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.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q769772 · wikipedia · François Leterrier
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Institutions cited
Bibliothèque nationale de France · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Complete reading chain (JSON)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.
Documentary record
François Leterrier, a director and film actor, was born on 26 May 1929 and died on 3 December 2020 in Paris, 13th arrondissement, France. François Leterrier was born in Margny-lès-Compiègne, according to the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The Bibliothèque nationale de France records the fuller form Margny-lès-Compiègne (Oise). The death is recorded by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
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
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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)
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article François Leterrier, revision 1368387911 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Cited by Wikipedia
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References
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Secondary witness
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
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