François Leterrier
François Leterrier (26 May 1929 – 4 December 2020) was a French film director and actor. He entered the film industry when he was cast as the lead in Robert Bresson's film A Man Escaped (1956). After this, he assisted other directors before directing his debut film in 1961.
François Leterrier
ManoSolo13241324 · CC0
- Full name
- François Jean Pierre Gilbert Leterrier.
- Born
- 1929. · Margny-lès-Compiègne.
- Died
- 2020. · 13th arrondissement of Paris.
- Nationality
- France.
- Occupation
- actor, screenwriter and director.
- Fields
- acting and film direction.
- Honours
- Knight of the Legion of Honour.
- Languages
- French.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
François Leterrier (26 May 1929 – 4 December 2020) was a French film director and actor. He entered the film industry when he was cast as the lead in Robert Bresson's film A Man Escaped (1956). After this, he assisted other directors before directing his debut film in 1961.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for François Leterrier. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q769772 · wikipedia · François Leterrier
In this article
Life and career
Life and career
François Leterrier studied at the University of Paris where he took a degree in philosophy. During his student years, he frequently attended the university's film club. He did his military service in Morocco, where he was discovered by the film director Robert Bresson, known for casting unknowns, who gave him the leading role in the 1956 film A Man Escaped. After this, Leterrier was able to work as an assistant director for Louis Malle, Etienne Périer, and Yves Allégret. His debut film as director was Les Mauvais Coups from 1961, based on a novel by Roger Vailland. He also adapted works by Jean Giono, Paul Morand, and Raymond Queneau. François's son Louis also became a film director. He is notable for his action and blockbuster films, such as the first two Transporter films, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of the Titans, and Now You See Me.
Directed for television
Directed for television
• La Guêpe (1965) • Milady (1976) • Pierrot mon ami (1979) • Le Voleur d'enfants (1981) • Le Cœur du voyage (1986) • L'Île (1987) • Imogène (1989, 3 episodes) • Clovis (1993, 2 episodes) • Les Disparus de Reillanne (1993)
Actor
Actor
• A Man Escaped (1956) - Le lieutenant Fontaine • Stavisky (1974) - André Malraux (final film role)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1929
François Leterrier born at Margny-lès-Compiègne.
2020
François Leterrier died at 13th arrondissement of Paris.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Margny-lès-Compiègne.
Birth place
13th arrondissement of Paris.
Death place
Directed for film
• Les Mauvais Coups (1961) • A King Without Distraction (Un roi sans divertissement) (1963) • The Royal Chase (La Chasse royale) (1969) • Private Screening (Projection privée) (1973) • Goodbye Emmanuelle (1977) • Your Turn, My Turn (Va voir maman, papa travaille) (1978) • Rat Race (Je vais craquer) (1980) • Les Babas Cool (1981) • Le Garde du corps (1984) • Tranches de vie (1985) • The Son of the Mekong (Le Fils du Mékong) (1992)
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,298 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- François DupeyronPerson
- François GirardPerson
- François GoetghebeurPerson
- François Jules Edmond GotPerson
- François MaistrePerson
- François MironPerson
- François MorelPerson
- François OzonPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by François Leterrier?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.