Jean Sorel

Biography

Early life and family

Sorel was born Jean Bernard Antoine de Chieusses de Combaud de Roquebrune in Marseille. His family was descended from the House of Capet. His father, Guy (Guillaume) de Combaud de Roquebrune, was a newspaper publisher and a member of the French Resistance who was killed in combat during World War II. Via his father, Sorel was the nephew of François de Menthon.

Initially planning to be a diplomat, Sorel studied international relations at the École normale supérieure, and worked as an embassy clerk in French Algeria from 1956 to 1957.

Acting career

Sorel made his debut in I Spit on Your Graves (1957), an adaptation of the notorious Boris Vian novel of the same name. After several film appearances in his native country, Sorel made his breakthrough in Italian cinema in 1960, starring in Alberto Lattuada's Sweet Deceptions and Mauro Bolognini's From a Roman Balcony.

During the following two decades, Sorel starred in films like A View from the Bridge, The Four Days of Naples (both 1962), Highway Pickup (1963), Sandra (1965),The Man Who Laughs (1966), Belle de jour (1967), and Model Shop (1969). He worked with such notable directors as Luis Buñuel, Luchino Visconti, Roger Vadim, Jacques Demy, Dino Risi, Julien Duvivier, and Sidney Lumet. Early on, Sorel drew comparisons to Alain Delon in his appearance and screen persona, often playing romantic leads.

Beginning in the late 1960's, Sorel appeared in several giallo films, which brought him into recognition with international horror film fans. He starred in Lucio Fulci's first two gialli One on Top of the Other and A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, The Sweet Body of Deborah and A Quiet Place to Kill with Carroll Baker, and Aldo Lado's Short Night of Glass Dolls.

In 1973, Sorel played OAS leader Jean Bastien-Thiry in the thriller film The Day of the Jackal.

Since 1980, he has worked mostly in television. In 1984, he starred in the play Alice par des chemins obscurs, directed by Roger Planchon at the Théâtre National Populaire.

In 2016, he starred in the Élie Chouraqui film The Origin of Violence (2016).

Honours

In 2011, Sorel was ascended a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Personal life

Sorel was married to Italian actress Anna Maria Ferrero from 1962 until her death in 2018. In 2018, he married Patricia Balme.

Filmography

1959: I Spit on Your Grave as Elmer

1960: Les Lionceaux as Patrice

1960: Sweet Deceptions as Renato

1960: From a Roman Balcony as David

1961: Long Live Henry IV... Long Live Love! as Prince de Condé

1961: Amelie or The Time to Love as Alain

1961: Gold of Rome as Massimo

1962: A View from the Bridge as Rodolpho

1962: Disorder as Andrea

1962: Adorable Julia as Tom Fennel

1962: The Four Days of Naples as Livornese (uncredited)

1962: Hypnosis as Erik Stein

1963: Germinal as Étienne Lantier

1963: Highway Pickup as Paul Genest

1963: Un marito in condominio as Renato Carcaterra

1964: Amori pericolosi as Il legionario (segment "La ronda")

1964: Circle of Love as Le comte

1964: All About Loving as Antoine

1965: The Dolls as Vincenzo (segment "Monsignor Cupido")

1965: Sandra as Gianni Wald-Luzzati