Pierre Brasseur
Pierre Brasseur (22 December 1905 – 16 August 1972), born Pierre-Albert Espinasse, was a French actor.
Also recorded as Pierre-Albert Espinasse
Pierre Brasseur

Inconnu · Public domain
- Name
- Pierre Brasseur
- Birth Name
- Pierre-Albert Espinasse
- Born
- 22 December 1905
- Birthplace
- Paris, France
- Died
- 16 August 1972
- Place of death
- Bruneck, South Tyrol, Italy
- Occupation
- Actor
- Spouse
- Odette Joyeux (1935–1945) Lina Magrini (1947–1961)
- Full name
- Pierre Albert Espinasse.
- Nationality
- France.
- Honours
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres and Prix du Brigadier.
- Languages
- French.
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Pierre Brasseur (22 December 1905 – 16 August 1972), born Pierre-Albert Espinasse, was a French actor.
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q945890 · wikipedia · Pierre Brasseur
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Pierre Brasseur • Birth Name — Pierre-Albert Espinasse • Born — 22 December 1905 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 16 August 1972 • Place of death — Bruneck, South Tyrol, Italy • Resting Place — Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1924–1972 • Spouse — Odette Joyeux (1935–1945) Lina Magrini (1947–1961) • Children — Claude Brasseur
Biography
Biography
The son of actors Georges Espinasse and Germaine Brasseur was an actor as well. The family tradition of using the name Brasseur was continued by his son Claude and his grandson Alexandre. • Illustration — Pierre Brasseur in 1961 in the film Mon frère Jacques Renowned for playing outsized characters, Brasseur is best remembered for his (semi-fictionalised) portrayal of the actor Frédérick Lemaître in Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise, 1945) and as Docteur Génessier (more subdued) in the horror film Les Yeux sans visage (Eyes Without a Face, 1960) co-starring Alida Valli. On 30 May 1927, he performed the spoken role of the Narrator in the world premiere of Igor Stravinsky's opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex. • Illustration — Brasseur’s grave at Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• A Father Without Knowing It (1932) • Honeymoon Trip (1933) • One Night's Song (1933) • The Weaker Sex (1933) • The Uncle from Peking (1934) • A Rare Bird (1935) • The Decoy (1935) • Little One (1935) • The Squadron's Baby (1935) • Claudine at School (1937) • Giuseppe Verdi (1938) • Hercule (1938) • Port of Shadows (Le Quai des brumes, 1938) • The Path of Honour (1939) • The Corsican Brothers (1939) • Tobias Is an Angel (1940) • Three Argentines in Montmartre (1941) • The Crossroads (1942) • Promise to a Stranger (1942) • Summer Light (1943) • Goodbye Leonard (1943) • Children of Paradise (1945) • Gates of the Night (1946) • Pétrus (1946) • Jericho (1946) • Love Around the House (1947) • Rocambole (1948) • Cruise for the Unknown One (1948) • The Secret of Monte Cristo (1948) • The White Night (1948) • Millionaires for One Day (1949) • The Lovers Of Verona (1949) • The Man from Jamaica (1950) • Julie de Carneilhan (1950) • Skipper Next to God (1951) • Dirty Hands (1951) • Le Plaisir (1952) • Crimson Curtain (1952) • The King and the Mockingbird (1952, voice) • Rasputin (1954) • Oasis (1955) • Tower of Lust (1955) • Napoléon (1955) • Gates of Paris (1957) • Life Together (1958) • Les Grandes Familles (1958) • The Law (1959) • Head Against the Wall (1959) • Eyes Without a Face (1960) • Carthage in Flames (1960) • Il bell'Antonio (1960) • Candide ou l'optimisme au XXe siècle (1960) • Spotlight on a Murderer (1961) • The Nina B. Affair (1961) • Emile's Boat (1962) • Girl on the Road (1962) • Lucky Jo (1964) • Le Grain de sable (1964) • Un monde nouveau (1965) • The Duke's Gold (1965) • A Matter of Resistance (1966) • King of Hearts (1966) • Fortuna (1966) • Birds in Peru (1968) • Sous le signe de Monte-Cristo (1968) • A Little Virtuous (1968) • Macédoine (1971) • The Married Couple of the Year Two (1971)
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Pierre Brasseur was recorded at birth as Pierre Albert Espinasse. The authorities additionally record the heading Pierre-Albert Espinasse. His recorded language was French. He married Odette Joyeux. One child is recorded: Claude Brasseur. Other recorded relations include Alexandre Brasseur.
Identity
Identity
Pierre Brasseur is recorded as having received Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres and Prix du Brigadier.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1905
Pierre Brasseur born at 17th arrondissement of Paris.
1972
Pierre Brasseur died at Bruneck.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
17th arrondissement of Paris.
Birth place
Bruneck.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Pierre Brasseur”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q945890: Pierre Brasseur
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
scholarly publication
- Brasseur, Pierre (Pierre-Albert Espinasse) (1905–1972), Journeys of Desire, 2006
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2006
Honours
Brasseur was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 1966. The following year, he was made Commandeur (Commander) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1967.
References
Citations
References
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scholarly publication
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
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Died at
1- BruneckPlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
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 17 August 2026.
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