Charles Boyer

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 France—la grande nation—was the home of many famous actors and actresses, who became part of cinema history. But none of them was more successful in Hollywood than Charles Boyer.

Charles was born in the small French town of Figeac, Lot, Midi-Pyrenees, France. The son of Maurice and Louise Boyer, Charles’ interest in the theater was evident from a young age. Nevertheless, he studied philosophy at the Sorbonne. While working on his degree, however, he never lost his interest in acting. In 1920, he won his first leading role in a stage production, and was an immediate success. During the 1920s, he starred in numerous stage productions, as well as several silent movies.

Charles’ popularity in France soon gained the attention of Hollywood executives, and MGM signed him to a contract in 1929. For some years, Charles was featured only in supporting roles, but the appearance of movies with sound proved to be the turning point of Charles’ career. Featured in a small role in Jean Harlow’s Red-Headed Woman, Charles’ deep, romantic voice, coupled with his suave French accent, captured the attention of audiences. In 1934, Charles was featured in his first leading role in Hollywood, opposite Loretta Young, in Caravan.

Also in 1934, Charles met his wife, Pat Paterson, a young British actress. Meeting at a dinner party, the couple was engaged two weeks later. Only three months later, they were married.

Meanwhile, Charles continued to build his career in European films, as well. Co-starring with Danielle Darrieux in Mayerling (1936), Charles became an international star. In Hollywood, Charles was featured in his first Technicolor movie, The Garden of Allah, in 1936. The movie, in which Charles was featured opposite Marlene Dietrich, established him as a major star in the United States. His career continued to grow, and he co-starred with several of the most famous actresses of the studio era, including Greta Garbo, in Conquest (1937).

However, in 1938, Charles found his most popular and enduring role, as Pepe le Moko in Algiers. Starring opposite Hedy Lamarr, Charles brought a suave sophistication to the role, and it became his most well known performance.

Algiers established Boyer as the ultimate continental lover, and he continued to cultivate his image in several popular films. In 1940, he starred opposite Bette Davis in All This, and Heaven Too, and in 1944, he gave an excellent performance as Ingrid Bergman’s husband in the tense film, Gaslight.

In 1943, Charles was awarded an Honorary Oscar Certificate for "progressive cultural achievement" in establishing the French Research Foundation in Los Angeles. Although he never won an Academy Award, Charles was nominated four times for Best Actor, in Conquest (1937), Algiers (1938), Gaslight (1944) and Fanny (1961).

After his film career seemed to stall for a brief period, Charles decided to move into television. He made a notable guest appearance on I Love Lucy, and was nominated for any Emmy Award for his work in the Four Star Playhouse.

He also enjoyed working on Broadway, and his most popular role was that of Don Juan, in a dramatic reading of George Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman, directed by Charles Laughton.

Throughout his later years, Charles continued to be a popular screen star. His most famous supporting roles at the time were Fanny (1961) with Leslie Caron; Barefoot in the Park (1967) starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda; and Jean-Paul Belmondo's Stavisky (1974). His last major film role was that of the High Lama in a musical version of Lost Horizon, a poorly received remake of Frank Capra’s classic movie.

Although Charles was famous as romantic star, he never acted in a movie more romantic than in his own marriage with Pat Paterson. The couple was inseparable throughout their 44 year marriage, and Charles was devastated when she died of cancer in 1978. After making the funeral arrangements and arranging his affairs, Charles took his own life two days later, with an overdose of the drug Seconal.

During his career, Charles Boyer co-starred with most of the famous actresses of the classic era, including Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Jean Arthur, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman, Jean Harlow, Loretta Young, Hedy Lamarr, Barbara Stanwyck, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Irene Dunne, Jane Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Claudette Colbert, Olivia DeHavilland, Joan Fontaine, Paulette Goddard, Margaret O’Sullavan, Leslie Caron, Jennifer Jones, and Jessica Tandy. His success in Hollywood has not been equaled by any French star to date, and he remains one of the most romantic stars in Hollywood history.

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