Michel Piccoli

Biography

Michel Piccoli was a French actor, producer, and director whose career lasted seven decades. Born in Paris in 1925, he began on the stage before moving into film, where he appeared in more than 170 movies. He became a frequent collaborator of Luis Buñuel, for whom he appeared in six films, among them The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) and Belle de Jour (1967). He played the husband of Brigitte Bardot in Jean-Luc Godard's Contempt (1963) and the antagonist in Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz (1969). He also worked repeatedly with Claude Sautet and Marco Ferreri, including La Grande Bouffe (1973). In the 1990s he directed three films. In Nanni Moretti's We Have a Pope (2011), he played a newly elected pope, winning the David di Donatello for Best Actor. Earlier honors included a Cannes Best Actor Award in 1980 and a Silver Bear at Berlin in 1982. He died in 2020.

94years old at death

Born December 27, 192513th arrondissement of Paris
Died May 12, 2020Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Michel Jacques Daniel Piccoli (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 41
Career span: 57 years1955 to 2012

Genres

Drama73%, 30 films
Comedy39%, 16 films
Crime24%, 10 films
Romance24%, 10 films
Thriller10%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Piccoli began his career on the stage, where his Don Juan was celebrated, before moving to cinema and later accepting the back-and-forth between the two.

Michel Piccoli movies on Netflix

Holy Motors2012IMDb rating 7.0as L'Homme à la tache de vin
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet2012IMDb rating 6.5as Le père
We Have a Pope2011IMDb rating 6.7as Il papa
On War2008IMDb rating 5.9as Le grand Hou
That Day2003IMDb rating 6.6as Harald
Actors2000IMDb rating 5.9as Michel Piccoli
Tykho Moon1996IMDb rating 5.9as Mac Bee / frère Mac Bee
One Hundred and One Nights1995IMDb rating 6.5as Simon Cinéma
The Black Angel1994IMDb rating 5.8as Georges Feuvrier
Le Bal des casse-pieds1992IMDb rating 5.4as Désiré, l'homosexuel
May Fools1990IMDb rating 7.2as Milou
Mauvais Sang1986IMDb rating 7.1as Marc
Le prix du danger1983IMDb rating 6.7as Frédéric Mallaire
Godard's Passion1982IMDb rating 6.2as Michel Boulard
Spy, Stand Up1982IMDb rating 6.6as Jean-Paul Chance
The Passerby1982IMDb rating 6.6as Max Baumstein
The Prodigal Daughter1981IMDb rating 5.7as Le père d'Anne
Atlantic City1980IMDb rating 7.3as Joseph
Leonor1975IMDb rating 5.6as Le Seigneur Richard
The Infernal Trio1974IMDb rating 6.2as Georges Sarret
The Phantom of Liberty1974IMDb rating 7.7as Le second préfet de police / Second Prefect
La Grande Bouffe1973IMDb rating 7.0as Michel
Cesar and Rosalie1972IMDb rating 7.3as Narrator (voice)
Liza1972IMDb rating 6.3as Giorgio's friend
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972IMDb rating 7.7as Ministre
Max and the Junkmen1971IMDb rating 7.3as Max, inspector
The Things of Life1970IMDb rating 7.4as Pierre Bérard
The Milky Way1969IMDb rating 7.3as Le marquis de Sade
Topaz1969IMDb rating 6.2as Jacques Granville
Danger: Diabolik1968IMDb rating 6.5as Inspector Ginko
Belle de Jour1967IMDb rating 7.6as Henri Husson
The Young Girls of Rochefort1967IMDb rating 7.7as Simon Dame
Is Paris Burning?1966IMDb rating 6.8as Edgar Pisani
Lady L1965IMDb rating 5.5as Lecoeur
The Sleeping Car Murder1965IMDb rating 7.2as René Cabourg, l'employé besogneux (Victime #2)
Diary of a Chambermaid1964IMDb rating 7.3as M Monteil
Contempt1963IMDb rating 7.4as Paul Javal
Le Doulos1962IMDb rating 7.7as Nuttheccio
Death in the Garden1956IMDb rating 6.7as Father Lizardi
Bad Liaisons1955IMDb rating 6.4as Un inspecteur
French Cancan1955IMDb rating 7.3as Le Capitaine Valorgueil

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Belle de Jour1967 Drama, Romanceas Henri Husson
IMDb rating 7.654K votes
Contempt1963 Drama, Romanceas Paul Javal
IMDb rating 7.440K votes
We Have a Pope2011as Il papa
IMDb rating 6.715K votes
Holy Motors2012as L'Homme à la tache de vin
IMDb rating 7.052K votes
La Grande Bouffe1973as Michel
IMDb rating 7.016K votes
Atlantic City1980as Joseph
IMDb rating 7.320K votes
Topaz1969as Jacques Granville
IMDb rating 6.221K votes
The Things of Life1970as Pierre Bérard
IMDb rating 7.46.4K votes

Most often with

Luis Buñuel directed six of these films, Claude Sautet three and Leos Carax two. Romy Schneider appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Romy Schneider

Catherine Deneuve

Jean-Paul Belmondo

Bernard Musson

François Maistre

Muni

Luis BuñuelDirector, 6 films

Claude SautetDirector, 3 films

Leos CaraxDirector, 2 films

Films together

Romy Schneider5 films together, 1970 to 1982
Romy Schneider's page
- The Passerby1982IMDb rating 6.6Piccoli as Max BaumsteinSchneider as Elsa Wiener / Lina Baumstein
- The Infernal Trio1974IMDb rating 6.2Piccoli as Georges SarretSchneider as Philomena Schmidt
- Cesar and Rosalie1972IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as NarratorvoiceSchneider as Rosalie
- Max and the Junkmen1971IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Max, inspectorSchneider as Julia Anna 'Lily' Ackermann
- The Things of Life1970IMDb rating 7.4Piccoli as Pierre BérardSchneider as Hélène
Catherine Deneuve4 films together, 1967 to 1995
Catherine Deneuve's page
- One Hundred and One Nights1995IMDb rating 6.5Piccoli as Simon CinémaDeneuve as The Star-Fantasy
- Liza1972IMDb rating 6.3Piccoli as Giorgio's friendDeneuve as Liza
- Belle de Jour1967IMDb rating 7.6Piccoli as Henri HussonDeneuve as Séverine Serizy / Belle de Jour
- The Young Girls of Rochefort1967IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as Simon DameDeneuve as Delphine Garnier
Jean-Paul Belmondo4 films together, 1962 to 2000
Jean-Paul Belmondo's page
- Actors2000IMDb rating 5.9Piccoli as Michel PiccoliBelmondo as Jean-Paul Belmondo
- One Hundred and One Nights1995IMDb rating 6.5Piccoli as Simon CinémaBelmondo as Professor Bébel
- Is Paris Burning?1966IMDb rating 6.8Piccoli as Edgar PisaniBelmondo as Pierrelot - Yvon Morandat
- Le Doulos1962IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as NuttheccioBelmondo as Silien
Bernard Musson4 films together, 1964 to 1972
Bernard Musson's page
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as MinistreMusson as Waiter
- Max and the Junkmen1971IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Max, inspectorMusson as The Sarcastic Inspector in the Canteen
- Belle de Jour1967IMDb rating 7.6Piccoli as Henri HussonMusson as Majordomo
- Diary of a Chambermaid1964IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as M MonteilMusson as Le sacristain
François Maistre4 films together, 1967 to 1974
François Maistre's page
- The Phantom of Liberty1974IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as Le second préfet de police / Second PrefectMaistre as Le professeur des gendarmes / Professor
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as MinistreMaistre as Delecluze
- The Milky Way1969IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Le marquis de SadeMaistre as Le curé fou
- Belle de Jour1967IMDb rating 7.6Piccoli as Henri HussonMaistre as L'enseignant
Muni4 films together, 1964 to 1972
Muni's page
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as MinistreMuni as Peasant
- The Milky Way1969IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Le marquis de SadeMuni as La mère supérieure
- Belle de Jour1967IMDb rating 7.6Piccoli as Henri HussonMuni as Pallas
- Diary of a Chambermaid1964IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as M MonteilMuni as Marianne
Luis BuñuelDirector, 6 films, 1956 to 1974
All films by Luis Buñuel
- The Phantom of Liberty1974IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as Le second préfet de police / Second Prefect
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972IMDb rating 7.7Piccoli as Ministre
- The Milky Way1969IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Le marquis de Sade
- Belle de Jour1967IMDb rating 7.6Piccoli as Henri Husson
- Diary of a Chambermaid1964IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as M Monteil
- Death in the Garden1956IMDb rating 6.7Piccoli as Father Lizardi
Claude SautetDirector, 3 films, 1970 to 1972
- Cesar and Rosalie1972IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Narratorvoice
- Max and the Junkmen1971IMDb rating 7.3Piccoli as Max, inspector
- The Things of Life1970IMDb rating 7.4Piccoli as Pierre Bérard
Leos CaraxDirector, 2 films, 1986 to 2012
- Holy Motors2012IMDb rating 7.0Piccoli as L'Homme à la tache de vin
- Mauvais Sang1986IMDb rating 7.1Piccoli as Marc

Box office

What Michel Piccoli's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$41.5 million

11 of the 41 films have a worldwide figure.

11Worldwide figure
6US gross only
24Figure not found

Top grosser

We Have a Pope2011Il papa$17.9 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
We Have a Pope2011as Il papa
$18M43.1% of the total
2
Atlantic City1980as Joseph
$13M30.7% of the total
3
Topaz1969as Jacques Granville
$6.0M14.5% of the total
4
May Fools1990as Milou
$1.6M3.8% of the total
5
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet2012as Le père
$1.2M2.8% of the total
6
That Day2003as Harald
$870K2.1% of the total
7
Holy Motors2012as L'Homme à la tache de vin
$641K1.5% of the total
8
Contempt1963as Paul Javal
$528K1.3% of the total

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), $103,230

$127,733from the other 3 films with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total

Awards

Seven awards and honors from 1980 to 2011, two of them major.

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Michel Piccoli's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Cannes Film Festival
1980	Best Actor	A Leap in the Dark	Won
Berlin Film Festival
1982	Silver Bear for Best Actor	Strange Affair	Won
Other honors
2011	European Film Academy Honorary Award		Honorary
2001	Europe Theatre Prize		Won
1988	German Film Award for Best Actor		Won
	David di Donatello for Best Actor		Won
	Prize for the best actor of the Union of criticism		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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