Raymond Rouleau
Biography
Raymond Rouleau was a Belgian actor and film director born in Brussels in June 1904. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he met Tania Balachova; the two moved to Paris and worked with avant‑garde theatre directors such as Charles Dullin and Gaston Baty. Rouleau appeared in more than forty films from 1928 to 1979 and directed twenty‑two films between 1932 and 1981. He was married to Balachova, with whom he separated in 1940, and later married actress Françoise Lugagne. The TMDB record lists him under the alternate names Edgar Rouleau and Edga, records 69 credited performances, and notes his death in December 1981 at age 77.
Career overview
Raymond Rouleau was a Belgian actor whose career spanned the early development of sound cinema through the late 1970s. Born in Brussels on 14 June 1904, he studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels before moving to Paris, where he worked with avant‑garde theatre directors such as Charles Dullin and Gaston Baty. As an actor he appeared in more than forty films from 1928 to 1979, accumulating sixty‑nine credited performances across film and television. In addition to his acting work, Rouleau directed twenty‑two films between 1932 and 1981, demonstrating a parallel commitment to both sides of the camera.
Rouleau’s professional life was intertwined with his personal relationships. While at the conservatory he met Tania Balachova; the two emigrated together to Paris, collaborated on theatrical projects, married in France and later separated in 1940. He subsequently married actress Françoise Lugagne. Throughout his career he was also known by the variations Edgar Rouleau and Edga. Rouleau’s contributions to French‑language cinema and theatre continued until his death in Paris on 1 December 1981 at the age of 77. His extensive body of work remains documented in film databases, reflecting a prolific presence in European screen and stage history.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Un amour de jeunesse (1977) Director
- Le Mariage de Figaro (1977) Director
- Henry James Stories (1976) Director
- La Jalousie (1976) Director
- Le verre d'eau (1976) Stage Director
- Ondine (1975) Director
- Bérénice (1975) Director
- Hernani (1975) Director
- Le Tour d'Écrou (1974) Director
- La Tête des autres (1973) Director
- L'École des femmes (1973) Director
- An Ideal Husband (1972) Director
- Ruy Blas (1972) Director
- Le Mari, la femme et la mort (1970) Director
- Hedda Gabler (1967) Director
- Two Hours to Kill (1966) as De Rock
- The Big Scare (1964)
- The Lovers of Teruel (1962) Director
- The Lovers of Teruel (1962) Screenplay
- Discorama (1959) as Self
- The Coin (1959) as Williams
- The Witches of Salem (1957) as Governor Danforth
- The Witches of Salem (1957) Director
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- Une fille épatante (1955) as Jacques Mareuil
- The Scheming Women (1954) as Paul Rémi, le directeur du théâtre
- Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances (1954) as Self
- Dr. Schweitzer (1952) as Le commandant Lieuvin
- Full House (1952) as Inspector Wenceslas Vorobeïtchik, aka 'Wens' (segment "L'alibi de monsieur Wens")
- Massacre in Lace (1952) as Georges Masse
- My Wife Is Formidable (1951) as Lui-même recevant une gifle de Sylvia
- Nocturnal Uproar (1951) as Commissioner Legrand
- Beware of Blondes (1950) as Georges Masse
- Les femmes sont folles (1950) as Claude Barrois
- Mission in Tangier (1949) as Georges Masse, journalist and secret agent "Le Connétable"
- L'inconnu d'un soir (1949)
- Just a Big Simple Girl (1948) as Simon
- Adventure Starts Tomorrow (1948) as Claude Larget
- Last Refuge (1947) as Philippe
- Vertiges (1947) as Dr. Jean Favier
- The Ideal Couple (1946) as Diavolo / Henri
- Paris Frills (1945) as Philippe Clarence
- Secret Documents (1945) as Radlo
- L'aventure est au coin de la rue (1944) as Pierre Trévoux
- The Honorable Catherine (1943) as Jacques Tavère
- Monsieur des Lourdines (1943) as Anthime des Lourdines
- The Secret of Madame Clapain (1943) as François Berthier
- Miss Bonaparte (1942) as Philippe de Vaudrey
- The Woman I Loved the Most (1942) as Claude Ferval, dramatic author
- The Trump Card (1942) as Clarence
- Who Killed Santa Claus? (1941) as Baron Roland de la Faille
- The Duel (1941) as Dr. Henri Maurey
- Premier bal (1941) as Jean de Lormel
- Gunshot (1939) as Lieutenant Stanislas de Glombinski
- Conflit (1938) as Michel Lafont
- The Lafarge Case (1938) as Maître Lachaud
- The Shanghai Drama (1938) as Franchon
- The Messenger (1937) Director
- Le cœur dispose (1937) as Robert Levaltier
- Trois... six... neuf (1937) Director
- Rose (1936) Director
- Happy Days (1935) as Boris
- Volga in Flames (1934) as Schalin
- Vers l'abîme (1934) as Rist
- Le Jugement de minuit (1933) as Inspector Berry
- Une vie perdue (1933) as Paul Dréhant
- Une vie perdue (1933) Director
- Suzanne (1932) as Crétay
- Suzanne (1932) Director
- The Naked Woman (1932) as Pierre Bernier
- Romance on the Beach (1931) as Man
- L'Argent (1928)
- Donogoo as Pierre