Jean-Paul Rappeneau

The recorded working language is French. Works named in the authority record are Cyrano de Bergerac. Distinctions recorded are Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Louis Delluc Prize, National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film and César Award for Best Film.

• Name — Jean-Paul Rappeneau • Born — 8 April 1932 • Birthplace — Auxerre, Yonne, France • Died — 1 September 2026 • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter • Years Active — 1960–2015

Rappeneau started out in film as an assistant and screenwriter collaborating with Louis Malle on Zazie dans le métro in 1960 and Vie privée in 1961. In 1964, he was co-screenwriter for L'Homme de Rio, which starred Jean-Paul Belmondo. The first film that he both wrote and directed was A Matter of Resistance in 1965. Although it was a great critical and popular success, he did not make another film until 1971, when he directed Les Mariés de l'an II, again starring Belmondo and Marlène Jobert. From 1975, Rappeneau wrote only for his own films, including Le Sauvage, starring Yves Montand and Tout feu, tout flamme (1981), again with Montand, who co-starred with Isabelle Adjani. In 1990, Rappeneau directed a deluxe Technicolor film version of Cyrano de Bergerac, his adaptation of the classic French play by Edmond Rostand, starring Gérard Depardieu. Rappeneau's film version is the most elaborate film version of the play ever made, and one of the most expensive French films ever produced. It is the only rendition of the play in the original French to be released widely. At the 1991 César Awards, Rappeneau won the César Award for Best Director and César Award for Best Film. The 2003 comedy Bon voyage, co-written with Patrick Modiano, again starred Depardieu, this time with Isabelle Adjani. The film was nominated 11 times at the 2004 César Awards.

Rappeneau died on 1 September 2026, at the age of 94.

• Year — Title — Credited as — Notes • Director — Screenwriter • 1958 — Chronique provinciale — Short film • 1959 — Signé Arsène Lupin • 1960 — Zazie dans le Métro • 1962 — A Very Private Affair • 1962 — Le Combat dans l'île • 1964 — That Man from Rio — Nominated—Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay • 1965 — Marco the Magnificent • 1965 — Les Survivants — TV series • 1966 — A Matter of Resistance — Louis Delluc Prize • 1971 — The Married Couple of the Year Two — Nominated—Palme d'Or (1971 Cannes Film Festival) • 1971 — Le Magnifique • 1975 — Lovers Like Us — Nominated—César Award for Best Director • 1982 — All Fired Up • 1990 — Cyrano de Bergerac — César Award for Best Film César Award for Best Director David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film London Film Critics' Circle Award for Foreign Language Film of the Year National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film People's Choice Award (1990 Toronto International Film Festival) Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated—César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation Nominated—European Film Award for Best Film Nominated—Palme d'Or (1990 Cannes Film Festival) • 1995 — The Horseman on the Roof — Nominated—César Award for Best Film Nominated—César Award for Best Director • 2003 — Bon Voyage — Swann d'Or for Best Director Nominated—César Award for Best Film Nominated—César Award for Best Director Nominated—César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation • 2015 — Families