Michael Lonsdale
Biography
Michael Lonsdale was a French and British actor and writer whose credits ran to more than 180 films and television shows. Born in Paris and raised in Jersey, London, and Casablanca, he went to Paris in 1947 to study painting but was drawn into acting instead, making his first stage appearance at 24. Fluent in both languages, he worked in English and French productions. He became best known for playing Hugo Drax in Moonraker (1979), Claude Lebel in The Day of the Jackal (1973), the Abbot in The Name of the Rose (1986), and Dupont d'Ivry in The Remains of the Day (1993). He also appeared in Munich (2005), and in 2011 he won a César Award in the best supporting actor category for Of Gods and Men. He wrote ten books and died in 2020.
89years old at death
- Born 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Died 7th arrondissement of Paris
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Michael Edward Lonsdale-Crouch (birth name)Also credited as Michel Lonsdale
Movie Career
- Films
- 30
- Career span
- 46 years1968 to 2014
Genres
First and latest
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First role
In 1947 Lonsdale went back to Paris with plans to study painting, but acting pulled him in, and he made his first stage appearance when he was 24.
Behind the camera
Besides acting, Lonsdale wrote ten books. He was the author of these ten books in addition to his acting work.
Michael Lonsdale movies on Netflix
Maestroas Cédric Rovère
Titeufas Le psy
Of Gods and Menas Luc
Agoraas Theon
The Last Mistressas le vicomte Prony
Tous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Lukeas Bartleby (voice)
Goya's Ghostsas Inquisitor General
Munichas Papa
Five Times Twoas Bernard
Kaena: The Prophecyas Opaz (voice)
The Mystery of the Yellow Roomas Stangerson
Actorsas L'homme qui marche dans la rue
Roninas Jean-Pierre
Nelly and Monsieur Arnaudas Dolabella
The Remains of the Dayas Dupont D'Ivry
The Name of the Roseas The Abbot
The Holcroft Covenantas Ernst Manfredi
Enigmaas Bodley
The Bunkeras Martin Bormann
Moonrakeras Hugo Drax
The Passageas Renoudot
Mr. Kleinas Pierre
The Romantic Englishwomanas Swan
The Phantom of Libertyas Le chapelier / Hatter
The Day of the Jackalas Deputy Commissioner Claude Lebel
Murmur of the Heartas Father Henri
The Studas Both(Michel Lonsdale)
Hibernatusas Le professeur Édouard Loriebat
Stolen Kissesas Georges Tabard
The Bride Wore Blackas Rene Morane
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Frankenheimer directed two of these films, François Truffaut two and Joseph Losey two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Jean-Claude Brialy3 films together, 1968 to 2000
Jean-Claude Brialy's page Actors2000IMDb rating 5.9Lonsdale as L'homme qui marche dans la rueBrialy as Jean-Claude Brialy
The Phantom of Liberty1974IMDb rating 7.7Lonsdale as Le chapelier / HatterBrialy as Foucauld / Mr. Foucauld
The Bride Wore Black1968IMDb rating 7.2Lonsdale as Rene MoraneBrialy as Corey
Claude Rich3 films together, 1968 to 2003
Claude Rich's page The Mystery of the Yellow Room2003IMDb rating 6.3Lonsdale as StangersonRich as Le juge De Marquet
Actors2000IMDb rating 5.9Lonsdale as L'homme qui marche dans la rueRich as Claude Rich
The Bride Wore Black1968IMDb rating 7.2Lonsdale as Rene MoraneRich as Bliss
Michael Caine2 films together, 1975 to 1985
Michael Caine's page The Holcroft Covenant1985IMDb rating 5.7Lonsdale as Ernst ManfrediCaine as Noel Holcroft
The Romantic Englishwoman1975IMDb rating 6.1Lonsdale as SwanCaine as Lewis
Anthony Hopkins2 films together, 1981 to 1993
Anthony Hopkins's page The Remains of the Day1993IMDb rating 7.8Lonsdale as Dupont D'IvryHopkins as James Stevens
The Bunker1981IMDb rating 6.8Lonsdale as Martin BormannHopkins as Adolf Hitler
Stellan Skarsgård2 films together, 1998 to 2006
Stellan Skarsgård's page Goya's Ghosts2006IMDb rating 6.9Lonsdale as Inquisitor GeneralSkarsgård as Francisco Goya
Ronin1998IMDb rating 7.2Lonsdale as Jean-PierreSkarsgård as Gregor
Vernon Dobtcheff2 films together, 1973 to 1986
Vernon Dobtcheff's page The Name of the Rose1986IMDb rating 7.7Lonsdale as The AbbotDobtcheff as Hugh of Newcastle
The Day of the Jackal1973IMDb rating 7.8Lonsdale as Deputy Commissioner Claude LebelDobtcheff as The Interrogator
John FrankenheimerDirector, 2 films, 1985 to 1998
All films by John Frankenheimer Ronin1998IMDb rating 7.2Lonsdale as Jean-Pierre
The Holcroft Covenant1985IMDb rating 5.7Lonsdale as Ernst Manfredi
François TruffautDirector, 2 films, 1968
All films by François Truffaut Stolen Kisses1968IMDb rating 7.5Lonsdale as Georges Tabard
The Bride Wore Black1968IMDb rating 7.2Lonsdale as Rene Morane
Joseph LoseyDirector, 2 films, 1975 to 1976
All films by Joseph Losey Mr. Klein1976IMDb rating 7.5Lonsdale as Pierre
The Romantic Englishwoman1975IMDb rating 6.1Lonsdale as Swan
Also two films together22 more actors
- Derek JacobiEnigma (1982) and The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- Alain DelonActors (2000) and Mr. Klein (1976)
- Lambert WilsonOf Gods and Men (2010) and Tous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke (2007)
- Michel PiccoliActors (2000) and The Phantom of Liberty (1974)
- Jeanne MoreauMr. Klein (1976) and The Bride Wore Black (1968)
- Féodor AtkineRonin (1998) and Enigma (1982)
- Jean RochefortTiteuf (2011) and The Phantom of Liberty (1974)
- Valeria Bruni TedeschiMunich (2005) and Five Times Two (2004)
- Jacques FrançoisActors (2000) and The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- Pierre ArditiThe Mystery of the Yellow Room (2003) and Actors (2000)
- Claude PiépluThe Phantom of Liberty (1974) and Hibernatus (1969)
- Jacques LegrasThe Stud (1970) and Hibernatus (1969)
- Bernard AlaneTous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke (2007) and Hibernatus (1969)
- Delphine SeyrigThe Day of the Jackal (1973) and Stolen Kisses (1968)
- Michel AuclairEnigma (1982) and The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- Scali DelpeyratMaestro (2014) and The Mystery of the Yellow Room (2003)
- Paul PavelStolen Kisses (1968) and The Bride Wore Black (1968)
- François SienerTous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke (2007) and Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)
- Harry-MaxHibernatus (1969) and Stolen Kisses (1968)
- Jean PiatTous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke (2007) and Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)
- Serge RousseauStolen Kisses (1968) and The Bride Wore Black (1968)
- Adrien AntoineTous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke (2007) and Kaena: The Prophecy (2003)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Michael Lonsdale's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$646 million
15 of the 30 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 30 films: 15 worldwide figure; 7 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 7 figure not found.
- 15Worldwide figure
- 7US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 7Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$210M32.6% of the total
- 2$131M20.3% of the total
- 3$77M12.0% of the total
- 4$71M10.9% of the total
- 5$41M6.4% of the total
- 6$39M6.1% of the total
- 7$23M3.6% of the total
- 8$16M2.5% of the total
Awards
Four awards and honors from 2011 to 2016.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2016 | Prix Marguerite Duras | Won | |
| 2011 | César Award for Best Supporting Actor | Of Gods and Men | Won |
| 2011 | Globes de Cristal Awards | Of Gods and Men | Won |
| 2011 | Medal of the City of Paris | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










