Daniel Gélin

Known for his sensitivity and keen intelligence, French actor Daniel Gelin has played starring and supporting roles in French cinema since the late '30s following studies at the Paris Conservatoire. He had his first major role the 1941 film Premiere Rendez-Vous, and after a lengthy break during WWII, went on to become a popular star in such light fare as Max Ophuls' Le Ronde (1950) and Le Plaisir (1955). In 1956, Gelin memorably played a villainous Arab spy in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, but was wearing so much makeup as to be unrecognizable. During the late '70s, Gelin disappeared from films until the early '80s. Since then, he has continued to make sporadic appearances in La Vie Est Une Longue Fleuve Tranquille (1988) and Hommes, Femmes: Mode d'Emploi (Men, Women: A User's Manual) (1996). His daughter, Maria Schneider, is an actress and is son, Xavier Gelin, is a producer. When not acting, Daniel Gelin writes poetry and has published a few volumes of his work.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide