Michel Ruhl: Movies & Filmography

Michel Ruhl (2 February 1934 – 15 January 2022) was a distinguished French actor whose career spanned nearly seven decades across theatre, film, television, and voice acting. Born in Paris, France, Ruhl began his artistic journey in 1952 under the tutelage of the legendary French actor Gérard Philipe, which laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to the craft of acting. He held his first major theatrical role in a staging of Long Day's Journey into Night at the prestigious Théâtre Hébertot in Paris, a performance that cemented his reputation as a serious dramatic actor. Ruhl became widely recognized by the French public for his portrayal of Jean de Plessis-Vaudreuil in the acclaimed television series Au plaisir de Dieu, directed by Robert Mazoyer. Transitioning to cinema, he made his film debut in 1963 with Your Shadow is Mine, and subsequently appeared in notable productions such as Nick Carter and Red Club (1965), Police Python 357 (1976), The Toy (1976), Wild Reeds (1994), and Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009). Beyond his on-screen and stage work, Ruhl was a highly respected voice actor, particularly celebrated for lending his voice to French dubs of internationally renowned actors including James Cromwell, Scott Wilson, and Terence Stamp. He also famously voiced the character Nestor in the French adaptation of The Adventures of Tintin, further endearing him to generations of French audiences. Throughout his career, Ruhl demonstrated remarkable versatility, moving effortlessly between dramatic and comedic roles, as well as between cinema and television. His final screen appearance was in the 2013 short film Il va faire jour mon amour, capping an impressive career that began in the early 1950s and continued actively until 2021. Michel Ruhl passed away in Guérande, France, on 15 January 2022, at the age of 87, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of France's most versatile and beloved performers.