Roland Toutain

Roland Toutain was a renowned French actor, stuntman, and songwriter whose career spanned the early days of sound cinema to the post‑war era. Born on 15 October 1905 in Paris, France, he grew up with a passion for aviation and acrobatics, skills that would later enhance his on‑screen presence. He entered the film industry in 1923, initially performing daring stunts before transitioning to acting roles that showcased his charismatic demeanor. Toutain quickly gained recognition through the adventure thriller The Mystery of the Yellow Room and its sequel The Perfume of the Lady in Black, establishing himself as a versatile lead capable of both physical feats and nuanced performances. His most iconic role came in 1939 when he portrayed the spirited aviator André Jurieux in Jean Renoir’s classic The Rules of the Game, a part that perfectly matched his real‑life enthusiasm for flying. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s he appeared in a variety of genres, from Fritz Lang’s Liliom to the wartime drama The Crew, accumulating a filmography of 55 titles before his on‑screen activity tapered off after 1957.