Jean-Pierre Darras

Biography

Jean‑Pierre Darras, born in 1927 in Paris, turned to theatre early on after studying literature. Trained in the post‑war dramatic centres, he joined Jean Vilar’s TNP, where he learned the discipline of classical repertoire and worked alongside major figures of the French stage. He became known to the wider public through his satirical duo with Philippe Noiret, where his sharp wit and gift for caricature stood out. Darras then built a versatile career: popular comedies, boulevard theatre, ambitious directing projects, and more dramatic roles from the 1980s onward. Deeply passionate about Molière, he devoted several productions and writings to him, seeking to reveal the man behind the legend. In cinema, he appeared in notable films such as Le Viager and L’Emmerdeur, where his precise, ironic acting naturally found its place. In 1982, he moved into directing with Le Braconnier de Dieu. Later, he founded a theatre festival in Carpentras with his wife Corinne Lahaye, continuing his commitment to the stage until the end of his life.

Movies & TV Shows

1. Asterix vs. Caesar (1985) — (voice)
2. My Father's Glory (1990) — Marcel Pagnol, elderly, narrator (voice)
3. My Mother's Castle (1990) — Narrator, Marcel Pagnol (voice)
4. The Tattoo (1968) — Lucien, facteur de Montignac
5. A Pain in the Ass (1973) — Dr. Edgar Fuchs
6. The Annuity (1972) — Emile Galipeau
7. Out of It (1978) — Jacques Panivaux, Owner of the Rolls-Royce
8. For a Cop's Hide (1981) — Commissaire Chauffard
9. Three Men to Kill (1980) — Chocard
10. Two Men in Manhattan (1959)
11. She Does Not Drink, Smoke or Flirt But... She Talks (1970) — Georges, 'Monsieur le Comte'
12. The Old Maid (1972) — Sacha
13. Monsieur (1964) — José, Small-time Crook
14. A Man Named Rocca (1961) — Névada
15. At the Meeting with Joyous Death (1973) — Peron
16. Lucky Jo (1964) — Napo
17. The Suburbs Are Everywhere (1973) — Ducros
18. A Golden Widow (1969) — Rapha
19. Signé Furax (1981) — Socrate
20. Elise, or Real Life (1970) — Le commissaire
21. Let's Make a Dirty Movie (1976) — Co-Producer
22. Love and Cool Water (1976) — Clément
23. Te marre pas... c'est pour rire ! (1982) — Flavacourt
24. Le Chêne d'Allouville (1981) — Minister of Culture
25. Le Chasseur de chez Maxim's (1976) — Le ministre
26. The Other Truth (1966) — The commissioner
27. Tell Me You Love Me (1974) — Lucien Dorgeval
28. Champs-Elysées (1982) — Self
29. Les Aventures de Lagardère (1968) — Peyrolles
30. The Wedding Ring (1971) — M. Duvernet
31. Le Braconnier de Dieu (1983) — Frisou
32. Don't Bite, We Love You (1976) — 'Papy'
33. The Impostures of Scapin (1981) — Argante
34. Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (1982) — Le maître de philosophie
35. La Décharge (1976) — M. Brunet
36. At Theatre Tonight (1966) — Félix, professeur de piano
37. Apostrophes (1975) — Self
38. La Puce et le privé (1981) — Colonel Jean-Hilaire Marcellin
39. Beyond Fear (1975) — Bourrier
40. Forget Me, Mandoline (1976) — Gérard Gouttières, aka 'G.G.'

Directed

1. Le Braconnier de Dieu (1983) — Director