French actor Louis Jourdan dies at 93

French actor Louis Jourdan, who made a career in Hollywood after World War II and acted in such movies as ‘Gigi’, has died in his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 93, according to his biographer, Olivier Minne.

The actor, who was often typecast as a French leading man, later moved on to villainous roles and shared the screen with fellow French actors like Brigitte Bardot and Maurice Chevalier, died of natural causes, Minne said Sunday.

Jourdan, born in Marseille on Jun. 18, 1921, was educated in France, U.K., and Turkey, and went on to attend the renowned Rene Simon drama school.

He began his career in French movies but refused to star in Nazi propaganda films during the German occupation of France during World War II after his father was arrested by the Gestapo.

In 1948, American producer and screenwriter David O. Selznick offered him a part in the Alfred Hitchcockhelmed movie ‘The Paradine Case’ starring Gregory Peck and Ann Todd in the leading roles.

From there, he became a regular in the films of the golden age of Hollywood which lasted till the late 1960s, playing the role of the French leading man to perfection and working with actresses such as Gina Lollobrigida, Joan Fontaine, Marie Laforet, Grace Kelly and Shirley MacLaine.

He is most wellknown for his roles in movies such as the Oscarnominated ‘Gigi’ (1958), ‘CanCan’ (1960), ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ (1961), ‘Made in Paris’ (1966), ‘Julie’ (1956) and ‘To Die in Paris’ (1968), among others.

Later on in his career, Jourdan moved on to villainous roles in the James Bond movie ‘Octopussy’ (1983) and ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’ (1977) alongside Richard Chamberlain.

In 2010, he received the Legion D’Honneur, France’s highest award.

Berthe Frederique, his wife of more than 60 years, died in 2014.