the actor and French voice of Morgan Freeman is dead

Monday 06th January 2025 12:45 PM

Theater, film and television actor, Benoît Allemane is best known for his work as a voice actor. He died on Sunday January 5, at the age of 82.

He undoubtedly had one of the most recognizable timbres in the world of French dubbing. Benoît Allemane, actor known for having lent his voice to American actor Morgan Freeman, has died at the age of 82. It was actor-director Lionel Auguste who revealed the information this Monday, January 6, confirmed by BFMTV.com.

Benoît Allemane “left yesterday evening”, Sunday January 5, according to Lionel Auguste. “Great actor, immensely popular voice, great gentleman, and modestly, handsome and sweet friend who had given me the honor and pleasure of participating in my 3 films.”

Born in 1942 in Clermont-Ferrand, Benoît Allemane attended the National School of the Drama Center of Est Strasbourg in the early 1960s. Since then, he has played numerous roles in the theater and on television (Julie Lescaut, More beautiful life, Alice Nevers…), at the cinema (My Father, this hero by Gérard Lauzier, Sauvage innocence by Philippe Garrel, I accuse by Roman Polanski…).

Iconic voice

But it is undoubtedly his dubbing work which made him reach posterity. In particular by lending his voice to the American actor Morgan Freeman since, according to La Voix du Nord, the film Ruthless released in 1992. He also distinguished himself in animation, at Disney in particular by playing Zeus in Hercule or Baloo in the series Super Baloo et The Jungle Book, childhood memories. He also lent his voice to Santa Claus in several dedicated films, such as Santa’s Apprentice or Santa’s Apprentice and the Magic Snowflake.

Without forgetting Japanese animation. Animeland highlights its participation in the series Angel Heart, Fairy Tail or even Full Metal Alchemist. In another register, he has also lent his voice to documentaries.

Last May, Benoît Allemane participated in the #TouchePasMaVF campaign: alongside other emblematic voices such as Brigitte Lecordier (Oui-Oui, Goku) or Philippe Peythieu (Homer Simpson), he mobilized to defend art dubbing in the face of competition from Artificial Intelligence.