Claude Chabrol
Biography
Claude Chabrol was born in Paris, France, on June 24, 1930, and died on September 12, 2010, at the age of 80. He was a French film director, film producer, and screenwriter, and was one of the primary figures of the French New Wave movement of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his contemporaries Godard, Truffaut, Rohmer, and Rivette, Chabrol worked as a critic for the film magazine Cahiers du cinema before starting his filmmaking career. His directorial work began with the 1958 film Le Beau Serge, which was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's 1943 film Shadow of a Doubt. Thrillers became a trademark of his career, with a style defined by distanced objectivity, which is particularly evident in Les Biches, La Femme Infidele, and Le Boucher.
Career overview
Claude Chabrol was born in Paris, France, on June 24, 1930, and died on September 12, 2010. He was a French film director, producer, and screenwriter, and a prominent member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his colleagues and contemporaries Godard, Truffaut, Rohmer, and Rivette, Chabrol began his career as a critic for the influential film magazine Cahiers du cinma before transitioning to filmmaking.
Chabrol began his directorial career with Le Beau Serge in 1958, a work inspired by Hitchcock's 1943 film Shadow of a Doubt. Over the course of his career, thrillers became a trademark for Chabrol, distinguished by an approach characterized by a distanced objectivity. This stylistic approach is especially apparent in films such as Les Biches in 1968, La Femme Infidele in 1969, and Le Boucher. Throughout his extensive career, he accumulated numerous known credits in directing and appeared as an actor in various films and series.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Short Cuts : Le boucher de Claude Chabrol (2026) Original Film Writer
- Mia Farrow: Shadows and Light (2025) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- Stéphane Audran, la complice de Chabrol (2024) as Self (archive) - filmmaker
- Godard Cinema (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Sous le soleil de Pialat (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Jodie Foster: Hollywood Under the Skin (2021) as Self
- Les cahiers du cinéma, la création d'une empreinte (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Claude Chabrol, the Maverick (2019) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- The Other Side of the Wind (2018) as Claude Chabrol
- Cannes 1968, révolution au palais (2018) as Self
- Vadim Mister Cool (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- The Day of the Crows (2012) as Le docteur (voice)
- Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010) as Le Producteur Musique de Gainsbourg
- Bellamy (2009) Director
- Bellamy (2009) Screenplay
- Les fleurs maladives de Georges Franju (2009) as Self
- Au siècle de Maupassant, contes et nouvelles du XIXe (2009) Director
- Once Upon a Time... 'Notorious' (2009) as Self
- À bicyclette (2009)
- Le Petit Fût (2008) Director
- The Necklace (2007) Director
- Chez Maupassant (2007) Director
- A Girl Cut in Two (2007) Director
- A Girl Cut in Two (2007) Writer
- Sophia: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (2007) as Self
- Filmmakers in Action (2006) as Self
- Avida (2006) as Le zoophile débonnaire
- Comedy of Power (2006) Director
- Comedy of Power (2006) Screenplay
- The Life and Work of Claude Chabrol (2006) as Self
- A Cinema of Signs: Claude Chabrol on Alfred Hitchcock (2006) as Self
- Alfred Hitchcock: The Early Years (2004) as Self
- The Bridesmaid (2004) Director
- The Bridesmaid (2004) Screenplay
- Bâtons d'encens pour Mizoguchi (2004) as Self
- Fritz Lang, le cercle du destin - Les films allemands (2004) as Self (Interviewee)
- The Flower of Evil (2003) Director
- The Flower of Evil (2003) Screenplay
- Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux (2003) as Self
- Claude Chabrol: Mon premier film (2003) as Self
- Die Welt des Claude Chabrol - Eine Nahaufnahme zum 50. Film (2003) as Self
- Unfaithful (2002) Original Film Writer
- All the Love You Cannes! (2002) as Self
- Coup de vice (2001) Director
- Les acteurs anonymes (2001) as Self (uncredited)
- Isabelle Huppert, une vie pour jouer (2001) as Self
- Nightcap (2000) Director
- Nightcap (2000) Screenplay
- Nouvelle Vague : El cine sin dogmas (2000) as Self
- Monsieur Truffaut Meets Mr. Hitchcock (1999) as Self
- The Color of Lies (1999) as Emmanuel Solar (voice) (uncredited)
- The Color of Lies (1999) Director
- The Color of Lies (1999) Writer
- Vivement dimanche (1998) as Self
- Troubles (1997) Writer
- The Swindle (1997) Director
- The Swindle (1997) Writer
- François Truffaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema - The Wild Child (1996) as Self
- La Cérémonie (1995) Director
- La Cérémonie (1995) Writer
- Son of Gascogne (1995) as Self
- NeXt (1994) as Self
- Torment (1994) Director
- Torment (1994) Writer
- François Truffaut: Stolen Portraits (1993) as Self (archive footage)
- Chambre 12, Hôtel de Suède (1993) as Self
- The Eye of Vichy (1993) Director
- Jean Renoir: Part One - From La Belle Époque to World War II (1993) as Self
- Claude Chabrol, l'entomologiste (1993) as Self
- Isabelle Huppert and Claude Chabrol: Crossed Portraits (1993) as Self
- Betty (1992) Director
- Betty (1992) Screenplay
- Sam's Enough (1992) as M. Denis
- Cinéma! Cinéma! The French New Wave (1992) as Self
- Madame Bovary (1991) Director
- Madame Bovary (1991) Screenplay
- The King of Ads (1991) Director
- Les Nuls, l'émission (1990) as Self - Guest
- Dr. M (1990) Director
- Dr. M (1990) Adaptation
- Quiet Days in Clichy (1990) Director
- Quiet Days in Clichy (1990) Screenplay
- The Secret Files of Inspector Lavardin (1988) Writer
- The Secret Files of Inspector Lavardin (1988) Director
- The Secret Files of Inspector Lavardin (1988) Creator
- Sueurs froides (1988) Creator
- Story of Women (1988) Director
- Story of Women (1988) Writer
- Lark, I'll Pluck You! (1988) as Pierre Vergne
- Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self
- L'été en pente douce (1987) as le prêtre
- Matin Bonheur (1987) as Self
- Sale Destin (1987) as The commissioner
- The Cry of the Owl (1987) Director
- The Cry of the Owl (1987) Screenplay
- Masks (1987) Director
- Masks (1987) Screenplay
- Jeux d'artifices (1987) as Jacques' father
- Inspector Lavardin (1986) Director
- Inspector Lavardin (1986) Writer
- Follow My Gaze (1986) as The couch potato
- Cop au Vin (1985) Director
- Cop au Vin (1985) Writer
- The Blood of Others (1984) Director
- Thieves After Dark (1984) as Louis Crépin dit :Tartuffe
- Polar (1984) as Théodore Lyssenko
- Homicide by night (1984)
- Elective Affinities (1983) Director
- Aujourd'hui la vie (1982) as Self
- La danse de mort (1982) Director
- La danse de mort (1982) Screenplay
- La danse de mort (1982) Adaptation
- The Hatter's Ghost (1982) Director
- The Hatter's Ghost (1982) Writer
- M the Damned (1982) Director
- M the Damned (1982) Adaptation
- Droit de Réponse (1981) as Self
- Secrets of the Satin Blues (1981) as Un invité au vernissage
- Fantômas (1980) Art Direction
- Fantômas (1980) Director
- Fantômas (1980) Creator
- The Horse of Pride (1980) Director
- NDR Talk Show (1979) as Self
- La boucle d'oreille (1979) Director
- Jeunesse et Spiritualité : Cyprien Katsaris (1979) Director
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- Blood Relatives (1978) Director
- Blood Relatives (1978) Screenplay
- Violette Nozière (1978) Director
- Violette Nozière (1978) Screenplay
- Monsieur Saint-Saëns (1978) Director
- Monsieur Saint-Saëns (1978) Writer
- Animal (1977) as Le metteur en scène
- Alice or the Last Escapade (1977) Director
- Alice or the Last Escapade (1977) Writer
- The Twist (1976) as Le client chez l'éditeur (uncredited)
- The Twist (1976) Director
- The Twist (1976) Screenplay
- Henry James Stories (1976) Producer
- Henry James Stories (1976) Director
- De Grey, un Récit romanesque (1976) Director
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Death Rite (1975) Director
- Death Rite (1975) Writer
- Innocents with Dirty Hands (1975) Director
- Innocents with Dirty Hands (1975) Screenplay
- Auf dem Trümmerfeld der Träume (1975) as Self
- A Piece of Pleasure (1975) Director
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Le Permis de conduire (1974)
- The Nada Gang (1974) Director
- The Nada Gang (1974) Screenplay
- Nul n'est parfait (1974) Director
- An Invitation to the Hunt (1974) Director
- The Summer People (1974) Director
- Monsieur Bébé (1974) Director
- Monsieur Bébé (1974) Writer
- Wedding in Blood (1973) Director
- Wedding in Blood (1973) Screenplay
- Midi trente (1972) as Self
- Églantine (1972) Technical Advisor
- Scoundrel in White (1972) Director
- A Murder Is a Murder (1972) as Railway guard
- Samedi soir (1971) as Self
- Just Before Nightfall (1971) Director
- Just Before Nightfall (1971) Screenplay
- Ten Days' Wonder (1971) Director
- As Far as Love Can Go (1971) as L'homme au poteau (uncredited)
- The Butcher (1970) Director
- The Butcher (1970) Screenplay
- The Breach (1970) as Passenger on the Tram
- The Breach (1970) Director
- The Breach (1970) Screenplay
- Sortie de secours (1970)
- The Unfaithful Wife (1969) Director
- The Unfaithful Wife (1969) Screenplay
- Et crac…! (1969) as Marie's husband
- The Scarlet Lady (1969) as Liftier (uncredited)
- This Man Must Die (1969) Director
- This Man Must Die (1969) Screenplay
- Autour de L'Enfance nue (1969)
- 13 Days in France (1968) Producer
- Les Biches (1968) as Filmmaker (uncredited)
- Les Biches (1968) Director
- Les Biches (1968) Screenplay
- Les Biches (1968) Dialogue
- A Little Virtuous (1968) as Cub 22 customer /Man at the bar in the night club (uncredited)
- The Champagne Murders (1967) Director
- The Road to Corinth (1967) as Alcibiade
- The Road to Corinth (1967) Director
- Josef von Sternberg - From Silence Comes Another (1967) as Self
- Line of Demarcation (1966) Director
- Line of Demarcation (1966) Writer
- Brigitte and Brigitte (1966) as Le cousin
- Des chiffres et des lettres (1965) as Self - Guest
- La Muette (1965)
- La Muette (1965) Director
- Six in Paris (1965) as The Father (segment "La Muette")
- Six in Paris (1965) Director
- Six in Paris (1965) Writer
- The Blue Panther (1965) as Bartender (uncredited)
- The Blue Panther (1965) Scenario Writer
- The Blue Panther (1965) Writer
- The Blue Panther (1965) Director
- Our Agent Tiger (1965) as Radiologist (uncredited)
- Our Agent Tiger (1965) Director
- The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964) Director
- The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964) Writer
- New Reports from France (1964) as Self
- Code Name: Tiger (1964) Director
- Chance at Love (1964) Director
- Hard Boiled Ones (1964) as Psychiatrist
- La Nouvelle Vague par elle-même (1964) as Self
- Bluebeard (1963) Director
- Ophélia (1963) Director
- Ophélia (1963) Screenplay
- The Seven Deadly Sins (1962) as Le Pharmacien (segment "L'avarice'") (uncredited)
- The Seven Deadly Sins (1962) Director
- The Seven Deadly Sins (1962) Screenplay
- The Third Lover (1962) as L'homme dans le peep show
- The Third Lover (1962) Director
- The Third Lover (1962) Writer
- Greed (1962) as The Pharmacist (uncredited)
- Greed (1962) Director
- Sign of the Lion (1962) Producer
- A Touch of Treason (1962) as le jogger avec le sifflet au parc
- House of Sin (1961) as The hotel receptionist (uncredited)
- Paris Belongs to Us (1961) as A man at the party (uncredited)
- Paris Belongs to Us (1961) Co-Producer
- Wise Guys (1961) Director
- Wise Guys (1961) Screenplay
- Saint-Tropez Blues (1961) as Le réalisateur empruntant des propos de Pierre Kast
- The Joker (1961) Co-Producer
- Breathless (1960) Technical Supervisor
- Breathless (1960) Original Story
- Breathless (1960) Technical Advisor
- Breathless (1960) Story
- Les Bonnes Femmes (1960) as Swimmer (uncredited)
- Les Bonnes Femmes (1960) Director
- Les Bonnes Femmes (1960) Screenplay
- The Love Game (1960) as Le forain
- The Love Game (1960) Producer
- Discorama (1959) as Self
- Le Beau Serge (1959) as La Truffe
- Le Beau Serge (1959) Director
- Le Beau Serge (1959) Producer
- Le Beau Serge (1959) Screenplay
- À double tour (1959) Director
- À double tour (1959) Dialogue
- The Cousins (1959) Director
- The Cousins (1959) Screenplay
- The Cousins (1959) Producer
- Véronique and Her Dunce (1959) Executive Producer
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- The Kreutzer Sonata (1956) as Cameo (uncredited)
- Fool’s Mate (1956) as Party guest (uncredited)
- Fool’s Mate (1956) Screenplay
- Fool’s Mate (1956) Producer
- Reflets de Cannes (1954) as Self
- Visages de Cinéma as Soi-Méme