Bernard Blier

Bernard Blier (; 11 January 1916 – 29 March 1989) was a French character actor.

Life and career

Blier was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute, was posted at the time.

His rotund features and premature baldness allowed him to often play cuckolded husbands in his early career. He is notable for being one of France's most versatile and sought-after character actors, performing interchangeably in comedies and dramas. His complete filmography includes 175 titles. He often appeared in Italian films too, particularly in the last decade of his life. He was awarded an Honorary César (the French Oscar) in 1989, 24 days before he died.

Personal life Blier was born in Buenos Aires, the son of Suzanne (Bargy) and Louis Blier. He is the father of director Bertrand Blier. He has appeared in a number of his son's films, most notably Buffet froid (1979). A fictionalised version of him appears in his son's 2022 autobiographical novel Fragile des bronches.

Filmography