Commanding, durable French star with broad, heavy features who became his country's most important film star and who indeed came to embody French cinema itself. Gabin began his career with the Folies Bergeres in the 1920s and made his screen debut in "Chacun sa chance" (1930). By the end of the decade Gabin was France's leading screen idol, thanks to films like "Maria Chapdelaine" (1934), "Pepe le Moko" (1936), "La Grande Illusion" (1937), "La Bete Humaine" (1938) and "Daybreak" (1939). His troubled but heroic, working-class persona were vital in the development of French poetic realism and made him the perfect foil for sundry femmes fatales including Simone Simon and Mireille Balin.
After spending WWII in Hollywood, Gabin restored his popularity in France, appearing in films through the 1970s and forming the Gafer production company with fellow actor Fernandel. Married to actress Gaby Basset from 1925 to 1933.
Companion
WIFE: Gaby Basset. Actor. Married in 1925; divorced in 1933.
Milestone
1918: Laborer
1923: Dancer with Folies-Bergere
1930: Film actor
1963: Formed company Gafer Films (with Fernandel)
Sandy
What happened to Pepe Le Moko?
Pepe Le Moko is missing from tcm.com
More>>
Sadao Ohata
J'aime Monsieur Jean Gabin
Je pense que Jean Gabin est la grande acteur dans le monde.Ses films sont numeroux. Specialment j'aime PEPE LE MOCO.
More>>
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.