About Jean-Pierre Cassel
Jean-Pierre Cassel (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ pjɛʁ ka'sɛl]; born Jean-Pierre Crochon; 27 October 1932 – 19 April 2007) was a French actor and dancer. A popular star of French cinema, he was initially known for his comedy film appearances, though he also proved a gifted dramatic actor, and accrued over 200 film and television credits in a career spanning over 50 years. He worked with many notable directors, including Luis Buñuel, Abel Gance, Jean Renoir, Claude Chabrol, Sidney Lumet, Joseph Losey, Chantal Akerman and Robert Altman. He was nominated for a César Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in La Cérémonie (1995). Cassel was also the father of actor Vincent Cassel, actress/singer Cécile Cassel, and rapper Mathias Cassel. Cassel was discovered by Gene Kelly as he tap danced on stage, and later cast in the 1957 film The Happy Road. During his career, Cassel starred in more than 110 films, fifty stage plays, and many musical theatre performances and television shows.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.