Motion picture director, producer and screenwriter of armenian descent.
Born Achod Malakian, in 1924 he fled with his family to Marseille, to escape persecution after the Armenian genocide. He studied engineering and after graduation started out as a journalist and radio commentator. Began directing short films in 1946 and turned to features in the early 50s, thanks to famous comedien Fernandel, who supported him, and with whom he directed several successful comedies until the end of the 1950s. He then turned to drama, thrillers and action films of strong box-office appeal, starring the greatest stars of the time such as Lino Ventura, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Montand and Jean Gabin. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1956 for "Best Writing, Motion Picture Story" for " Le mouton à cinq pattes", which he also directed. Other credits include "La Table-aux-Crevés" (1951), "L'ennemi public n° 1" (1953), "Des gens sans importance" (1956), "La vache et le prisonnier" (1959), "Mélodie en sous-sol" (1963), "Cent mille dollars au soleil" (1964), "Le clan des siciliens" (1969), "Le serpent" (1972, with Yul Brynner and Henry Fonda), "I... comme Icare" (1979), "Mille milliards de dollars" (1982, with Patrick Dewaere) and "Mayrig" (1991, with Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif). In 1996 he received an honorary César for his life's work. He is considered the most financially successful director in French cinema. He died from a heart attack.
Born Achod Malakian, in 1924 he fled with his family to Marseille, to escape persecution after the Armenian genocide. He studied engineering and after graduation started out as a journalist and radio commentator. Began directing short films in 1946 and turned to features in the early 50s, thanks to famous comedien Fernandel, who supported him, and with whom he directed several successful comedies until the end of the 1950s. He then turned to drama, thrillers and action films of strong box-office appeal, starring the greatest stars of the time such as Lino Ventura, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Montand and Jean Gabin. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1956 for "Best Writing, Motion Picture Story" for " Le mouton à cinq pattes", which he also directed. Other credits include "La Table-aux-Crevés" (1951), "L'ennemi public n° 1" (1953), "Des gens sans importance" (1956), "La vache et le prisonnier" (1959), "Mélodie en sous-sol" (1963), "Cent mille dollars au soleil" (1964), "Le clan des siciliens" (1969), "Le serpent" (1972, with Yul Brynner and Henry Fonda), "I... comme Icare" (1979), "Mille milliards de dollars" (1982, with Patrick Dewaere) and "Mayrig" (1991, with Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif). In 1996 he received an honorary César for his life's work. He is considered the most financially successful director in French cinema. He died from a heart attack.
Motion picture director, producer and screenwriter of armenian descent.
Born Achod Malakian, in 1924 he fled with his family to Marseille, to escape persecution after the Armenian genocide. He studied engineering and after graduation started out as a journalist and radio commentator. Began directing short films in 1946 and turned to features in the early 50s, thanks to famous comedien Fernandel, who supported him, and with whom he directed several successful comedies until the end of the 1950s. He then turned to drama, thrillers and action films of strong box-office appeal, starring the greatest stars of the time such as Lino Ventura, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Montand and Jean Gabin. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1956 for "Best Writing, Motion Picture Story" for " Le mouton à cinq pattes", which he also directed. Other credits include "La Table-aux-Crevés" (1951), "L'ennemi public n° 1" (1953), "Des gens sans importance" (1956), "La vache et le prisonnier" (1959), "Mélodie en sous-sol" (1963), "Cent mille dollars au soleil" (1964), "Le clan des siciliens" (1969), "Le serpent" (1972, with Yul Brynner and Henry Fonda), "I... comme Icare" (1979), "Mille milliards de dollars" (1982, with Patrick Dewaere) and "Mayrig" (1991, with Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif). In 1996 he received an honorary César for his life's work. He is considered the most financially successful director in French cinema. He died from a heart attack.
Born Achod Malakian, in 1924 he fled with his family to Marseille, to escape persecution after the Armenian genocide. He studied engineering and after graduation started out as a journalist and radio commentator. Began directing short films in 1946 and turned to features in the early 50s, thanks to famous comedien Fernandel, who supported him, and with whom he directed several successful comedies until the end of the 1950s. He then turned to drama, thrillers and action films of strong box-office appeal, starring the greatest stars of the time such as Lino Ventura, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Montand and Jean Gabin. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1956 for "Best Writing, Motion Picture Story" for " Le mouton à cinq pattes", which he also directed. Other credits include "La Table-aux-Crevés" (1951), "L'ennemi public n° 1" (1953), "Des gens sans importance" (1956), "La vache et le prisonnier" (1959), "Mélodie en sous-sol" (1963), "Cent mille dollars au soleil" (1964), "Le clan des siciliens" (1969), "Le serpent" (1972, with Yul Brynner and Henry Fonda), "I... comme Icare" (1979), "Mille milliards de dollars" (1982, with Patrick Dewaere) and "Mayrig" (1991, with Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif). In 1996 he received an honorary César for his life's work. He is considered the most financially successful director in French cinema. He died from a heart attack.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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