Biography
François Périer, born François Pillu, was a French actor. He trained at the Cours Simon and the Conservatoire before making his stage and screen debuts in 1938. He appeared in over 110 films and television productions between 1938 and 1996, and remained active in the theatre throughout his career.
On stage he played Hugo in the first production of Jean-Paul Sartre's Les Mains Sales in 1948. In film he is noted for roles including Heurtebise in Orpheus (1950), Oscar D'Onofrio in Nights of Cabiria (1957), the superintendent in Le Samouraï (1967), the public prosecutor in Z (1969), Santi in Le Cercle Rouge (1970) and Commissioner Rosinsky in Max and the Junkmen (1971). He also narrated the French-language version of Fantasia.
Périer received the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor for his performance in Gervaise (1956).
