Raimu

'Orson Welles' (qv) once called beloved French character star 'Raimu' (qv) (né Jules Auguste Cesar Muraire) "the greatest actor who ever lived." It is hard to argue the compliment of one genius to another.The jowly, cigar-chomping comedian was born in Toulon, France on December 17, 1883 of very humble means, his father making ends meet as an upholsterer. 'Raimu' (qv) began his stage career at age 16 as a music hall extra imitating famous French comic idols. Using the stage name of 'Raimu' (qv)t (he later dropped the "t"), he eventually gained a following in dance halls, cafe concerts, nightclubs and pubs as an entertainer but cemented his reputation on the Parisian comedy stages. Around this time, he also began to appear in minor roles in silent film shorts (1911-1917), but nothing much came from them and he left the screen.Continuing to thrive on the live stage, 'Raimu' (qv)'s serious intentions as an actor were solidified with the 1929 stage production of the 'Marcel Pagnol' (qv) play "Marius," which told story of a wanderlust sailor, his wife Fanny and father César. 'Raimu' (qv) transferred the role of César brilliantly to the film trilogy _Marius (1931)_ (qv), _Fanny (1932)_ (qv) and _César (1936)_ (qv) all co-starring 'Pierre Fresnay' (qv) as Marius and 'Orane Demazis' (qv) as Fanny. He went on to work with Pagnol quite frequently.Closely identifying himself with the iron-willed working class, 'Raimu' (qv) swayed quite effectively from humor to great pathos in characters that reminded one in looks and flavor of a grubby, weary-looking 'Honoré de Balzac' (qv). Immortalized in Pagnol's trilogy, arguably celebrated as the greatest series ever put together, 'Raimu' (qv) continued to charm in primarily 1930's social comedies. His star role with leads in _Black and White (1931)_ (qv), _The Chocolate Girl (1932)_ (qv), _Mamsell Nitouche (1931)_ (qv), _Theodore and Company (1933)_ (qv), the title roles in _Charlemagne (1933)_ (qv) and _Tartarin de Tarascon (1934)_ (qv), _The King (1936)_ (qv), _Let's Make a Dream (1936)_ (qv), _Confessions of a Newlywed (1937)_ (qv), _Heroes of the Marne (1938)_ (qv), _Monsieur Brotonneau (1939)_ (qv) and _Cocoanut (1939)_ (qv). For his superb work in both 'Julien Duvivier' (qv)'s _Christine (1937)_ (qv) and Pagnol's _The Baker's Wife (1938)_ (qv), he won the National Board of Review award.Along the way 'Raimu' (qv) worked with a host of legendary directors including 'Marc Allégret' (qv), 'Henri Decoin' (qv), 'Alexander Esway' (qv) and 'Sacha Guitry' (qv). His film popularity continued to soar into the war years with roles in Pagnol's _The Well-Digger's Daughter (1940)_ (qv), as well as _The Man Who Seeks the Truth (1940)_ (qv), _Das unheimliche Haus (1942)_ (qv), _Midnight in Paris (1942)_ (qv), _Little Nothings (1942)_ (qv), _Immortal France (1943)_ (qv) and the title role in Balzac's _Gräfin Chabert (1943)_ (qv). He also returned to the theatre in such productions as "The Bourgeois Gentleman" and "The Imaginary Invalid."'Raimu' (qv) returned to filming following the war with _Hoboes in Paradise (1946)_ (qv) co-starring 'Fernandel' (qv). In March of 1946, while shooting his next post-war film _The Eternal Husband (1946)_ (qv), he was involved in a car accident that would require some surgery. The 62-year-old actor died of a heart attack on September 20th following an allergic reaction to anesthesia while on the table for a minor leg operation. The outpouring of grief felt by his native country was monumental.Survived by wife (from 1936) Esther Metayer (1905-1977) and daughter, Paulette Brun (1925-1992). 'Raimu' (qv) was laid to rest in a cemetery in the town where he was born. In 1961, the French government placed his image on an honorary postage stamp.::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]