Jean-Louis Trintignant dead at 91: ‘A Man and a Woman’ star was French film icon

Jean-Louis Trintignant dead at 91: ‘A Man and a Woman’ star was French film icon

French film legend Jean-Louis Trintignant has died at the age of 91.

The veteran international superstar passed away at his home in the Gard region of southern France on Friday. His wife, Marianne, confirmed his death to Agence France-Presse.

He is perhaps best known for his work in art house cinema, including “A Man and a Woman,” “My Night at Maud’s,” “The Conformist,” “Three Colors: Red” and “Amour.”

His 60-year career led to more than 130 screen credits and at least 50 stage roles, spanning Shakespeare to French comedy.

In 1969, Trintignant was awarded Cannes’ best actor prize for political thriller “Z,” helmed by famed Greek director Costa-Gavras.

More recently, in 2013, he earned France’s Cesar Award for Michael Haneke’s “Amour,” which went on to win the Oscar that year for best foreign-language film.

Jean-Louis TrintignantDuring his 60-year career the French actor has earned Cannes’ best actor prize and a Cesar Award, and starred in other Oscar-winning films.Courtesy Everett CollectionJean-Louis Trintignant and Anouk AimeeJean-Louis Trintignant starred opposite French actress Anouk Aimée in “A Man and a Woman,” and again, 53 years later, for the epilogue, “The Best Years of a Life.”Courtesy Everett Collection

Trintignant shot to international fame in 1966, playing a lovesick race car driver opposite French bombshell Anouk Aimée, in Claude Lelouch’s “A Man and a Woman.” It, too, took the Academy Award for best screenplay and foreign-language film.


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In 2017, the actor declared he was done with the movie business, but returned from retirement for what he said would be his last role, in “The Best Years of a Life” — rejoining Aimée 53 years later for the epilogue to Lelouch’s classic romantic drama.