What's After the Movie
Daniel Gélin
Daniel Gélin was a prominent French actor whose career spanned more than six decades, beginning with a small role in Miquette in 1940 and culminating in a prolific body of work that included over 150 films and numerous television productions. Born Daniel Yves Alfred Gélin on 19 May 1921 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, his early life was marked by a restless spirit; after being expelled from school in Saint‑Malo he worked in a cod‑canning shop before being inspired by the filming of Marc Allégret’s Entrée des artistes to pursue acting in Paris. He trained at the Cours Simon and the Conservatoire national supérieur d’art dramatique, where he encountered Louis Jouvet, launching a theatrical career that soon led to his first film appearances alongside icons such as Jean Gabin and Marlene Dietrich in Martin Roumagnac (1946). Gélin’s breakthrough came with the leading role in Rendez‑vous de juillet (1949), after which he became a staple of French cinema, starring in works by Max Ophüls (La Ronde, Le Plaisir), Jacques Becker (Édouard et Caroline), Sacha Guitry (Royal Affairs in Versailles, Napoléon), and even Alfred Hitchcock in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). In the 1950s he was a leading man, yet the arrival of the New Wave saw his star wane, prompting a shift to theater and later a resurgence as a character actor known for his cynical and gruff portrayals in films such as Le Testament d'Orphée (1960), Murmur of the Heart (1971) and That Night in Varennes (1982). Gélin also tried his hand at writing and directing with the 1952 film The Long Teeth. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he remained a familiar face on French screens, embodying the seasoned elder statesman of cinema until his death in 2002. His personal life was equally complex, marked by three marriages—to actress Danièle Delorme, model Sylvie Hirsch, and later Lydie Zaks—and six children, including actors Xavier Gélin, Fiona Gélin and the internationally known actress Maria Schneider, whose relationship with her father was fraught but eventually reconciled. Gélin’s legacy endures as a testament to resilience and adaptability in the ever‑changing landscape of French film and theatre.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Daniel Gélin, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Daniel Gélin rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Daniel Yves Alfred Gélin
Born: Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France
Citizenship: France
Birthday: May 19, 1921
Occupations: actor, director, writer
Years Active: 1940-2002
Children: 6
Spouses: Danièle Delorme, Sylvie Hirsch, Lydie Zaks
External Links and Streaming Options
Explore more about on trusted external platforms like Metacritic, TMDb, Wikipedia or IMDb. Find additional details, reviews, and related content to deepen your understanding.
Movies Featuring Daniel Gélin
The Man Who Knew Too Much
La Ronde
Promotion canapé
The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck
Signé Furax
Season of Peace in Paris
Guy de Maupassant
The Children
Killing Cars
Life Is a Long Quiet River
Mister Frost
The Night of Varennes
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Via Montenapoleone
Itinerary of a Spoiled Child
The Moment of Truth
Lovers’ Net
The Police Serve the Citizens?
Three Girls in Paris
Mirror
Voice of Silence
Napoleon
Hitch-Hike
Portuguese Vacation
Rue de l’estrapade
On Trial
Woman of Rome
Uncertain Verification
Swedish Fly Girls
Martin Roumagnac
Is Paris Burning?
A Friend Will Come Tonight
Edward and Caroline
Slogan
Rendezvous in July
Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy
Line of Demarcation
God Needs Men
Ghost with Driver
This Desired Body
Les Bidochon
The Temptation of Barbizon
Arrête de ramer, t’attaques la falaise !
Testament of Orpheus
Destroy, She Said
Strangers in the House
Her First Affair
There’s Always a Price Tag
Carthage in Flames
Dialogues of the Exiles
Three Days to Live
Cherchez l’idole
The Boy and the Ball and the Hole in the Wall
Adorable Creatures
Stain on the Snow
Le Plaisir
Young Love
Obsession
Witness Out of Hell
The Suspended Vocation
Urgent ou à quoi bon exécuter des projets puisque le projet est en lui-même une jouissance suffisante
The Season for Love
The Cheerful Squadron
Max par Marcel: Lola Montès
Too Many Lovers
Men, Women: A User’s Manual
Venom and Eternity
No Pockets in a Shroud
Royal Affairs in Versailles
Shadows of Adultery
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Daniel Gélin, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1996
Ghost with Driver
Le passeur (Le guide céleste)
Les Bidochon
Le père Bidochon
Men, Women: A User’s Manual
le veuf
1988
Life Is a Long Quiet River
Docteur Mavial
Itinerary of a Spoiled Child
Pierre Duvivier, Albert's father
1965
Uncertain Verification
(archive footage)
The Boy and the Ball and the Hole in the Wall
Gunther Smith
1957
There’s Always a Price Tag
Robert Montillon
Three Days to Live
Simon Belin
Too Many Lovers
Alain Cartier
1954
On Trial
Léonard Maurizius
Woman of Rome
Mino
The Cheerful Squadron
Il soldato Frédéric d'Héricourt
Royal Affairs in Versailles
Jean Collinet
1953
Voice of Silence
L'ancien prisonnier
Rue de l’estrapade
Robert
Stain on the Snow
Frank Friedmayer
1951
La Ronde
The Moment of Truth
Daniel Prévost
Edward and Caroline
Edouard Mortier
Young Love
Jean Bompart
Venom and Eternity
Self
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2025)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.