Michael Lonsdale
Michael Edward Lonsdale Crouch (24 May 1931 – 21 September 2020), commonly known as Michael Lonsdale and sometimes as Michel Lonsdale, was a French-British actor and author who appeared in over 180 films and television shows.[4] He is most famous for being cast as the villain Hugo Drax in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker,[5][9] deputy police commissioner Claude Lebel in The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Abbot in The Name of the Rose (1986) and Dupont d'Ivry in The Remains of the Day (1993).
Also recorded as Michel Lonsdale
Michael Lonsdale

Photo Claude TRUONG-NGOC · Claude Truong-Ngoc / Wikimedia Commons - cc-by-sa-4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Michael Lonsdale
- Birth Name
- Michael Edward Lonsdale-Crouch[1]
- Born
- 24 May 1931
- Birthplace
- Paris, France
- Died
- 21 September 2020
- Occupation
- Actor
- Nationality
- France and United Kingdom.
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Documentary summary
Michael Edward Lonsdale Crouch (24 May 1931 – 21 September 2020), commonly known as Michael Lonsdale and sometimes as Michel Lonsdale, was a French-British actor and author who appeared in over 180 films and television shows.[4] He is most famous for being cast as the villain Hugo Drax in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker,[5][9] deputy police commissioner Claude Lebel in The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Abbot in The Name of the Rose (1986) and Dupont d'Ivry in The Remains of the Day (1993).
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Michael Lonsdale • Birth Name — Michael Edward Lonsdale-Crouch[1] • Born — 24 May 1931 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 21 September 2020 • Place of death — Paris, France • Other Names — Michel Lonsdale • Years Active — 1955–2016[3] • Occupation — Actor
Early life and education
Early life and education
Lonsdale was born in Paris, the natural son of British Army officer Edward Lonsdale Crouch and Simone Calderon (née Béraud).[6] He was brought up initially on the island of Jersey,[7] then in London from 1935, and later, during the Second World War, in Casablanca, Morocco.
Career
Career
He returned to Paris to study painting in 1947, but was drawn into the world of acting instead, first appearing on stage at the age of 24.[8] Lonsdale was bilingual, and appeared in both English-language and French-language productions. He appeared in a starring role with Roger Moore in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker. and with Sean Connery, in the 1986 film The Name of the Rose. He would later appear in Munich (2005), a film that also starred another Bond actor, Daniel Craig. In February 2011, he won a César Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Of Gods and Men. Lonsdale was also the author of ten books.
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
As a practising Roman Catholic, he joined the Charismatic Renewal movement in the 1980s and was close to the Emmanuel Community.[10] In his 2016 memoir Le Dictionnaire de Ma Vie, Lonsdale revealed he had fallen for Delphine Seyrig, having met her as a student in Tania Balachova's acting classes at the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier in 1947. He wrote that "it was her or nothing", which was why he never married.[12] Lonsdale died in Paris on 21 September 2020, aged 89.[13]
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref(s) Reference(s) • 1982 — Smiley's People — Anton Grigoriev — TV miniseries • 1986 — Le Tiroir secret — TV miniseries • 1991 — Maigret ("Maigret et la Grande Perche") — Monsieur Serre — TV series • 2001 — Maigret ("Maigret et la Croqueuse de Diamants") — Sir Lampson — TV series • 2013 — Marguerite Yourcenar, alchimie du paysage — The Narrator — TV documentary • Le tourbillon de Jeanne — L'homme — TV series
Video games
Video games
• Year || Title || Role || Notes — Ref(s) Reference(s) • 2008 — Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon — Henri Crousteau — Voice-over • 2012 — 007 Legends — Hugo Drax — Voice-over[21]
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Michael Lonsdale was recorded at birth as Michael Edward Lonsdale-Crouch. He also worked under the names Alfred de Turri and Michel Lonsdale. The authorities additionally record the heading Michel Lonsdale. His recorded languages were French and English. His recorded confession was Catholic Church.

Michael Lonsdale au festival de Cannes
Georges Biard

Michael Lonsdale à l'avant première de Les Hommes libres d'Ismaël Ferroukhi - Paris Cinéma
Yann Caradec · Flickr: Avant première du film Les Hommes libres d'Ismaël Ferroukhi - Paris Cinéma
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1931
Michael Lonsdale born at 16th arrondissement of Paris.
2020
Michael Lonsdale died at 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref(s) Reference(s) • 1956 — It Happened in Aden — Sinclair • 1960 — La main chaude — Nobert[14] • Les portes claquent — Georges Hortegrenave • 1962 — Adorable Liar — Albert • Le Crime ne paie pas — L'employé de la morgue — (segment "L'homme de l'avenue"), Uncredited • La dénonciation — Mercier • Snobs! — Charles Dufaut • The Trial — Priest[15] • 1964 — Behold a Pale Horse — Reporter • Jealous as a Tiger — L'automobiliste qui grimace • 1965 — Les copains — Lamenbin • Je vous salue, mafia! — Hyman • 1966 — Your Money or Your Life — Le conférencier au club des timides • Is Paris Burning? — Debu-Bridel — Uncredited[16] • Judoka-Secret Agent — Thomas Perkins • Le fer à repasser • 1967 — Les compagnons de la marguerite — Lastac / Lataque, expert en écritures / La voix du juge d'instruction • L'authentique procès de Carl-Emmanuel Jung — Un avocat • 1968 — L'homme à la Buick — L'inspecteur / The inspector • The Bride Wore Black — René Morane • Stolen Kisses — Georges Tabard • La grande lessive! — Delaroche • 1969 — Hibernatus — Professor Edouard Lauriebat • Détruire, dit-elle — Stein • L'hiver — Julien & Marc • 1970 — L'étalon — Both • Le revolver et la rose — Philippe de la Tour / Dimitri Korkesky • 1971 — Le printemps — L'homme qui fuit • Murmur of the Heart — Father Henri • Les Assassins de l'ordre — Commissioner Bertrand[17] • Out 1 — Thomas • Papa les petits bateaux... — Hippolyte • Jaune le soleil — Un juif • 1972 — The Old Maid — Monod • Il était une fois un flic... — Le commissaire Lucas • Chut! — Sergel • L'automne — Julien, le réalisateur • Out 1: Spectre — Thomas • 1973 — The Day of the Jackal — Deputy Commissioner Claude Lebel • La fille au violoncelle — Philippe Lariel • Les grands sentiments font les bons gueuletons — Stéphane • 1974 — Successive Slidings of Pleasure — The Judge • La grande Paulette — Paul • Stavisky — Docteur Mézy — By Alain Resnais • La vérité sur l'imaginaire passion d'un inconnu — Le reporter TV / Ponce Pilate • Une baleine qui avait mal aux dents — Le peintre • Caravan to Vaccarès — Duc de Croyter • The Phantom of Liberty — Le chapelier / Hatter • Un linceul n'a pas de poches — Raymond • The Suspects — Le juge Souftries • 1975 — Serious as Pleasure — L'inspecteur Fournier / Inspector Fournier • Galileo — Cardinal Barberini, later Pope Urban VIII • Aloïse — The second doctor • Special Section — Le ministre de l'intérieur Pierre Pucheu • La traque — David Sutter • The Romantic Englishwoman — Swan • India Song — Le vice-consul de Lahore • Folle à tuer — Stéphane Mostri • The Pink Telephone — Morrison • Ne • 1976 — Scrambled Eggs — Le Président de la République • Mr. Klein — Pierre • Her Venetian Name in Deserted Calcutta — Récitant — Voice • Bartleby — L'huissier • L'Eden Palace — Raoul • 1977 — Le diable dans la boîte — Georges Aubert • L'adieu nu — Boris / The visitor • The Accuser — Abéraud • The Left-Handed Woman — Kellner • Aurais dû faire gaffe... le choc est terrible • Une sale histoire — Documentary • Jacques Prévert — Himself • 1979 — The Passage — Alain Renoudot • Moonraker — Hugo Drax • Ève avait l'éclat métallique de l'été • 1980 — Seuls — Le peintre • Ella, une vraie famille — Le comédien studio d'enregistrement • 1981 — The Bunker — Martin Bormann — TV movie • Chariots of Fire — Garth Jones • The Games of Countess Dolingen — Bertrand Haines-Pearson • Seuls — Ludovic • 1982 — Le rose et le blanc — Léon • Sweet Inquest on Violence — Ash, le financier • Chronopolis — Narrator — Voice • Mora — As writer • Enigma — Bodley • 1983 — Eréndira — Senator Onésimo Sanchez[18] • Une jeunesse — Bejardy • 1984 — The Judge — Le Docteur • Good King Dagobert — Saint Eloi • Les Boulugres — Le Roi — Voice • 1985 — The Holcroft Covenant — Ernst Manfredi • The Insomniac on the Bridge — Antoine • Billy Ze Kick — Commissaire Bellanger • 1986 — Canevas la ville — Voice • The Name of the Rose — The Abbot • 1987 — The Madonna Man — Tanzmann • L'enfant et le président — Le président • 1988 — The Tribulations of Balthazar Kober — Le maître • 1989 — Souvenir — Xavier Lorion • L'homme de terre — Narrator — Voice • Cela s'appelle l'amour — Himself • 1991 — My Life Is Hell — Gabriel — By Josiane Balasko • 1993 — Woyzeck — Le capitaine • L'ordre du jour — Stark • The Remains of the Day — Dupont D'Ivry • 1995 — Jefferson in Paris — Louis XVI • Nelly and Mr. Arnaud — Dolabella • 1996 — The Human Plant — Michel • 1997 — Mauvais genre — Honoré de Balzac • 1998 — Don Juan — Don Luis • Let There Be Light — Monseigneur Loublié — By Arthur Joffé • Ronin — Jean-Pierre[19] • 1999 — A Monkey's Tale — Master Martin — Voice • 2000 — Actors — Man in the street — By Bertrand Blier • Ceux d'en face — Mikaël • 2003 — The Mystery of the Yellow Room — Stangerson • Kaena: The Prophecy — Opaz — Voice, French version • Adieu — Serge • Le Furet — Don Salvadore • 2004 — L'empreinte — Romain Dessouches • Strange Crime — David • 5x2 — Bernard — By François Ozon • 2005 — Les invisibles — Le gardien • Bye Bye Blackbird — Robert • The Perfume of the Lady in Black — Le professeur Stangerson • Good Girl — Jean • Selon Rachel • Munich — Papa • 2006 — Il sera une fois... — Le vieux monsieur • Goya's Ghosts — Father Gregorio • 2007 — Heartbeat Detector — Mathias Jüst • To Each His Own Cinema — The old blind man — (segment "Le Don") • The Last Mistress — Le vicomte de Prony • Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure — Bartleby — Voice • 2009 — Agora — Theon • Je vais te manquer — Max • Park Benches — The Client doormat • 2010 — Of Gods and Men — Luc — César Award for Best Supporting Actor Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor • Hitler à Hollywood — Himself • 2011 — Titeuf — Le psy — Voice • Free Men — Le recteur Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit • The Cardboard Village — Il vecchio prete • 2012 — Gebo and the Shadow — Gebo — By Manoel de Oliveira • 2013 — Le renard jaune — Jean Virno • 2014 — Rosenn — Voice • Maestro — Cédric Rovère • 2015 — Les filles au Moyen Âge — Daniel • 2016 — The First, the Last — Jean-Berchmans • Sculpt — (final film role)[20]
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Mes Étoiles: les rencontres qui ont éclairé mon chemin, Michael Lonsdale and Patrick Scheyder, Bayard, 2018
- 2.Michael Lonsdale et Jeanne-Marie Conquer. Maison internationale des Poètes et des Écrivains de Saint-Malo.
- 3.La Rédaction. Mort de Michael Lonsdale : retour sur ses plus grands rôles. linternaute.com. 21 September 2020.
- 4.Michael Lonsdale, icône du cinéma et du théâtre, est mort. L'Obs. 21 September 2020.
- 5.Canby, Vincent. Moonraker (1979) MOONRAKER. The New York Times. 29 June 1979.
- 6.Qui est qui en France, Jacques Lafitte, 2008, p. 1433
- 7.Michael Lonsdale – Bond villain in Moonraker – dies, aged 89. Radio Times.
- 8.Les Inrocks - Michael Lonsdale. Les Inrocks.
- 9.Allen Kim. Michael Lonsdale, actor who played Bond villain in 'Moonraker,' dies at 87. CNN. 21 September 2020.
- 10.Michel Lonsdale, the Artist in love with God Emmanuel.info 2020
- 11.Michael Lonsdale, Bond villain Hugo Drax in Moonraker, dies aged 89 Theguardian.com 2020
- 12.Michael Lonsdale obituary. The Guardian. 22 September 2020.
- 13.Michael Lonsdale, Bond Villain in 'Moonraker,' Dies at 89 | Hollywood Reporter. www.hollywoodreporter.com. 21 September 2020.
- 14.Michael Lonsdale – Actor. mubi.com.
- 15.Michael Lonsdale obituary. the Guardian. 22 September 2020.
- 16.Pulver, Andrew. Michael Lonsdale, Bond villain Hugo Drax in Moonraker, dies aged 89. The Guardian. 21 September 2020. 0261-3077.
- 17.Curti, Roberto. French Thrillers of the 1970s: Volume I, Crime Films. McFarland & Company. 2026. 978-1-4766-8681-3.
- 18.Michael Lonsdale movie reviews & film summaries Roger Ebert. rogerebert.com.
- 19.Bond villain actor Michael Lonsdale dies aged 89. BBC News. 21 September 2020.
- 20.Allen Kim. Michael Lonsdale, actor who played Bond villain in 'Moonraker,' dies at 87. CNN. 21 September 2020.
- 21.Michael Lonsdale obituary: French actor dies at 89. Legacy.com. 22 September 2020.
- 22.Goodman, Lanie. A gentle screen giant subtly shines. The Wall Street Journal. 3 December 2010.
References
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Michael Lonsdale received César Award for Best Supporting Actor, Globes de Cristal Awards, Medal of the City of Paris and Prix Marguerite Duras.
Recognition and collections
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.
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