Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
Michel Jacques Daniel Piccoli was the son of Henri Piccoli, violinist and Marcelle Expert-Bezançon (1892-1990), pianist and daughter of the French industrialist and politician Charles Expert-Bezançon. In 1954, Michel Piccoli married actress Éléonore Hirt with whom he had a daughter, Anne-Cordélia Piccoli. In 1966, he married the singer Juliette Gréco, then in 1978 the screenwriter Ludivine Clerc, with whom he adopted two children of Polish origin, Inord and Missia. Placed in an establishment for problem children, the commitments of the young Piccoli, are made in opposition to his maternal grandfather, senator of the Third Republic, financier of the Radical Party, and important industrial painter, accused by the trade union left and by Georges Clemenceau, of having intoxicated his workmen through lead white which causes lead poisoning. Michel Piccoli then trained as an actor first with Andrée Bauer-Théraud and then during Simon. After an appearance as an extra in "Sortilèges" by Christian-Jaque in 1945, Michel Piccoli made his film debut in "Le Point Du Jour" by Louis Daquin. In the theater he distinguished himself with the Renaud-Barrault and Grenier-Hussot companies as well as at the Théâtre de Babylone. Noticed in the film "French Cancan" in 1954, he continued on stage and worked with directors Jacques Audiberti, Jean Vilar, Jean-Marie Serreau, Peter Brook, Luc Bondy, Patrice Chéreau and André Engel, and became also know in popular TV movies. Having become an atheist after a family bereavement, he met Luis Buñuel in 1956, and ironically took on the role of a priest in "La Mort En Ce Jardin". In 1959, he shot "Le Rendez-Vous De Noël", a short film by André Michel based on the short story by Malek Ouary "Le Noël Du Petit Cireur", in Algiers. The 1960s sounded his consecration, noticed in "Le Doulos" by Jean-Pierre Melville, he was revealed internationally with "Le Mépris" by Jean-Luc Godard alongside Brigitte Bardot. From then on, he toured with the greatest French and international filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Youssef Chahine, Manoel de Oliveira... He began the 1980s with the interpretation prize at the Cannes festival in 1980, with "Le Saut Dans Le Vide" by Marco Bellocchio, and that of the Berlin festival in 1982, with "Une Étrange Affaire" by Pierre Granier-Deferre. . He worked with Jacques Doillon, Leos Carax, before trying his hand at directing. In 2001 he received the IX Europe Prize for Theatre. He was part of the jury of the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007, chaired by Stephen Frears. In 2011, he played in "Habemus Papam" by Nanni Moretti. The last film in which Michel Piccoli appears is the film "Le Goût Des Myrtilles", by Thomas de Thiers in 2013. Politically committed to the left, member of the Peace Movement (communist), Michel Piccoli distinguished himself by his positions against the National Front, and mobilized for Amnesty International. Michel Piccoli died on May 12, 2020 following a stroke in his mansion in Saint-Philbert-sur-Risle in Eure. His funeral takes place in Évreux on May 19, 2020, where he is cremated, his ashes are scattered within the family property.
Acted in 203
2020s
- 2025
The Life of Mirrors
Movie
- 2024
It's Not Me
(archive footage)
- 2022
Romy, A Free Woman
archive footage
- 2021
Marx Can Wait
Agostino (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010s
- 2017
Coming Apart
(archive footage)
- 2014
The Taste of Blueberries
Michel
- 2012
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Le père
The Bardot mystery
Movie
- 2011
2000s
- 2009
Le Bel Âge
Maurice Reverdy
Brigitte Bardot: The Icon of France
Movie
- 2008
The Dust of Time
Spyros
On War
Le grand Hou
- 2007
Beneath the Rooftops of Paris
Marcel
Boxes
Daddy
Rencontre Unique
Nikita Khrouchtchev
The Duchess of Langeais
Vidame de Pamiers
- 2006
Belle Toujours
Henri Husson
Gardens in Autumn
Marie, la mère de Vincent
Magic Mirror
Prof. Heschel
- 2003
Raining Cats and Frogs
Ferdinand (voice)
Little Lili
acteur qui joue Simon
That Day
Harald
A Man, a Real One
Michel Piccoli
- 2001
I’m Going Home
Gilbert Valence
- 2000
Everything's Fine, We're Leaving
Louis
Kiarostami in Close up
as Self
1990s
- 1999
París-Tombuctú
Michel des Assantes
Libero Burro
Zio Tony
The Happiest Place on Earth
Récitant (voice)
Nothing About Robert
Lord Ariel Chatwick-West
- 1997
Passion in the Desert
Jean-Michel Venture de Paradis
Genealogies of a Crime
Georges Didier
- 1996
Tykho Moon
Mac Bee / frère Mac Bee
Ousmane Sow
Narrateur
Party
Michel
Traveling Companion
Cosimo
Beaumarchais the Scoundrel
Prince de Conti
- 1995
- 1994
The Black Angel
Georges Feuvrier
The Emigrant
Adam - Ram's father
Train de nuit
Movie
- 1993
Loonies at Large
Henri Toussaint
- 1992
The Supper
Chateaubriand (voice)
From Time to Time
Jules Verne
Le Bal des casse-pieds
Désiré, l'homosexuel
La Belle Noiseuse: Divertimento
Edouard Frenhofer
- 1991
The Children Thief
Mr. Armand
Walking a Tightrope
Marcel Spadice
The Fate of Baron Leisenbohg
Le baron de Leisenbohg
- 1990
Martha and I
Ernst
1980s
- 1989
Les Grandes Familles
Noël Schoudler · 4 episodes
The Monkey Folk
Movie
- 1988
Un coupable
L'avocat
Blanc de Chine
Batz
How Good the Whites Are
Père Jean-Marie
- 1987
Malady of Love
Raoul Bergeron
The Veiled Man
Kassar
La Rumba
Damien Malleville
The Distant Land
Friedrich Hofreiter
- 1986
The Prude
Pierre
Mauvais Sang
Marc
The Nonentity
der Tölpel
My Brother-in-law Killed My Sister
Étienne Sembadel
- 1985
Adieu Bonaparte
Caffarelli - كافاريللي
Death in a French Garden
Graham Tombsthay
La Lune
Movie
- 1984
Success Is the Best Revenge
French Official
Long Live Life
Michel Perrin
- 1983
The General of the Dead Army
Benetandi
The Prize of Peril
Frédéric Mallaire
- 1982
Will the High Salaried Workers Raise Their Hands!
José Viss
A Room in Town
Edmond Leroyer
The Eyes, the Mouth
Tío Agostino
Beyond the Door
Mr. Mutti
Godard's Passion
Michel Boulard
That Night of Varennes
King Louis XVI (uncredited)
The Passerby
Max Baumstein
La Cerisaie
Léonid
Spy, Stand Up
Jean-Paul Chance
- 1981
Strange Affair
Bertrand Malair
Confused Feelings
Professor
- 1980
Docteur Teyran
Jean Teyran · 3 episodes
The Price of Survival
René Winterhalter
A Leap in the Dark
Mauro Ponticelli
1970s
- 1979
The Bit Between the Teeth
Pierre Chazerand
Le Divorcement
Philippe
Atrocious Tales of Love and Death
Victor Navarro
- 1978
Sugar
Grezillo
Little Girl in Blue Velvet
Conrad Brukner
lulu
Schoen
The Savage State
Orlaville
Fire's Share
Robert Hansen
- 1977
The Accuser
Saint-Ramé
Rene the Cane
Ispettore Marchand
- 1976
Mado
Simon Léotard
F as in Fairbanks
Etienne
One Way or Another
Him
The Last Woman
Michel
- 1975
Leonor
Richard
Weak Spot
L'enquêteur
- 1974
The Voyage Into the Whirlpool Has Begun
Movie
Vincent, Francois, Paul and the Others
François, médecin
Life Size
Michel
Don't Touch the White Woman!
Buffalo Bill
Loving in the Rain
Mr. Dellerue (voice)
- 1973
Far West
Indian chief
Wedding in Blood
Pierre Maury
Themroc
Themroc
The Woman in Blue
Pierre
- 1972
Liza
Giorgio's friend
The Audience
Padre Amerin
- 1971
Touch and Go
Valentin
Max and the Junkmen
Max, inspector
- 1970
Invasion
Marcello
1960s
- 1969
The Uninvited
François Desailly
Dillinger Is Dead
Glauco
- 1968
Délire à deux
Him
Woman in Chains
L'invité pressé au vernissage (uncredited)
Heartbeat
Charles
The Diary of an Innocent Boy
Count Philippe
- 1967
My Love, My Love
Marrades
Shock Troops
L'homme de trop
The Dinosaur and the Baby
Paul Javal (archive footage)
- 1966
The Creatures
Edgar Piccoli
La Voleuse
Werner Kreuz
The Game Is Over
Alexandre Saccard
The Devil's Tricks
L'antiquaire
Le Coup de grâce
Capri / Bruno
- 1965
Lady L
Lecoeur
The Sleeping Car Murders
René Cabourg, l'employé besogneux (Victime #2)
Dom Juan
Dom Juan
- 1964
All About Loving
Raoul
Marie Soleil
Kafka
Chance at Love
Philippe Decharme (segment "Lucky la chance")
Paparazzi
Texte dit par (voice)
L'Été en hiver
Jean, the Reporter
- 1963
The Day and the Hour
Antoine
- 1962
Climates of Love
François
Parisienne... Parisiennes
Récitant (voice)
- 1961
Rendezvous
Paul
Amazons of Rome
Console Publicola
La Chevelure
L'homme
- 1960
Danger in the Middle East
Brian Cannon
La dragée haute
Hugo Barsac
1950s
- 1959
Beast at Bay
Commissioner Jacques Guimard
La Nuit de Tom Brown
Tom Brown, jeune
- 1958
Tabarin
Jacques Forestier
Sinners of Paris
L'inspecteur Vardier, de la P.J.
- 1957
Nathalie
Franck Marchal
Le Quadrille des diamants
Richard Burke
Sunday Buddies
Le directeur de l'aéro-club
The Witches of Salem
James Putnam
- 1956
- 1955
Bad Liaisons
un inspecteur
Ernst Thälmann – Leader of the Working Class
Maurice Rouger
Croissance de Paris
Récitant (voice)
French Cancan
Le Capitaine Valorgueil
Price of Love
Georges
- 1954
Tout chante autour de moi
Reverdier
Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances
Gérard
Daughters of Destiny
Pasquerel (segment "Jeanne")
- 1953
Horizons...
un ouvrier
- 1951
Chicago Digest
Slim Spring
Without Leaving an Address
Un journaliste aux archives (uncredited), Un journaliste aux archives
1940s
- 1949
The Perfume of the Lady in Black
Lebel
The Mark of the Day
Georges Gohelle
- 1945
The Bellman
Un villageois
Produced 9
1980s
- 1983
The General of the Dead Army
Producer
- 1980
The Price of Survival
Producer
1970s
- 1978
The Savage State
Producer
- 1977
- 1975
Leonor
Producer
Weak Spot
Co-Producer
- 1974
Life Size
Producer
Don't Touch the White Woman!
Producer
Directed 5
2000s
- 2006
C'est pas tout à fait la vie dont j'avais rêvé
Director
- 2001
The Black Beach
Director
1990s
- 1997
Alors voilà,
Director
- 1994
Train de nuit
Director
- 1991
Lest We Forget
Director
Wrote 5
2000s
- 2006
C'est pas tout à fait la vie dont j'avais rêvé
Writer
- 2001
The Black Beach
Writer
1990s
- 1997
Alors voilà,
Writer
- 1994
Train de nuit
Writer
1960s
- 1964
Paparazzi
Writer
Appearances45
2020s
- 2023
Godard by Godard
Self (archive footage)
- 2022
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
Self (archive footage)
- 2021
François Mitterrand & Anne Pingeot: Pieces of a Love Story
Self (archive footage)
2010s
- 2019
Claude Chabrol, the Maverick
Self - Actor (archive footage)
- 2017
Claude Sautet, Romy, Yves, Michel et les autres
Self (archive footage)
The Incredible Mr. Piccoli
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Marco Ferreri: Dangerous But Necessary
Self (archive footage)
- 2015
Our Lady of Hormones
Narrator
- 2011
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self · 5 episodes
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self
Il était une fois... Vincent, François, Paul et les autres
Self
- 2010
Portrait Of My Father
Self
2000s
- 2009
Once Upon a Time… Contempt
Self
- 2008
The Beaches of Agnès
Self (archive footage)
2 x 50 Years of French Cinema
Self
- 2006
Otar Iosseliani, le merle siffleur
Self
- 2005
Everything's Connected
Narrator
- 2004
Un divertissement et Michel Piccoli
Self
- 2002
Romy Schneider, étrange étrangère
Self
Brook by Brook
Self
- 2000
Speaking of Buñuel
Self
1990s
- 1998
Les paradoxes de Buñuel
Self
- 1995
The World of Jacques Demy
Self
- 1993
The Young Girls Turn 25
Self (archive footage)
- 1991
Lest We Forget
Self (segment "Pour Nasrin Rasooli, Iran")
1980s
- 1987
- 1984
Le Matelot 512
Narrator (voice)
- 1982
Scénario du film Passion
Self
- 1981
1970s
- 1978
Chili Impressions
Self - Le lecteur des écrits d'A. Pinochet (voice) · 4 episodes
- 1975
- 1974
- 1972
Cesar and Rosalie
Narrator (voice)
1960s
- 1967
Romy: Anatomy of a Face
Self
- 1966
Elsa the Rose
Narrator (voice)
- 1964
Bardot et Godard
Self
Luis Buñuel : Un cinéaste de notre temps
Narrator (voice)
- 1963
Hello Cubans
Narrator (voice)