French actor Louis Jourdan, star of 'Gigi' dies aged 93

Jourdan wryly described himself as Hollywood's "French cliche"

 

The French actor Louis Jourdan, best known for his role in the multi-Oscar winning 1958 musical Gigi, has died in California aged 93.

Born in Marseilles, he began his career acting in French films before being lured to the US.

Often seen in roles that capitalised on his Gallic charm, he described himself as Hollywood's "French cliche".

His later years saw him play evil villains, including in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy.

Jourdan died at his home in Los Angeles, his official biographer Olivier Minne said.

"He embodied French elegance and Hollywood offered him the parts to go with that," he told the AFP news agency.

Gigi was one of the biggest films of the 1950s.

Other key roles included a part in the Alfred Hitchcock's 1947 film The Paradine Case, and with Grace Kelly in The Swan.

His early career in France was interrupted by World War Two. He refused to star in Nazi propaganda films and joined the resistance.

In 2010 he was given France's top award, the Legion D'Honneur.