Trivia

A friend of John Travolta, he was asked by Travolta to be his French voice in the dubbed version of Brian De Palma's movie Blow Out (1981).

In December 2012 Gérard Depardieu moved to Belgium as a self-exile to avoid French taxes. Depardieu has surrendered his French passport and social security card. In an open letter to the prime minister, Depardieu wrote he had "nothing to do in France," and moreover accused the current government of wanting to "punish" success. As of December 2012 about 500 French citizens are said to be waiting to be naturalized in Belgium mainly due to financial reasons.

Speaks Italian fluently.

Underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery in Paris, France, following a heart attack (10 July 2000).

Is an accomplished winemaker.

He has been good friends with Robert De Niro for more than 30 years, since the two worked together in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900 (1976) in 1974-1975.

Has played several characters from classic French literature. He has played the title role in Cyrano de Bergerac (1990), Porthos in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), Edmond Dantes in Le Comte de Monte Cristo (1998), and Jean Valjean in Les misérables (2000).

In a March 2005 interview with "The Daily Telegraph" Depardieu said he used to drink six bottles of red wine a day.

He became so engrossed in his role of Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) that he refused to shave off his Cyrano beard for a long while after the film was completed.

Became attracted to acting while working as a beach boy in Cannes during the film festival and went to Paris to train.

Owns vineyards in France, Italy, Argentina, Morocco and Algeria.

Was considered for the role of Max in Sergio Leone's gangster epic Once Upon a Time in America (1984). Depardieu said he was willing to perfect an American accent in order to play the role, but instead James Woods was cast.

When he appeared on the So Graham Norton (1998) in 2001, it was his first ever interview in the UK. He also confessed to traveling on his motorcycle to the hospital for his bypass operation.

Best paid French actor, earning EUR 800,000 per movie (2005).

Smoked three packs of cigarettes a day until his heart surgery in 2000.

Favorite actor and close friend of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

His son Guillaume Depardieu died on October 13 2008 (aged 37) from complications from pneumonia.

He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture.

Depardieu is a typical name from the center of France.

Announced his intention to retire from acting in October 2005, saying he believed he had made enough films and wanted to concentrate on his other interests.

He became a Russian citizen.

Convicted of drunk driving in France in 1990. He was sentenced to 2 months jail (suspended) and loss of his license for 6 months.

Father of Roxane Depardieu with Karine Silla.

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1992.

Owns two restaurants in Place Gaillon in Paris; they are called "La Fontaine Gaillon" and "L'Ecaille de la Fontaine".

On Thursday, January 3, 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship to Gérard Depardieu, whose bitter fight over taxes with France's government has led him to give up his passport.

Left school at the age of 13 to be trained as a printer.

He received more César nominations than any other actor (16).

Time magazine ran a profile that mistakenly suggested that Depardieu might have "participated" in a rape at the age of nine. The claim was based on an interview carried out 13 years earlier and was the result of an incorrect translation. Depardieu is now careful about proper translation.

Had a motorcycle accident and was hospitalized while filming Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar (1999) in Paris.

Engaged to Carole Bouquet, who had been his longtime companion since 1997, from 2003 to 2005.

Has lived together with Clémentine Igou since 2005.

Has appeared in two remakes of films that previously featured José Ferrer. First, Depardieu succeeded Ferrer in the title role of Cyrano de Bergerac (1990). Ferrer later played the musketeer Athos in The Fifth Musketeer (1979), while Depardieu played the musketeer Porthos in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998). Both films were based on The Vicomte of Bragellone. In Milady and the Three Musketeers (2004), his son, Guillaume Depardieu, played Athos--a role previously played by Ferrer.

Was offered the main role in the action film Malone (1987) but turned it down. The part was later offered to Christopher Lambert, who turned it down too. The part was finally accepted by Burt Reynolds.

Father of a son, Jean Depardieu (born July 14, 2006) with jewelery designer Helene Bizot.

Grew up in Châteauroux in the Indre region.

Born to René Maxime Lionel Depardieu called "Le Dédé", a metal worker and firefighter, and his wife Anne Jeanne Josèphe Marillier called "La Lilette", he was the third of five children.

He appeared with his wife Elisabeth in Le tartuffe (1984).

Granfather of Billy and Alfred (Julie's sons) and Louise Depardieu.

Father of Guillaume Depardieu and Julie Depardieu with Elisabeth Depardieu.

He appeared in five movies that won the César for Best Picture: The Last Metro (1980), Camille Claudel (1988), Too Beautiful for You (1989), Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) and Tous les Matins du Monde (1991). The last four were also consecutive winners.

Admires bishop, theologian and philosopher Saint Augustin, living from 354 to 430 in the North African town of Hippo Regius.

Has supported Nicolas Sarkozy's 2012 presidential campaign.

His former girlfriend Karine Silla, mother of his daughter Roxanne, is now married to actor Vincent Perez, Deaprdieu's co-star in Cyrano de Bergerac (1990).

Classmate of Claude Jade and Alain Doutey at the École d'art dramatique (1966).

To date, he and Catherine Deneuve have made 10 movies together: The Last Metro (1980), I Love You All (1980), Le choix des armes (1981), Fort Saganne (1984), Strange Place for an Encounter (1988), One Hundred and One Nights (1995), Les temps qui changent (2004), Potiche (2010), Astérix and Obélix: God Save Britannia (2012) and Nobody's Perfect! (2017).

Guillaume Depardieu's wife Elise gave birth to a daughter, making Gérard a grandfather (January 2001).

Has his look-alike puppet in the French show Les Guignols de l'info (1988).

Two of his literary characters are said to have influenced the French playwright Moliere. In Cyrano de Bergerac (1990), we are told that Moliere has plagiarized many of Cyrano's plays. In Alexandre Dumas's novel The Viscount of Bragelonne, Moliere, who is also a tailor, takes Porthos's measurements and is so inspired to create Monsieur Jordain. Depardieu played Porthos in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998).

He has two roles in common with Frank Finlay: (1) Finlay played Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (1967) while Depardieu played him in Les misérables (2000) and (2) Finlay played Porthos in The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers (1974) and The Return of the Musketeers (1989) while Depardieu played him in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998).