Jean Gabin (1904–1976)

The significance of Jean Gabin, né Jean-Alexis Moncorgé, born in Paris, cannot be fully encompassed by the word actor. He was not only one of the greatest stars in French cinema, starring in classic films such as Pépé le Moko (1937), La grande illusion (1937), Le Quai des brumes (1938), La bête humaine (1938), Le jour se lève (1939), and Le plaisir (1952), he became a French institution. Gabin personified quintessentially French attitudes in his portrayals of tough, laconic sons of misfortune surviving on the margins. He could equally well play aristocrats and romantic heroes. In his later films, Gabin often portrayed detectives such as Inspector Maigret, whom many have tried to imitate. During World War II, Gabin joined Gen. Charles de Gaulle's Free French Forces and earned the Médaille militaire and the Croix de guerre fighting with the Allies. In August 1944, Gabin participated in the liberation of Paris. He was named chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1959.