A great figure in theater and cinema has passed away. French actor Pierre Vernier, who was part of the famous Conservatory band with Jean-Paul Belmondo, died at the age of 93 on Wednesday October 9, 2024. Sad news announced by Le Figaro and the AFP.
Originally from Charente-Maritime, in Saint-Jean-d’Angély precisely, Pierre Vernier began his career in the 1950s. A former student of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art (class of 1954), he met those who would accompany him throughout his career and who are known as the members of the Bande du Conservatoire: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Jean Rochefort and Bruno Cremer… So many great names who have passed away that he joined.
If Claude Chabrol really makes his debut in cinema (Ophelia in 1961, Landru in 1963) and that he responded to Jean Gabin in 1966 in The Gardener of Argenteuil, Pierre Vernier becomes famous thanks to his first role in the television series Swiss rolladapted from the novel by Ponson du Terrail and broadcast in 1964 on French television. During the 1960s to 1980s, he was also found in several popular films as a colorful supporting role, notably alongside his friend Jean-Paul Belmondo (The Guignolo, The Professional).
In 2008, Pierre Vernier once again showed the extent of his talent by interpreting Charles de Gaulle for television (Farewell de Gaulle, farewell), award-winning performance at the Luchon Festival. Eight years later, the actor was made an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters and a Knight of the National Order of Merit. The following year, he starred in the film Marie-Francinedirected by Valérie Lemercier.
Pierre, who was the husband of the actress Rita Ghéno for thirteen years, now leaves Françoise Fabian as the last survivor of the Bande du Conservatoire which left its mark on French cinema and theater from the 1970s to 2000.
