Léon Zitrone

Léon Zitrone studied at École supérieure de journalisme de Paris. The recorded working language is French. The field of work recorded is journalism, television journalism and radio journalism. Employment is recorded with TF1. Distinctions recorded are Knight of the Legion of Honour.

• Name — Léon Zitrone • Birth Name — Lev Romanovich Zitron • Born — 25 November 1914 • Birthplace — Petrograd, Russian Empire • Died — 25 November 1995 • Place of death — Paris, France • Resting Place — Levallois-Perret Cemetery, France • Occupation — Television journalist • Education — École supérieure de journalisme de Paris • Children — 3

Zitrone was born to a Jewish family in Petrograd, Russia. He arrived in France with his family fleeing communism at the age of six. He graduated from the ESJ Paris. He began by training in scientific studies but his mastership of Russian, French, English and German gave him entrance in 1948 to the radio foreign broadcasting services of Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF). In 1959, he joined the television activity of RTF. From 1961, he became news presenter, a function he occupied for nearly 20 years, first until 1975, on the first French television channel (now TF1), then also on Antenne 2, the other public service channel. Jean-Pierre Elkabbach called him back in 1979. He then took charge of the news program during the weekend (his contract was established until 1 February 1981). He would come back for those news programs also during the Easter and Pentecost weekends. • Illustration — Zitrone hosting Intervilles in 1986 But Léon Zitrone's celebrity is due to the programs he presented or co-presented. He was host of the televised program Intervilles (French counterpart of Britain's It's a Knockout) with Guy Lux. He was a Tour de France commentator six times, and is remembered for his prodigious memory for names of riders. He presented the Olympics 8 times, commented the Eurovision Song Contest on 4 occasions and presented 16 Bastille Day military parades. His notoriety can be attributed to being a key commenter for big events, such as weddings, burials, or investitures of many prominent figures across Europe, some thirty of them during the course of his career. In 1978, following French singer Marie Myriam's victory the previous year, the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Paris. Léon Zitrone co-presented with Denise Fabre and made the presentation in English. He was the oldest host of the Eurovision Song Contest, aged 63. In 1984, Zitrone took a leading role in the movie American Dreamer.

• Illustration — Zitrone's grave He died from a cerebral hemorrhage on his 81st birthday, 25 November 1995, at the Val-de-Grâce hospital in Paris. He was buried at Levallois-Perret Cemetery.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1959 — Rue des prairies — Himself • 1961 — Leon Garros ishchet druga — Léon Garros • 1961 — Three Faces of Sin — Himself • 1961 — The President — Himself — Uncredited • 1961 — Cocagne — Himself • 1962 — The Gentleman from Epsom — Himself — Uncredited • 1962 — Portrait-robot — Himself • 1963 — The Bamboo Stroke • 1963 — Méfiez-vous, mesdames — Himself • 1964 — Dandelions by the Roots — Himself / Voice commentary — Voice, Uncredited • 1965 — Operation Double Cross — Himself • 1966 — Le caïd de Champignol — Himself • 1966 — Un garçon, une fille. Le dix-septième ciel — Himself — Voice, Uncredited • 1967 — Live for Life — Le présentateur télé • 1968 — Pasha — Himself / Horse racing commentary — Uncredited • 1968 — Ho! — Himself / En personne — Uncredited • 1969 — Les gros malins • 1969 — Trois hommes sur un cheval — Horse racing enthusiast — Uncredited • 1971 — Macédoine — Himself — Uncredited • 1972 — Les intrus — Journalist • 1974 — Mariage — Himself • 1975 — Bons Baisers de Hong Kong — French spy • 1976 — L'Année sainte — TV actor — Voice, Uncredited • 1977 — Drôles de zèbres — Horse racing commentary • 1978 — Et vive la liberté! — Himself • 1980 — The Umbrella Coup — Commentary — Voice • 1980 — La Boum — Himself • 1982 — Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ • 1983 — Les Mots pour le dire — TV presenter — Uncredited • 1984 — American Dreamer — Ivan Stranauvlitch • 1985 — Le mariage du siècle — Commentary — Voice