Henri Verneuil

Verneuil was born Ashot Malakian (Western Armenian: Աշոտ Մալաքեան; Armenian: Աշոտ Մալաքյան) on 15 October 1920 in Rodosto, Ottoman Empire to Armenian parents. In 1924, Verneuil's family fled to Marseille to escape the persecution of Armenian following the Armenian genocide. He later recounted his childhood experience in the novel Mayrig, which he dedicated to his mother and made into a 1991 film with the same name, which was followed by a sequel, 588 Rue Paradis, the following year. Verneuil entered the École Nationale d'Arts et Metiers in Aix-en-Provence in 1942. After graduation, he worked as a journalist, then became editor of Horizon Armenian magazine.

In 1947, Verneuil managed to convince the established European film actor Fernandel to appear in his first film. In 1951 he directed his first feature, the black comedy La Table aux crevés. His second film, Forbidden Fruit (1952), based on a Georges Simenon novel, was even more acclaimed. Later he also directed other movie stars including Jean Gabin, Alain Delon, Lino Ventura (all together acting for him in "Le clan des siciliens" in 1969), Jean-Paul Belmondo ("Le Corps de mon ennemi" in 1976 and other films), Omar Sharif, Claudia Cardinale (Mayrig), Yves Montand and Michèle Morgan. Verneuil has filmed almost all the great figures of French cinema, with the exception of Bourvil, as even Louis de Funès has a small role in one of his films. After the American experience (he was called the "most American of French directors"), in 1969 Verneuil "found" France. He was awarded a César in 1996 and he was elected a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in 2000.

Verneuil was first married to the film editor Françoise Bonnot, before later divorcing. Verneuil and Bonnot had two children, including the director Patrick Malakian. Verneuil later married Véronique Sedro with whom he had two children, including the actress Gaya Verneuil. On 11 January 2002 died in Bagnolet aged 81. Verneuil is buried at his family burial vault in Marseille.