Roland Armontel

Roland Armontel (21 December 1901 – 15 March 1980) was a French actor.

Born Auguste Louis Magnin in Vimoutiers, Orne, France, he died in Paris.

Biography He began his career at a very young age thanks to his grandfather, who owned three traveling theaters. Just a few days after his birth, he “played” the role of the Baby Jesus. Later, his uncle cast him in small roles, such as Cosette in Les Misérables. As a child, he also appeared in films directed by Max Linder.

While performing in the play Arsène Lupin in Brussels, he was advised to move to Paris. He had a difficult start, but he managed to join Louis Verneuil’s Pile ou face troupe alongside Elvire Popesco and was hired by Max Maurey at the Théâtre des Variétés.

On stage, he appeared in numerous plays, including: Le Train pour Venise by Louis Verneuil, Les Jours heureux by Claude-André Puget, Bichon by Jean de Létraz, La Bonne Soupe by Robert Thomas, Messieurs mon mari, Mon bébé, Il faut marier maman, Une femme par jour, and others. As the creator of 129 plays, he played 300 roles on stage during his career .

During the Occupation, he directed the Théâtre de Paris.

In film, he appeared in more than 80 movies between 1932 and 1979. His first major role was in Touchons du bois (1925). In Les Gaîtés de l'escadron, he starred alongside Jean Gabin, Fernandel, and Raimu. Although critics praised him for his role as Célestin in René Clair’s Le silence est d’or (1947), he remained confined to supporting roles.

He is buried in the Arcachon Cemetery (plot 35), a town where he loved to spend his vacations. He was married to Claudette Béroud (1921–2013).

Selected filmography

Fun in the Barracks (1932) - Barchetti Let's Touch Wood (1933) - Jacques de Saint-Preux Les Misérables (1934) - Félix Tholomiez (uncredited) The Lady of the Camellias (1934) - Gaston Dedê (1934) - (uncredited) Women's Prison (1938) - Un domestique Three Hours (1939) - Un soldat (uncredited) Beating Heart (1940) - Firmin (uncredited) Miss Bonaparte (1942) - Arsène La Symphonie fantastique (1942) - Eugène Delacroix (uncredited) Les Petites du quai aux fleurs (1944) - Le professeur Florence Is Crazy (1944) - Le professeur Wonder Box of Dreams (1945) - Amédée Jericho (1946) - Muscat The Idiot (1946) - Louliane Timofeievitch Lebediev l'ivrogne The Royalists (1947) - Beau-Pied Man About Town (1947) - Célestin - un acteur de théâtre La maison sous la mer (1947) - Dial L'arche de Noé (1947) - Verneuil The Three Cousins (1947) - Monsieur de Sainte-Lucie The Revenge of Baccarat (1947) - Le comte Artoff Rocambole (1947) - Le comte Artoff Par la fenêtre (1948) - Sabourdin Route sans issue (1948) - Guetz Clochemerle (1948) - Ernest Tafardel - l'instituteur Emile the African (1948) - Dibier Eternal Conflict (1948) - Robert Ariani The Tragic Dolmen (1948) - Inspecteur Pauc The Lovers of Verona (1949) - Blanchini La bataille du feu (1949) - Michel Bonnard La vie est un rêve (1949) - M. Brignolet The Red Angel (1949) - Le commissaire Martin Keep an Eye on Amelia (1949) - Le général Koschnadieff Le sorcier du ciel (1949) - Le sacristain The Martyr of Bougival (1949) - Le juge d'instruction Plus de vacances pour le Bon Dieu (1950) - Michel Angel The Dancer of Marrakesh (1950) - Le général Minne (1950) - L'oncle Paul Without Trumpet or Drum (1950) Véronique (1950) - Loustot Le gang des tractions-arrière (1950) - Antoine Pluchet The Beautiful Image (1951) - Le pharmacien (uncredited) Clara de Montargis (1951) - L'ivrogne The Passage of Venus (1951) - Gustave Bicquois Bouquet of Joy (1951) - Le gendarme The Adventures of Mandrin (1952) Monsieur Leguignon, Signalman (1952) - M. Maltestu La demoiselle et son revenant (1952) - Le pharmacien The Fighting Drummer (1952) - Albert Gambier Double or Quits (1952) - Chassagne - le père de Marie Deux de l'escadrille (1953) - Le général The Blonde Gypsy (1953) - Polyte Roux Piédalu député (1954) - Vardivol Mourez, nous ferons le reste (1954) - Le curé Razzia sur la chnouf (1955) - Louis Birot, l'ingénieur-chimiste The Affair of the Poisons (1955) - L'aveugle Don Juan (1956) - The Governor Ces sacrées vacances (1956) - Le deuxième campeur The Virtuous Bigamist (1956) - Petit rôle (uncredited) Burning Fuse (1957) - Antoine Miss Catastrophe (1957) - Eugène Tahiti ou la joie de vivre (1957) - Le rédacteur en chef Sénéchal the Magnificent (1957) - Carlini Three Days to Live (1957) - Alexandre Bérimont Quelle sacrée soirée (1957) - James His Greatest Role (1957) Ni vu, ni connu (1958) - Léon de Chaville Les tricheurs (1958) - Le docteur Drôles de phénomènes (1959) The Indestructible (1959) - Pivois Nuits de Pigalle (1959) - Arsène Tête folle (1960) - M. Cormont Un chien dans un jeu de quilles (1962) - Alexandre - le père The Devil and the Ten Commandments (1962) - Mercier (segment "Tes père et mère honoreras") Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962) - Doctor Valley of Fear (1962) Maigret Sees Red (1963) - Le docteur Fezin Tomy's Secret (1963) - Fabien Margoz La foire aux cancres (Chronique d'une année scolaire) (1963) - Greuzer Is Paris Burning? (1966) - Foot passenger (uncredited) Béru et ces dames (1968) - Le supérieur de San Antonio Moartea lui Joe Indianul (1968) - Judge Thatcher (1968, TV Mini-Series) - Richter Thatcher Les aventures de Lagardère (1968) - L'armurier Et qu'ça saute! (1970) - Carlos Enriquez Perched on a Tree (1971) - Le Père Jean-Marie La Bête (1975) - Priest Un mari, c'est un mari (1976) - L'amiral Le temps des vacances (1979) - Delajambe