Biography for
Charles Boyer (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

28 August 1899, Figeac, Lot, France

Date of Death

26 August 1978, Phoenix, Arizona, USA (suicide)

Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Charles Boyer studied philosophy before he went to the theater where he gave his debut in 1920. Although he had at first no intentions to pursue a career at the movies (his first movie was L'homme du large (1920) by Marcel L'Herbier) he used his chance in Hollywood after several filming stations all over Europe. In the beginning of his career his beautiful voice was hidden by the silent movies but in Hollywood he became famous for his whispered declarations of love (like in movies with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich or Ingrid Bergman). In 1934 he married Pat Paterson, his first and (unusual for a star) only wife. He was so faithful to her that he decided to commit suicide two days after her death in 1978.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Volker Boehm

Spouse

Pat Paterson

(14 February 1934 - 24 August 1978) (her death) 1 child

Trivia

Took a fatal dose of barbiturates two days following his wife's death.

Son, Michael Charles Boyer, born 1944; committed suicide 22nd September 1965. He apparently played Russian roulette with a .38-caliber revolver after quarreling with a girlfriend.

French born. Became an American citizen in 1942.

Interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, USA, in the St. Ann section, #5, L186.

Earned a degree in philosophy from the Sorbonne.

Winner of a special Tony Award in 1952 for his performance in the 1951 Broadway production of "Don Juan in Hell".

Half bald by his twenties, he only wore a toupee for his movie roles. Out in public, he never wore it.

Won a special Tony Award in 1952 "for distinguished performance in 'Don Juan in Hell,' thereby assisting in a new theatre trend." He was also nominated for Broadway's 1963 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Lord Pengo.".

Vice president of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964

Off-screen was a happily married bookworm; referred to by his friends as a "stick-in-the-mud".

Chuck Jones used his French voice and mannerisms when he created famed cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew.

Boyer was the first choice of director Claude Chabrol in 1959 for "A Double Tour," but the part was ultimately played by Jacques Dacqmine.

Personal Quotes

Mostly I've played other roles, but even when I've played other parts people see me differently. In America, when you have an accent, in the mind of the people they associate you with kissing hands and being gallant. I think that has harmed me, just as it has harmed me to be followed and plagued by a line I never said.

That love at first sight should happen to me was Life's most delicious revenge on a self-opinionated fool.

Often wore lifts that made him look almost 6 feet tall on screen.