Bourvil
Known for Acting · 78 credits
- Born
- 1917-07-27
- Died
- 1970-09-23
- Place of birth
- Prétot-Vicquemare, Seine-Inférieure [now Seine-Maritime], France
- Also known as
- André Zacharie Raimbourg · André Bourvil · André Robert Raimbourg · Бурвиль
Biography
André Robert Raimbourg (27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil, and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in the films Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). For his performance in Le Corniaud, he won a Special Diploma at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival.
Bourvil's father was killed in the First World War before he was born. As a result, he spent his entire childhood in the village of Bourville, from which he took his stage name. He married Jeanne Lefrique on 23 January 1943. After a battle with Kahler's syndrome, which attacks the bone marrow, he died at the age of 53. He is buried in Montainville, Yvelines.
In his comic performances Bourvil principally played roles of gentle and well-meaning characters who were often a bit obtuse or naïve, such as his roles opposite the hyperactive, dishonest and bossy ones played by Louis de Funès. Bourvil's characters not only managed to make viewers laugh, but also to save themselves, often unwittingly, from the Machiavellian designs of his adversaries.
Bourvil was, however, also capable of more dramatic roles such as the handyman in L'Arbre de Noël (1969). In this role he observes the relationship between a man he works for and the young son who has fallen ill. The audience can identify with the character played by Bourvil, just as they can in his comic roles, so often as a simple man. One can also note his role of Monsieur Thénardier in the film adaptation of Les Misérables (1958), and his penultimate role as the policeman Mattei in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Cercle rouge (1970).
In March 1948, Bourvil took part in the complete recording of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann with artists of the Paris Opéra-Comique conducted by André Cluytens, playing the four 'servant' roles.
Known For
TV Shows (4)
Movies (74)
The Longest Day
1962
as Mayor of Colleville
Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!
1966
as Augustin Bouvet
The Brain
1969
as Anatole
The Sucker
1965
as Antoine Maréchal
Le Cercle Rouge
1970
as Commissioner François Mattei
Les Misérables
1958
as Thénardier
The Hussars
1955
as le trompette Flicot Jean-Louis
The Three Musketeers
1953
as Planchet
The Hunchback of Paris
1959
as Passepoil
The Wise Guys
1965
as Hector Valentin
Royal Affairs in Versailles
1953
as Museum guard
La Traversée de Paris
1956
as Marcel Martin, unemployed taxi driver
White as Snow
1948
as Léon Ménard
Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)
2009
as Self (archive footage)
Monte Carlo or Bust!
1969
as Monsieur Dupont
Belmondo: The Incorrigible
2022
The Stud
1970
as William Chaminade
Captain Blood
1960
as Baladin Cogolin
The Dirty Game
1965
as Lalande
The Hotshots
1968
as Jules Auguste Duroc
Jean Gabin, le dernier des géants
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Atlantic Wall
1970
as Léon Duchemin, Norman restaurateur
The Christmas Tree
1969
as Verdun
Tartarin de Tarascon
1962
as Priest who reinflates the tire of his moped
Don't Tempt the Devil
1963
as Albert Gaudet, investigating judge
The Green Mare
1959
as Honoré Haudouin
Un clair de Lune à Maubeuge
1962
as Le chanteur à la télévision
Les Culottes rouges
1962
as Fendard
Crazy for Love
1952
as Hippolyte Lemoine, neveu d'Augustine
All the Gold in the World
1961
as Mathieu Dumont / Antoine Dumont / Martial Dumont
Sunday Encounter
1958
as Jean Brévent
Les Arnaud
1967
as Judge Henri Arnaud
Way of Youth
1959
as Charles Michaud, père
A Night at the Opera
2020
Mr. Peek-a-Boo
1951
as Léon Dutilleul
The Mirror Has Two Faces
1958
as Pierre Tardivet
My Wife's Husband
1963
as André Colombey
Miquette
1950
as Urbain de la Tour-Mirande
Thank Heaven for Small Favors
1963
as Georges Lachaunaye
Sideral Cruises
1942
as Scientist
The Big Swag
1965
as Louis Bourdin, metro ticket puncher and writer
Fortunate
1960
as Noël Fortunat
The Busybody
1961
as André Loriot
April Fools' Day
1954
as Émile Dupuy
Le Tournage du Corniaud… Tout sauf un long fleuve tranquille
2015
as Self (archive footage)
The Singer from Mexico
1957
as Bilou
The Big Wash
1968
as Armand Saint-Just
Josefa's Loot
1963
as Pierre Corneille
Serenade of Texas
1958
as Me Jérôme Quilleboeuf
The Big Scare
1964
Les Rois de la comédie
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Clodo
1971
as Gaston (uncredited)
By the Window
1948
as Gaston 'Pilou'
Le Fil à la patte
1954
as Camille Bouzin, clerc de notaire et auteur de chansonnettes lestes
Bourvil, un homme vrai
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Cadet Rousselle
1954
as Jérôme Baguindet
Hanged Man's Farm
1945
as Le bourrelier, le chanteur à la noce
La Bonne Planque
1964
as Antoine Perrin
Le Roi Pandore
1950
as Léon Ménard, le gendarme
Not So Stupid
1947
as Léon Ménard
Alone in Paris
1951
as Henri Milliard, le jeune marié campagnard
A Star to the Sun
1943
as (uncredited)
Lino Ventura, la part intime
2018
as Self (archive footage)
La Traversée de Bourvil
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Three Disordered Children
1966
as Eugène Laporte, entrepreneur de travaux publics
Grrr....
1952
as Lui-même
Foutraque (!)
as himself
Bourvil : le rire et la tendresse
2025
as Self (Footage Archives)
Wear His Heart on His Sleeve
1949
as Leon Ménard
The Prize
1950
as Isidore Pastouret
Studio en folies
1947
as Self
Bourvil : Bien... si bien
2009
as Self (archive footage)
One Hundred Francs Per Second
1953
as Self
Bourvil, du comique paysan au génie de l'acteur
2015
as Self (archive footage)
About Bourvil
André Robert Raimbourg (27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil, and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in the films Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). For his performance in Le Corniaud, he won a Special Diploma at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival. Bourvil's father was killed in the First World War before he was born. As a result, he spent his entire childhood in the village of… With 78 credits spanning from 1942 to 2025, Bourvil has appeared in 74 films and 4 TV shows.
Fans searching for Bourvil movies, Bourvil filmography, or the latest projects starring Bourvil can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Bourvil Movies
- The Longest Day (1962) — as Mayor of Colleville
- Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (1966) — as Augustin Bouvet
- The Brain (1969) — as Anatole
- The Sucker (1965) — as Antoine Maréchal
- Le Cercle Rouge (1970) — as Commissioner François Mattei
Where to Watch Bourvil Films
Most Bourvil movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Bourvil, check our movies catalogue and browse page.