Pierre Tornade

Pierre Tornade (21 January 1930 7 March 2012) was a French actor known for his work in film, television, and theatre. He appeared in more than 120 films and television shows between 1956 and 1998.

Biography He was born Pierre Tournadre on 21 January 1930 in Bort-les-Orgues in the department of Corrèze. He began his theatrical career at 25 in Elle est folle, Carole at the théâtre du Palais-Royal. In 1956, he played in the musical comedy Irma la douce by Alexandre Breffort and Marguerite Monnot and then made his film debut in Les Truands, where he adopted his stage name, Tornade. The next year, he played a theater role in Pericles, Prince of Tyre before joining the Branquignols troupe of Robert Dhéry, which also included Jean Lefebvre, Michel Serrault and Micheline Dax.

He then became in demand on television and appeared in several sitcoms such as Thierry la Fronde (1963), Le Chevalier d'Harmental (1966), Les Sept de l'escalier quinze B (1967) and Les Dossiers de l'agence O (1968). Because of his tall and imposing stature, he often appeared as a policeman or a soldier. His most famous roles were as the victim's father The Common Man (1975), Captain Dumont in Now Where Did the 7th Company Get to? (1973) and its sequels, and commissioner Florimond Faroux on the series Nestor Burma.

A famous voice actor, he was heard as village chief Vitalstatistix in animated films Asterix the Gaul (1967), Asterix and Cleopatra (1968) and The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976). He later voiced Averell Dalton in Lucky Luke animated films Daisy Town (1971) and La Ballade des Dalton (1978) and Lucky Luke the Lucky Cowboy (1983). He also voiced Obelix in four other Asterix animated films, including Asterix Versus Caesar (1985), Asterix in Britain (1986), Asterix and the Big Fight (1989) and Asterix Conquers America (1994).

He was named Chevalier (Knight) of the National Order of Merit in 1996. Tornade died on 7 March 2012 in Rambouillet hospital after several days in a coma. He had fallen accidentally in the stairway of his Yvelines residence the previous week and had been comatose since then.

Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes 1956 Les Truands Minister Carlo Rim 1957 Comme un cheveu sur la soupe Butler Maurice Régamey 1959 Nina Inspector Jean Boyer 1963 Bébert et l'Omnibus Policeman Yves Robert 1963 L'honorable Stanislas, agent secret Inspector Jean-Charles Dudrumet 1964 The Counterfeit Constable Supporter in the bus Robert Dhéry 1964 The Gorillas Policeman Jean Girault 1965 Gendarme in New York Doctor Jean Girault 1965 Les Baratineurs Thès Francis Rigaud 1966 Monnaie de singe Prison guard Yves Robert 1966 The Big Restaurant Butler Jacques Besnard 1966 Monsieur le président-directeur général Adjudant Jean Girault 1966 The Oldest Profession Removal man Claude Autant-Lara 1966 Tender Scoundrel Garage customer Jean Becker 1966 Trois enfants dans le désordre Faction agent Léo Joannon 1967 The Night of the Generals Orderly Anatole Litvak 1967 The Little Bather Jean-Baptiste Castagnier Robert Dhéry 1968 The Little Bather Le gardien de phare Robert Dhéry 1968 Un drôle de colonel Un inspecteur Jean Girault 1968 Salut Berthe ! Père Fauvel Guy Lefranc 1968 Le tatoué Police chief Denys de La Patellière 1968 Béru et ces dames Un agent de police Guy Lefranc 1969 Faites donc plaisir aux amis Léon - le mari trompé 1969 The Devil by the Tail Schwartz, un gangster Philippe de Broca 1969 The Brain Belgian soldier Gérard Oury Uncredited 1969 L'Auvergnat et l'Autobus Grosswiller, a businessman Guy Lefranc 1969 Trois hommes sur un cheval Jo Gabardine Marcel Moussy 1971 L'Explosion Léopold Marc Simenon 1972 Un cave Farmer Gilles Grangier 1973 La Raison du plus fou First biker François Reichenbach 1973 I Don't Know Much, But I'll Say Everything Police officer Pierre Richard 1973 Now Where Did the 7th Company Get to? Captain Dumont Robert Lamoureux 1974 Antoine and Sebastian Max Étienne Périer 1974 Le permis de conduire Le directeur de l'agence bancaire Jean Girault 1974 Le Permis de conduire Bank director Jean Girault 1974 Vos gueules, les mouettes ! Captain Robert Dhéry 1974 Impossible Is Not French Albert Lombard Robert Lamoureux 1975 Raging Fists Jo, the bar owner Éric Le Hung 1975 The Common Man Colin Yves Boisset 1975 Soldat Duroc, ça va être ta fête Sergeant Lapointe Michel Gérard 1975 Opération Lady Marlène Commander Mouinot Robert Lamoureux 1975 The Seventh Company Has Been Found Captain Dumont Robert Lamoureux 1975 Adieu poulet Commissaire Pignol Pierre Granier-Deferre 1976 Oublie-moi, Mandoline Jean-Paul Tardu Michel Wyn 1976 Le Jour de gloire Mayor Jacques Besnard 1977 Dis bonjour à la dame Robert Ferry Michel Gérard 1977 Arrête ton char... bidasse! Captain Marcus Michel Gérard 1978 Général... nous voilà ! Julien Berger Jacques Besnard 1979 C'est dingue... mais on y va Arthur Beyssac Michel Gérard 1981 L'oeil du maître Le parachutiste Stéphane Kurc 1981 Le Chêne d'Allouville / Ils sont fous ces Normands Mayor Henri Brainville Serge Pénard 1981 Signé Furax Obélisque agent Marc Simenon 1982 Toutes griffes dehors Barbazan Michel Boisrond 1983 Salut la puce Alfred Richard Balducci 1984 Fort Saganne Charles's father Alain Corneau 1986 Commissaire Bontemps Wigbert Wicker 1986 À notre regrettable époux Radetsky Serge Korber 1988 Les Gauloises blondes Le chef Biturix Jean Jabely

Voice actor

Film dubbing Year Title Role Director 1972 The Godfather Luca Brasi Francis Ford Coppola 1973 High Plains Drifter Sheriff Dan Shaw Clint Eastwood

Animated films Year English title Original title Role Notes 1967 Asterix the Gaul Astérix le Gaulois Vitalstatistix / Merchant Voice 1968 Asterix and Cleopatra Astérix et Cléopâtre Edifis / Vitalstatistix / Mercenary Voice 1971 Daisy Town Lucky Luke Averell Dalton Voice 1976 The Twelve Tasks of Asterix Les douze travaux d'Astérix Vitalstatistix Voice 1978 La Ballade des Dalton La Ballade des Dalton Averell Dalton Voice 1983 Lucky Luke the Lucky Cowboy Les Dalton en Cavale Averell Dalton / Baker / Butcher Voice 1985 Asterix Versus Caesar Astérix et la surprise de CésarObelix Voice 1986 Asterix in Britain Astérix chez les Bretons Voice 1989 Asterix and the Big Fight Astérix et le coup du menhir Voice 1994 Asterix Conquers America Astérix et les Indiens Voice

Television series Year Title Role 1963–1966 Thierry la Fronde Taillevent (episodes 32–48) / Arnaut (episode 20) 1976–1981 The Muppet Show Link Hogthrob / Statler

Animated series Year Title Role Note 1983–1984 Lucky Luke Averell Dalton 1989 Wowser Wowser 1989 Jungle Book Shōnen Mowgli Baloo French voice 1991–1992 Lucky Luke Averell Dalton

Video games Year Title Voice 2004 Asterix & Obelix XXL Obelix 2005 Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: Mission: Las Vegum Obelix