Maurice Chevalier
French singer and actor known for boater hat and tuxedo.
Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French singer, actor, and entertainer, best known for his signature songs and films from the early to mid-20th century. He achieved international fame through his work in Hollywood musicals and his distinctive stage persona, marked by a boater hat and tuxedo.
- born
- 12 September 1888, Paris, France
- died
- 1 January 1972, Paris, France
- field
- Singer, actor, entertainer
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- Signature songs including 'Livin' In The Sunlight', 'Valentine', 'Louise', 'Mimi', and 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls'; films including The Love Parade, The Big Pond, The Smiling Lieutenant, One Hour
Lore & Background
Chevalier was born in Paris to a house painter and a lace-maker of Belgian descent. His father deserted the family in 1896, and his mother was hospitalized for overwork in 1898. Chevalier left school at age ten, tried various jobs, and after a finger injury began performing at a café. In 1909, he became the partner of the biggest female star in France, Fréhel, who secured him his first major engagement at l'Alcazar in Marseille. After their relationship ended in 1911, he started a relationship with Mistinguett at the Folies Bergère.
During World War I, Chevalier was wounded by shrapnel and taken as a prisoner of war in Germany for two years, where he learned English. He was released in 1916 through the intervention of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. In 1917, he discovered jazz and ragtime and found success at the Palace Theatre in London. After the war, he returned to Paris, created songs such as 'Valentine' (1924), and brought the operetta Dédé to Broadway in 1922. He made his Hollywood debut in 1928 with Innocents of Paris, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Love Parade (1929) and The Big Pond (1930).
Reader's Guide
Maurice Chevalier's significance lies in his role as a bridge between French music-hall tradition and Hollywood's golden age of musicals. His collaborations with directors like Ernst Lubitsch and Rouben Mamoulian, and with composers such as Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, produced films like Love Me Tonight, considered one of the greatest film musicals. His signature songs and persona—the boater hat and tuxedo—became iconic. After a long absence from Hollywood, he returned in the late 1950s with Love in the Afternoon and Gigi (1958). His final contribution was singing the title song for Disney's The Aristocats in 1970. Chevalier died in Paris on 1 January 1972 from complications of a suicide attempt. His legacy endures through his recordings and films, which continue to be celebrated for their charm and musicality.
Did You Know?
- Chevalier was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in The Love Parade (1929) and The Big Pond (1930).
- He learned English while a prisoner of war in Germany during World War I.
- His passport was featured in the Marx Brothers film Monkey Business (1931), where each brother tries to impersonate him.
- He sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats in 1970, his final contribution to the film industry.
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