Jourdan Family History & Genealogy

Louis Jourdan Born June 19, 1921 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France Died February 14, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (natural causes) Birth Name Louis Robert Gendre Nickname: The Latin Lover Height 5' 11" (1.8 m) Mini Bio (1) Louis Jourdan was born Louis Robert Gendre in Marseille, France, to Yvonne (née Jourdan) and Henry Gendre, a hotel owner. He was educated in France, Britain, and Turkey. He trained as an actor with René Simon at the École Dramatique. He debuted on screen in 1939, going on to play cultivated, polished, dashing lead roles in a number of French romantic comedies and dramas. During World War II, after his father, the manager of the Cannes Grand Hôtel, was arrested by the Gestapo, Louis and his two brothers (both of whom became film directors, Pierre Jourdan and Robert Gendre) joined the French underground; his film career came to a halt when he refused to act in Nazi propaganda films. In 1948, David O. Selznick invited him to Hollywood to appear in The Paradine Case (1947); he remained in the USA and went on to star in a number of Hollywood films. After 1953, he appeared in international productions and, in 1958, appeared in Gigi (1958), his best-known film by American audiences. He also made numerous appearances on American television. Jourdan died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, in 2015, aged 93. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ohad Rosen Spouse (1) Berthe 'Quique' Frederique Takar (11 March 1946 - 2014) ( her death) ( 1 child) Trade Mark (1) Often played dashing and charming characters Trivia (14) Part of his French Resistance work was to help publish and distribute newspapers for the Underground. Considered the best player in Darryl F. Zanuck's famous croquet circle. He has two stars on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame". Played the Maurice Chevalier role in "Gigi" on stage at the age of 63. Chevalier was 70 and frail when he did the movie Gigi (1958). Jourdan's wife, Berthe, was known by the nickname "Quique"; the two were childhood sweethearts. Their only child, a son, Louis Henry George Jourdan, was born October 6, 1951 and died in 1981, aged 29, predeceasing his parents. Louis Jourdan found his son's body in his Beverly Hills home. His son had suffered from depression and had apparently taken an overdose of drugs. The police labeled it a suicide, even though it may have been an accidental overdose. He grew up in the south of France with 2 brothers. Parents Yvonne Jourdan and Henry Gendre managed a string of hotels in Cannes, Nice, and Marseilles. He perfected his English by speaking to tourists. According to an 1985 news article, he reads Nietzsche and Schopenhauer. He was nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for his performance in the play, "13 Rue De L'Amour", at the Arlington Park Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Played Edmond Dantes in "The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo" (1961) and later played De Villefort in "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1975). At the beginning of the 40's, he was engaged to Micheline Presle, whom he first met during a holiday in St.Tropez in 1938. They were close to getting married at one point, but eventually broke up in a hard way. Jourdan took this so badly that, when he was reunited with Micheline in Twilight (1944), he refused to speak any word to her except for when they were in front of the camera. Micheline was initially irritated by this, but eventually ended up laughing at the whole thing. In 2010, Jourdan received the 'French Legion of Honor.' The French Ambassador to the U.S presented the medal in Los Angeles, California. His father was the manager of the Cannes Grand Hôtel during WW2. He appeared in two adaptations of Alexandre Dumas's 1844 novel "The Count of Monte Cristo". He played the title character Edmond Dantès in The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo (1961) and his enemy Villefort in The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975). Jordan and fellow French actor Gerard Philipe attended the same school in Cannes and were both the offspring of local hotel owners. Personal Quotes (8) [Speaking of Gregory Peck] He can be funny, which is fortunate; otherwise such perfection would be unbearable. I didn't want to be perpetually cooing in a lady's ear. There's not much satisfaction in it. There are actors in this town who made important careers for a long, long period just by taking the parts that Cary Grant turned down. I never see my movies. When they're on television I click them away. Hollywood created an image and I long ago reconciled myself with it. I was the French cliché. I would rather be called a character actor than a star. When one has been married over thirty years, of course it would be absurd not to admit there have been some difficulties, at some times. But the important thing is that we have weathered them. I'm proud to be a Frenchman, but I resent the image people have of the stupid, continental charmer. Against that type of role I fight pitilessly. Any actor who comes here with an accent is automatically put in roles as a lover. I didn't want to be perpetually cooing in a lady's ear.

Homero Jourdan of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA was born on January 30, 1928, and died at age 78 years old on December 20, 2006.

Dympna T (Jourdan) Bryant was born on May 13, 1921 in County Kildare Ireland, and died at age 86 years old on January 18, 2008 in Gosport, Hampshire County, England United Kingdom. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Dympna T (Jourdan ) Bryant.

Mary (Mcmahon) Jourdan of Melbourne Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Mcmahon Jourdan.

Mary Ann (Jourdan) Jourdan of Batesford Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Ann (Jourdan) Jourdan.

Mary Ann (Stafford) Jourdan of Emer Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Ann (Stafford) Jourdan.

Daniel W Jourdan of Columbia, Boone County, MO was born on December 17, 1940, and died at age 63 years old on December 25, 2003.

Beatrice Jourdan of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri was born on August 31, 1908, and died at age 77 years old in December 1985.

Robert R Jourdan Jr of Bexar County, TX was born circa 1955. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert R. Jourdan Jr.

Clifford Jourdan of Lutz, Hillsborough County, Florida was born on June 19, 1921, and died at age 64 years old in September 1985.

Erwin Jourdan of Davenport, Scott County, Iowa was born on October 14, 1902, and died at age 73 years old in December 1975.

Beverly Ann Jourdan of Omaha, Sarpy County, Nebraska was born on April 6, 1938, and died at age 73 years old on July 20, 2011.

Laura M Jourdan of Omaha, Douglas County, NE was born on December 9, 1901, and died at age 88 years old on January 29, 1990.

Roy W Jourdan of Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois was born on February 15, 1904, and died at age 75 years old in February 1979.

Philip Cecil Jourdan of Lees Summit, Jackson County, Missouri was born on December 17, 1942, and died at age 68 years old on February 8, 2011.

Robert Henry Jourdan of Chesterfield, Saint Louis County, MO was born on February 16, 1921, and died at age 86 years old on September 21, 2007. Robert Jourdan was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Section 1HH Site 1206 2900 Sheridan Road, in St. Louis.

Ethel M Jourdan of Siler City, Chatham County, NC was born on September 4, 1925, and died at age 71 years old on May 2, 1997.

Regina Jourdan of Rockaway Park, Queens County, NY was born on July 29, 1914, and died at age 73 years old on November 15, 1987.

Minnie Jourdan of Durham, Durham County, North Carolina was born on June 4, 1893, and died at age 80 years old in January 1974.

John J Jourdan was born on November 11, 1922, and died at age 68 years old on November 7, 1991. John Jourdan was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Section MB Site 57 2900 Sheridan Road, in St. Louis, Mo. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John J Jourdan.