaymond RouleauThe MessengerLe chauffeur de NickRaymond RouleauUncreditedGribouillea young manMarc AllégretUncreditedDouble Crime in the Maginot LineFélix GandéraUncreditedWoman of MalaccaMarc AllégretUncreditedThe Green JacketLe fils PinchetRoger Richebé1938GrisouLe fils MéléeMaurice de CanongeAltitude 3.200BenoîtJean Benoît-Lévy and Marie EpsteinThe Curtain RisesPescani, un élève du ConservatoireMarc AllégretThe GutterLe chauffeur de taxiMaurice Lehmann and Claude Autant-LaraHôtel du NordProsperMarcel Carné Final AccordMérotIgnacy Rosenkranz1939Place de la ConcordeBriocheKarel LamačLe Jour Se LèveGastonMarcel CarnéQuartier latinChristian Chamborant Pierre Colombier Alexander EswayUncredited1940Night in DecemberEdouardCurtis Bernhardt1941L'enfer des angesFreddy, la patron du bistroChristian-JaqueFirst Ball Le maitre d'hôtelChristian-JaqueWho Killed Santa Claus?a policemanChristian-JaqueUncreditedThe Pavilion Burns BénézyJacques de Baroncelli1942CapricesMarcelLéo JoannonUncredited The Woman I Loved MostL'employé des Pompes FunèbresRobert VernayLa Symphonie fantastiqueAntoine CharbonnelChristian-JaqueThe Newspaper Falls at Five O'ClockAndré BertodGeorges Lacombe Romance for Three MarcelRoger RichebéLa Nuit fantastiqueLucienMarcel L'Herbier Chiffon's WeddingLe garçon d'hôtelClaude Autant-Lara1943 Marie-MartineMauriceAlbert ValentinDominoCrémoneRoger RichebéI Am with YouRobertHenri Decoin1944Les Petites du quai aux fleursLe docteur BernardMarc AllégretCarmenRemendadoChristian-Jaque1945FarandoleSylvestreAndré ZwobodaAlone in the NightInspecteur PascalChristian Stengel1946Monsieur Grégoire EscapesAlex GrégoireJacques Daniel-NormanMessieurs LudovicLudovic SeguinJean-Paul Le Chanois1947 Clockface CaféJulien CouturierJean GehretQuai des OrfèvresMaurice MartineauHenri-Georges Clouzot1948Man to MenCoquilletChristian-JaqueDédée d'AnversMonsieur René, the innkeeperYves Allégret The Spice of Life BernardJean Dréville1949 Passion for Life Buffle Pascal, l'instituteurJean-Paul Le ChanoisReturn to LifeGastonAndré Cayatte(segment 1 : "Le retour de tante Emma") Monseigneur Louis MennechainRoger Richebé1950ManègesRobertYves AllégretSorcerorJean-Pierre LesourdHenri CalefTuesday's GuestCharles JosseJacques DevalOld Boys of Saint-LoupJean LaclauxGeorges LampinLost SouvenirsL'agent de police RaoulChristian-Jaque(segment "Le violon")1848Himself / narratorMarguerite de la Mure Victoria Mercanton.Documentary short1951Without Leaving an AddressÉmile GauthierJean-Paul Le ChanoisLa maison BonnadieuFélix BonnadieuCarlo Rim1952Matrimonial AgencyNoël PailleretJean-Paul Le ChanoisJe l'ai été trois foisHenri Verdier / Hector Van BrokenSacha Guitry1953Suivez cet hommeCommissaire François BasquierGeorges Lampin1954Before the DelugeMonsieur Marcel NobletAndré CayatteSecrets d'alcôveEmile BergeretVarious directors(segment "Lit de la Pompadour, Le")Scènes de ménageAglaé's husbandAndré Berthomieu1955Black DossierInspector NobletAndré CayatteFrou-FrouAugusto Geninacameo appearanceLes HussardsBrigadier Le GouceAlex JofféRevelation Father LorenzoMario Costa1956Crime and PunishmentAntoine MonestierGeorges Lampin1957The Man in the RaincoatMonsieur RaphaëlJulien DuvivierRetour de manivelleInspector PlantavinDenys de La PatellièreSend a Woman When the Devil FailsFélix SeguinYves Allégret1958René LecomteHervé BrombergerLes MisérablesInspector JavertJean-Paul Le ChanoisThe Cat Capitaine DebrunHenri DecoinL'École des cocottesMonsieur LabaumeJacqueline AudryInspector Gustave MartinetAndré BerthomieuRenato GarofoliAndré MichelGeneral ZagorianskyClaude Autant-LaraThe PossessorsSimon LachaumeDenys de La Patellière1959Marie-OctobreJulien SimoneauJulien DuvivierArchimède le clochardMonsieur PichonGilles GrangierThe Great WarCaptain CastelliMario MonicelliLe Secret du chevalier d'ÉonBaron d'ExterJacqueline AudryEyes of LoveDoctor AndrieuxDenys de La Patellière1960LenziGeorges LautnerL'ennemi dans l'ombreLe Patron du contre-espionageCharles GérardThe Hunchback of RomeMarescialloCarlo LizzaniCrimenthe police inspectorMario Camerini1961The Fenouillard FamilyUn voyageurYves RobertUncreditedDoctor LeprouxGeorges LautnerThe PresidentPhilippe ChalamontHenri VerneuilSullyClaude Autant-LaraLe cave se rebiffeCharles LepicardGilles GrangierThe Black MonocleCommissaire TournemireGeorges LautnerThe Italian BrigandsColonel BreviglieriMario Camerini1962Operation Gold IngotGeorges LautnerGirl on the RoadMonsieur RameauJacqueline AudryThe Seventh JurorGrégoire DuvalGeorges LautnerPourquoi Paris?Le concierge de l'immeubleDenys de La PatellièreMarco PoloHugo Fregonese Piero Pierotti1963Mathias SandorfToronthalGeorges LampinLes saintes-nitouchesRiboisPierre MontazelIl magnifico avventurieroPope Clement VIIRiccardo FredaGerminalHennebeauYves AllégretLes Tontons flingueursRaoul VolfoniGeorges LautnerThe OrganizerMartinettiMario Monicelli1964High InfidelitySergioMario Monicelli(segment "Gente Moderna")La Bonne SoupeJosephRobert ThomasGreed in the SunMitch-MitchHenri VerneuilMale HuntMonsieur HeurtinÉdouard MolinaroThe Magnificent CuckoldRoberto MariottiAntonio PietrangeliVarious directorsLa Chance et l'AmourCamille(segment "Une chance explosive")The Great Spy ChaseEusebio CafarelliGeorges Lautner1965Casanova 70the detectiveMario MonicelliUncredited When the Pheasants PassHyacinthe CamusÉdouard MolinaroHow to Keep the Red Lamp BurningMonsieur CharlesGilles Grangier Georges Lautner1966A Question of Honour Don Léandro SannaLuigi Zampa The Almost Perfect CrimeColonel RobsonMario CameriniThe Big Restaurantthe chief superintendentJacques BesnardRing Around the WorldLord Richard BerryLuigi Scattini Georges CombretHow to Seduce a PlayboyMichael Pfleghar1967An Idiot in Paris Léon DessertineSerge KorberTo Commit a MurderCommandant RhomeÉdouard MolinaroIf I Were a SpyDoctor LefèvreBertrand BlierDu mou dans la gâchetteNicolas PappasLouis GrospierreThe Strangerthe criminal defense lawyerLuchino ViscontiLe fou du labo IVBeauchardJacques Besnard1968 Darling Caroline Georges BerthierDenys de La PatellièreCoplan Saves His SkinMascarYves BoissetQuarta pareteAndrea BrusaAdriano BolzoniLeontine CharlesMichel AudiardWill Our Heroes Be Able to Find Their Friend Who Has Mysteriously Disappeared in Africa?Ubaldo PalmeriniEttore Scola1969 My Uncle Benjaminthe Marcquis of CambiseÉdouard MolinaroAppelez-moi MathildeCharles de Blanzac, l'époux de MathildePierre Mondy1970Elle boit pas, elle fume pas, elle drague pas, mais... elle cause !LiethardMichel AudiardLe DistraitAlexandre GuitonPierre Richard1971Le cri du cormoran, le soir au-dessus des jonquesMonsieur K.Michel AudiardLaisse aller... c'est une valseCommissaire CaillaudGeorges LautnerIl furto è l'anima del commercio!?...PersicelliBruno CorbucciJoInspector DucrosJean GiraultTo Catch a SpyWebbDick ClementMan of the YearDr. MezziniMarco Vicario1972Le TueurFrançois TellierDenys de La PatellièreBoccaccioDr. MazzeoBruno CorbucciTout le monde il est beau, tout le monde il est gentilLouis-Marcel ThulleJean YanneElle cause plus... elle flingueLe commissaire Camille BistingoMichel AudiardThe Tall Blond Man with One Black ShoeBernard MilanYves Robert1973Moi y'en a vouloir des sousAdrien ColbartJean YanneI Don't Know Much, But I'll Say EverythingM. Gastié-LeroyPierre Richard1974Chinese in ParisLe Président de la RépubliqueJean YanneCommissaire MoureuÉtienne PérierBy the Blood of Others (Par le sang des autres)the mayorMarc SimenonAnte Upthe priestPaolo NuzziBons baisers... à lundiFrankie Strong Le LionMichel AudiardProcesso per direttissimathe judgeLucio De Caro1975C'est pas parce qu'on n'a rien à dire qu'il faut fermer sa gueule!PhanoJacques BesnardCher VictorAnselmeRobin DavisC'est dur pour tout le mondePaul TardelChristian GionMy FriendsRighi NiccolòMario MonicelliLe faux-culMaximeRoger Hanin1976CalmosÉmileBertrand BlierBody of My EnemyJean-Baptiste LiégardHenri VerneuilGolden NightCommissaire PidouxSerge Moati1979Série noireStaplinAlain CorneauBuffet froidInspector MorvandieuBertrand BlierHypochondriacPurgone, the doctorTonino Cervi1980EugenioGrandpa EugenioLuigi Comencini1981Passion of LoveMajor TarrassoEttore ScolaPétrole! Pétrole!Christian GionL'émir AbdullahIl turnoDon MarcantonioTonino Cervi1983La fuite en avantReneChristian Zerbib1985Ça n'arrive qu'à moiM. GuilledouFrancis PerrinMadman at WarMajor BelluciDino RisiThe Two Lives of Mattia PascalAnselmo PaléariMario MonicelliAmici miei – Atto III Stefano LenziNanni Loy1986Let's Hope It's a GirlUncle GugoMario MonicelliJe hais les acteursJerome B. CobbGérard KrawczykTwist again à MoscouAlexeiJean-Marie Poiré1987Under the Chinese RestaurantIl professoreBruno BozzettoThe Roguesthe pimpMario Monicelli1988The Possessedthe governorAndrzej WajdaAda dans la jungleLe major CollinsGérard ZinggMangeclousSaltielMoshé MizrahiUna botta di vitaGiuseppe MondardiniEnrico Oldoini1989PaganiniFather CaffarelliKlaus KinskiMigrationsOpat ZorzelAleksandar Petrovic
Honors and awards Officier of the order of Legion of Honour
References
External links