Gisèle Casadesus

Gisèle Casadesus (14 June 1914 – 24 September 2017) was a French actress, who appeared in numerous theatre and film productions. She was an honorary member of the Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Grand-Croix of the National Order of Merit. In a career spanning more than 80 years, Casadesus appeared in more than a dozen films after turning 90.
Life and career
Born into a family of artists in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, Gisèle was the daughter of musician, composer and conductor Henri Casadesus and harpist Marie-Louise Beetz, her older brother was actor Christian Casadesus. After receiving first prize in acting at French National Academy of Dramatic Arts at the age of twenty, Casadeus joined the Comédie-Française in 1934. The same year, she married the actor Lucien Pascal (born Lucien Probst), with whom she had four children: Jean-Claude (1935), Martine (1939), Béatrice (1942) and Dominique (1954), all artists. She became the 400th member of the Comédie-Française on 1 January 1939, and honorary member on 15 April 1967.
In cinema, Pierre Billon hired her in 1943 to play the role of Clotilde Grandlieus in Vautrin, adapted from Balzac's novel, alongside Michel Simon, and in 1946 for the role of Mary in L'Homme au chapeau rond, alongside Raimu.
In 1971 she was Countess Eguzon in La Belle Aventure, participated in Le Mouton enragé by Michel Deville, played the role of Nicole Leguen, wife of Jean Gabin in Verdict (1974) by André Cayatte, and the mother of Claude Jade in Les Robots pensants (1976).
Again with Claude Jade, she was Mamie Rose (1976), the "grand-mère au pair" in the film by Pierre Goutas, her greatest role. It is followed by her Catherine in Un crime de notre temps (1977) by Gabriel Axel. Claude Lelouch engaged her in 1996 for the role of Clara Blanc, mother of Bernard Tapie, in Hommes, femmes, mode d'emploi. In Aïe (2000), she is the mother of André Dussollier, and in Valérie Lemercier's comedy Palais Royal (2005) she plays the queen mother. She was Margueritte ("with two ts") alongside Gérard Depardieu in Jean Becker's My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010).
Later role and award honours
In 2013, aged 99, Casadesus acted alongside Anne Consigny and Marie Kremer in Sous le figuier directed by Anne-Marie Étienne. Casadesus was awarded Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour on 29 March 2013.
She was also an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Grand-Croix of the National Order of Merit. She received an Honorary Molière Award in 2003 for her entire career.
Death
Casadesus died in Paris, France, at the age of 103.
Theatre
At Comédie-Française
1934: Lorenzaccio by Alfred de Musset, directed by Émile Fabre
1934: La Brebis by Edmond See, directed by Jean Debucourt
1934: On ne badine pas avec l'amour by Alfred de Musset
1934: Le Mariage forcé by Molière, directed by Robert Manuel
1934: Le Sourire du faune by André Rivoire, directed by Pierre Bertin
1934: Le Médecin malgré lui by Molière
1934: Ruy Blas by Victor Hugo
1934: La Belle aventure by Gaston Arman de Caillavet, Robert de Flers and Étienne Rey
1934: L'Amour veille by Gaston Arman de Caillavet and Robert de Flers
1934: Tante Marie by Anne Valray, directed by Charles Granval
1934: Le Barbier de Séville by Beaumarchais
1935: Le Mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais
1935: L'Impromptu de Versailles by Molière
1935: Les Burgraves by Victor Hugo
1935: L'Étourdi ou les Contretemps by Molière
1935: L'Illustre théâtre by Jules Truffier; directed by Pierre Bertin
1935: Madame Quinze by Jean Sarment, directed by Émile Fabre
1935: Sur la lisière d'un bois by Victor Hugo
1935: Les Fourberies de Scapin by Molière
1935: L'Arlésienne by Alphonse Daudet
1935: Paraître by Maurice Donnay
1936: L'Embuscade by Henry Kistemaeckers
1936: Le Sang de Danton by Saint-Georges de Bouhélier; directed by Léon Bernard
1936: Les Noces d'argent by Paul Géraldy
1936: Le Chant du berceau by Gregorio and Maria Martinez Sierra; directed by Émile Fabre
1936: Le Voyage à Biarritz by Jean Sarment; directed by André Brunot
1936: Les Rivaux d'eux-mêmes by Pigault-Lebrun; directed by Jean Martinelli
1936: Un caprice by Alfred de Musset, directed by Maurice Escande
1936: La Nouvelle idole by François de Curel
1936: Bolivar by Jules Supervielle; music by Darius Milhaud, choreography by Serge Lifar, directed by Émile Fabre
1936: Le Bon Roi Dagobert by André Rivoire
1936: Martine by Jean-Jacques Bernard
1937: Asmodée by François Mauriac; directed by Jacques Copeau
1937: La Marche nuptiale by Henry Bataille
1937: Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard by Marivaux; directed by Maurice Escande
1937: Le Monde où l'on s'ennuie by Édouard Pailleron
1937: L'Impromptu de Versailles by Molière, directed by Pierre Dux
1937: À quoi rêvent les jeunes filles by Alfred de Musset; directed by Charles Granval
1937: Les Corbeaux by Henry Becque
1937: Le Légataire universel by Jean-François Regnard, directed by Pierre Dux
1937: L'Illusion comique by Pierre Corneille, directed by Louis Jouvet
1937: Le Bonhomme jadis by Henri Murger
1937: Le Dépit amoureux by Molière
1938: La Seconde Surprise de l'amour by Marivaux, directed by Pierre Bertin
1938: Tricolore by Pierre Lestringuez, musique Darius Milhaud, directed by Louis Jouvet
1938: Cantique des cantiques by Jean Giraudoux; directed by Louis Jouvet
1938: Les Femmes savantes by Molière
1938: La Dispute by Marivaux; directed by Jean Martinelli
1938: Un chapeau de paille d'Italie by Eugène Labiche and Marc-Michel, directed by Gaston Baty
1938: Le Menteur by Pierre Corneille, directed by Pierre Bertin
1938: La Coupe enchantée by Jean de La Fontaine and Champmeslé, directed by André Bacqué
1938: Esther by Jean Racine; directed by Georges Le Roy
1939: A souffert sous Ponce Pilate by Paul Raynal; directed by René Alexandre
1939: Les Trois Henry by André Lang
1939: Les affaires sont les affaires by Octave Mirbeau
1939: Ruy Blas by Victor Hugo; directed by Pierre Dux
1939: La Belle Aventure by Gaston Arman de Caillavet, Robert de Flers and Étienne Rey
1940: L'Âne de Buridan by Gaston Arman de Caillavet and Robert de Flers; directed by Pierre Bertin
1940: Les Fausses Confidences by Marivaux; directed by Pierre Dux
1941: Les Précieuses ridicules by Molière; directed by André Brunot
1941: La Gageure imprévue by Michel-Jean Sedaine; directed by Pierre Bertin
1941: Noé by André Obey; directed by Pierre Bertin
1941: Le Beau Léandre by Théodore de Banville and Paul Siraudin, directed by Denis d'Inès
1941: Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur by Molière; directed by Pierre Bertin
1942: Le Cheval arabe by Julien Luchaire; directed by Jean Debucourt
1942: La Paix chez soi by Georges Courteline
1942: Le Distrait by Jean-François Regnard; directed by Jean Meyer
1942: Le Misanthrope by Molière; directed by Jacques Copeau
1942: La Gageure imprévue by Michel-Jean Sedaine; directed by Pierre Bertin
1943: La Reine morte by Henry de Montherlant; directed by Pierre Dux
1943: Un jour by Francis Jammes
1943: Le Barbier de Séville by Beaumarchais, directed by Pierre Dux
1943: Le Sicilien ou l'Amour peintre by Molière; directed by Maurice Escande
1944: Barberine by Alfred de Musset, directed by Jean Meyer
1945: Une visite de noces by Alexandre Dumas fils
1945: L'Avare by Molière; directed by Jean Meyer
1946: Le Mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais; directed by Jean Meyer
1946: La Princesse d'Élide by Molière; directed by Georges Le Roy
1946: Feu la mère de madame by Georges Feydeau; directed by Fernand Ledoux
1948: L'Ami Fritz by Émile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian
1948: L'Épreuve by Marivaux; directed by Julien Bertheau
1948: Le Gendre de M. Poirier by Émile Augier and Jules Sandeau
1949: On ne saurait penser à tout by Alfred de Musset; directed by Robert Manuel
1950: La Belle aventure by Gaston Arman de Caillavet, Robert de Flers and Étienne Rey; directed by Jean Debucourt
1950: Les Fausses Confidences by Marivaux; directed by Maurice Escande
1951: Sganarelle ou le Cocu imaginaire by Molière; directed by Jacques Clancy
1951: Le Chevalier Canepin by Henri Duvernois; directed by Jacques Charon
1951: Le Dindon by Georges Feydeau; directed by Jean Meyer
1951: L'Indigent by Charles Vildrac; directed by Georges Chamarat
1952: La Coupe enchantée by Jean de La Fontaine and Champmeslé; directed by Jacques Clancy
1952: Le Légataire universel by Jean-François Régnard; directed by Pierre Dux
1952: Les Précieuses ridicules by Molière; directed by Robert Manuel
1953: Le Menteur by Corneille; directed by Denis d'Inès
1953: Le Dépit amoureux by Molière; directed by Georges Chamarat
1953: Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard by Marivaux; directed by Maurice Escande
1954: L'Épreuve by Marivaux; directed by Julien Bertheau
1954: Le Menteur by Pierre Corneille; directed by Denis d'Ines
1955: Est-il bon ? Est-il méchant? by Denis Diderot; directed by Henri Rollan
1957: La Bonne Mère by Florian; directed by Maurice Escande
1957: L'Ours by Anton Chekhov; directed by André Falcon
1958: Un ami de jeunesse by Edmond See, directed by Denis d'Inès
1958: La Maison de campagne by Florent Carton Dancourt, directed by Hélène Perdrière
1958: On ne saurait penser à tout by Alfred de Musset, directed by Robert Manuel
1958: Le Misanthrope by Molière, directed by Pierre Dux
1959: Les Trente Millions de Gladiator by Eugène Labiche; directed by Jean Meyer
1960: Chacun sa vérité by Luigi Pirandello; directed by Charles Dullin
1961: On ne saurait penser à tout by Alfred de Musset; directed by Robert Manuel
1962: La Troupe du Roy by Molière; directed by Paul-Émile Deiber
1980: La Folle de Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux; directed by Michel Fagadau
1990: Tête de poulet by Spiro, lecture
2011: Le Jubilé d'Agathe by Pascal Lainé, lecture, Studio-Théâtre de la Comédie-Française
Outside Comédie-Française
Une petite qui voit grand by Germaine Acremant
Boubouroche by Georges Courteline
J'y suis j'y reste by Raymond Vincy and Jean Valmy
Le Bal des voleurs by Jean Anouilh
Le Rendez-vous de Senlis by Jean Anouilh
Histoire de rire by Armand Salacrou
Une femme libre by Armand Salacrou
Monsieur chasse ! by Georges Feydeau
Bonne chance Denis by Michel Duran
Le Complexe de Philémon by Jean Bernard-Luc
Caroline a disparu by Jean Valmy and André Haguet
Les Œufs de l'autruche by André Roussin
Teddy and partner by Yvan Noé
Hyménée by Édouard Bourdet
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
La Voyante by André Roussin
Le Chantier by Charles Tordjman
1965: Lorsque l'enfant paraît by André Roussin, directed by the author, théâtre des Célestins
1967: Lorsque l'enfant paraît by André Roussin, directed by the author, théâtre Saint-Georges
1968: La Courte Paille by Jean Meyer, directed by the author, tournée
1969: Monsieur chasse ! by Georges Feydeau, directed by Alain Feydeau, Grand Théâtre de Limoges
1974: Ce formidable bordel ! by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, théâtre des Célestins
1980: Fin de partie by Samuel Beckett, directed by Guy Rétoré, théâtre de l'Est parisien
1982: Fin de partie by Samuel Beckett, directed by Guy Rétoré, théâtre Renaud-Barrault
1987: Entre passions et prairie by Denise Bonal, directed by Guy Rétoré, théâtre de l'Est parisien
1988: Le Vallon by Agatha Christie, directed by Simone Benmussa, théâtre Renaud-Barrault
1989: Clair de terre by Daniel Besnehard, directed by Guy Rétoré, théâtre de l'Est parisien
1992: Le Jugement dernier by Bernard-Henri Lévy, directed by Jean-Louis Martinelli, théâtre de l'Atelier
1993: Le Retour en Touraine by Françoise Dorin, directed by Georges Wilson, théâtre de l'Œuvre
1995: Savannah Bay by Marguerite Duras, directed by Jean-Claude Amyl, théâtre national de Chaillot
1997: Le Bonheur à Romorantin by Jean-Claude Brisville, directed by Jean-Luc Tardieu, Espace 44 Nantes
1999: Savannah Bay by Marguerite Duras, directed by Jean-Claude Amyl, théâtre du Rond-Point, et en tournée jusqu'en 2001
2003: À chacun sa vérité by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Bernard Murat, Centre national de création d'Orléans, théâtre Antoine
2005: Richard III by William Shakespeare, directed by Didier Long, La Coursive La Rochelle
Filmography
Cinema
1934: The Adventurer by Marcel L'Herbier: Geneviève
1934: Un soir à la Comédie-Française by Léonce Perret: herself
1943: Graine au vent by Maurice Gleize: Germaine
1943: Vautrin by Pierre Billon: Clotilde de Grandlieu
1944: Coup de tête by René Le Hénaff: Nadine
1945: Pamela by Pierre de Hérain: Joséphine de Beauharnais
1946: The Eternal Husband by Pierre Billon: Marie
1947: Les Aventures de Casanova by Jean Boyer: Geneviève de Cerlin
1948: Route sans issue by Jean Stelli: Simone Fournier
1949: Between Eleven and Midnight by Henri Decoin: Florence
1949: Du Guesclin by Bernard de Latour: Jeanne, Countess of Penthièvre
1974: Verdict by André Cayatte: Nicole Leguen
1974: Le Mouton enragé by Michel Deville
1975: Ma Mie Rose by Pierre Goutas: Mamie Rose
1976: Le Collectionneur de cerveaux by Michel Subiela: Mme Vanderwood
1976: Un mari, c'est un mari by Serge Friedman: Senator
1976: Une femme fidèle by Roger Vadim: Countess Lapalimmes
1977: Un oursin dans la poche by Roger Vadim: Benjamin's mother
1984: Opéra des ombres, Berlioz 1864 by Georges Combes
1988: Sweet Lies by Nathalie Delon: Nemo
1988: Un été d'orages by Charlotte Brandström: grandmother
1990: Cinématon (épisode 1342) by Gérard Courant: herself
1990: Couple (épisode 76) by Gérard Courant: herself
1993: Roulez jeunesse! by Jacques Fansten: Bernadette
1996: Hommes, femmes, mode d'emploi by Claude Lelouch: Clara Blanc
1996: Album de famille, court métrage by Shéri Tsur: Geneviève
1997: Riches, belles, etc. by Bunny Schpoliansky
1997: Post coïtum animal triste by Brigitte Roüan
1999: The Children of the Marshland by Jean Becker: Mme Mercier
1999: La Dilettante by Pascal Thomas :
2000: Aïe by Sophie Fillières: Robert's mother
2001: Deux vieilles dames et l'accordeur, short film by Guillaume Canet
2001: J'me souviens plus, short film by Alain Doutey: Rose
2002: C'est le bouquet ! by Jeanne Labrune: the lady
2004: Le Promeneur du Champs-de-Mars by Robert Guédiguian: Simone Picard's sister
2005: Palais Royal ! by Valérie Lemercier: Alma, The Queen Mother
2005: Le Noël de Lily, short film by Éric Nebot: Lily
2005: Travaux, on sait quand ça commence... by Brigitte Roüan
2006: Le Grand Appartement by Pascal Thomas: Grandmother Joséphine
2007: Le Quatrième Morceau de la femme coupée en trois by Laure Marsac: the old lady
2009: Le Premier Cercle by Laurent Tuel: Mme Malakian
2009: Kankant, short film by François Grandjacques
2009: Le Hérisson by Mona Achache: Mme de Broglie
2010: Porteur d'hommes, short film by Antarès Bassis
2010: My Afternoons with Margueritte by Jean Becker: Margueritte
2010: What War May Bring by Claude Lelouch: Ilva, 95 years old
2010: Sarah's Key by Gilles Paquet-Brenner: Mamé
2012: Le Jeu de cette famille by Aytl Jensen: Berthe
2013: Sous le figuier by Anne-Marie Etienne: Selma
2014: Weekends in Normandy by Anne Villacèque: Françoise
Television
1966: :fr:Les Compagnons de Jéhu (mini-série) (in French), directed by Michel Drach: Louise de Montrevel
2001: Maigret Chez Le Ministre, Maigret and the Minister (Sn7 Ep2) directed by Christian de Chalonge: Mme Calame
Bibliography
See also
Casadesus
List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)
References
External links
The Casadesus Family
Gisèle Casadesus at the Comédie-Française
1914 births
2017 deaths
French centenarians
Actresses from Paris
Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française
Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour
French stage actresses
French film actresses
French television actresses
20th-century French actresses
21st-century French actresses
Gisele
Women centenarians