Who was Gaspard Ulliel? Before new Marvel series Moon Knight, the French actor was a child star, César Award winner and the face of Chanel for over a decade
- Ulliel died on January 19 after a skiing accident, two months before the March 30 release of Disney+’s Moon Knight – where he stars as art-thieving villain Anton Mogart, or Midnight Man
- His most memorable roles include Yves Saint Laurent and Hannibal Lecter, he once worked with Martin Scorsese on a Chanel fragrance ad, and starred alongside Léa Seydoux and Marion Cotillard
The world was shocked to learn about the tragic passing of French actor Gaspard Ulliel, who died on Wednesday, January 19, aged 37. He suffered severe brain trauma and fatal injuries from a skiing accident in the Savoie region of the Alps after colliding with another person, the actor’s family announced. He was airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he died the next day.
After the news broke, public figures from both Hollywood and the French film industry took to social media to pay their tributes. “French cinema has lost a huge talent, full of charm and energy,” tweeted French finance minister Bruno Le Maire. Canadian actor and filmmaker Xavier Dolan, who had worked with Ulliel on 2016’s It’s Only the End of the World, posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing, “It is impossible, insane, and so painful to even think of writing these words.”
As we remember him, here are a few things to know about the French powerhouse actor.
He was a child star with directing aspirations
Recalling his first acting experience, Ulliel told Crash Magazine, “For an 11-year-old, a film studio set is always impressive, and I found it quite easy – no bother at all.” Apart from acting, the late actor also confessed his desire to direct: “I still want to direct, but in fact with everything that’s been happening to me I’ve tended to go for the acting, since I’ve still got plenty of time for the rest.”
He made his name with two dramatically different characters
In Saint Laurent, Ulliel had to lock lips with fellow actor Louis Garrel, which created a stir after the release. Speaking to IndieWire in 2014, he shared that he was very “proud of the kiss”, saying, “He is the best! With a moustache! It was the first time I was kissing someone with a moustache.”