Frédéric Dard
Biography
Frédéric Dard was a French writer born on June 29, 1921, in Bourgoin-Jallieu, Isère, France. He is known for blending crime fiction and humor in his writing. Dard wrote over four hundred novels, including the San-Antonio book series, as well as dozens of plays and several screenplays. He is noted for his ability to use a farcical tone in his writing. Dard was the best-selling French-language author in the world during his lifetime. He used the pen name San-Antonio, which is also the title of his most famous book series. Dard passed away on June 6, 2000, at the age of 78.
Career overview
Frédéric Charles Antoine Dard was a French writer born on June 29, 1921, in Bourgoin-Jallieu, Isère, France, and he died on June 6, 2000, in Bonnefontaine, Fribourg, Switzerland, at the age of 78. Known under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms, including the pen name San-Antonio, he was recognized as an author of crime fiction and a humorist, and he was noted for his ability to blend the two genres. During his lifetime, Dard was the best-selling French-language author in the world, writing more than four hundred novels, which included the San-Antonio book series, along with dozens of plays and several screenplays.
While Dard also wrote serious fiction, his most successful books utilized a farcical tone. He used San-Antonio as his most famous pen name. His extensive body of work encompassed 45 known credits in writing according to archival records on the Movie Database, establishing a prolific legacy in French literature, drama, and screenwriting under both his given name and his numerous pseudonyms.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Night Creatures (2025) Writer
- Merry Christmas (2024) Original Story
- San Antonio (2004) Novel
- Mausolée pour une garce (2001) Novel
- Vivement dimanche (1998) as Self
- Maître Da Costa (1997) Creator
- Leon's Husband (1993) Writer
- Coma (1993) Novel
- The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea (1991) Novel
- Sacrée soirée (1987) as Self
- Nulle part ailleurs (1987) as Self
- Le Caviar rouge (1986) Novel
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Is There a Frenchman in the House? (1982) Writer
- Is There a Frenchman in the House? (1982) Novel
- San-Antonio ne pense qu'à ça (1981) Novel
- 30 millions d'amis (1976) as Self
- Apostrophes (1975) as Self
- Death Rite (1975) Novel
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self - Main guest
- Samedi soir (1971) as Self
- Beru and These Women (1968) Writer
- Seize millions de jeunes (1964) as Self
- The Accident (1963) Screenplay
- The Empire of Night (1962) Writer
- Paris Pick-Up (1962) Novel
- Crime Does Not Pay (1962) Scenario Writer
- Les Bras de la nuit (1961) Novel
- House of Sin (1961) Writer
- Desperate Flight (1961) Writer
- The Menace (1961) Screenplay
- Rendezvous (1960) Writer
- Rendezvous (1960) Director
- Premeditated (1960) Novel
- The Wretches (1960) Novel
- The Wretches (1960) Dialogue
- The Wretches (1960) Screenplay
- Double Agents (1959) Novel
- The Beast Is Loose (1959) Dialogue
- The Beast Is Loose (1959) Adaptation
- Blonde in a White Car (1959) Novel
- Pensione Edelweiss (1959) Writer
- Soft Skin on Black Silk (1959) Dialogue
- Back to the Wall (1958) Novel
- Back to the Wall (1958) Adaptation
- Back to the Wall (1958) Dialogue
- A Legitimate Defense (1958) Writer
- The Night of the Suspects (1957) Dialogue
- Daddy's Gang (1956) Writer
- The Wicked Go to Hell (1955) Theatre Play
- M'sieur la Caille (1955) Writer