Pierre Olaf

Pierre Olaf

Pierre Olaf (14 July 1928 – 16 September 1995) was a French actor, cabaret artist, and clown. He first achieved success as a stage actor in Paris in the musical revues of Robert Dhéry. He achieved particular acclaim in Dhéry's Jupon Volé (1954) and La Plume de Ma Tante (1955); the latter of which served as an international vehicle for him with productions in Paris, London's West End (1955-1958), and in New York City on Broadway (1958-1960). In 1959 he and the rest of the cast of La Plume de Ma Tante were awarded a non-competitive Special Tony Award. In 1962 he was nominated for a competitive Tony Award for his portrayal of Jacquot in the original Broadway production of Bob Merrill's Carnival! (1961). Olaf began his career in French cinema in the 1950s. A friend of French director and writer Jean Renoir, he appeared in stage, television, and film works written and directed by him. He was a featured interviewee in the 1993 documentary film on Renoir. He also appeared in many films associated with Dhéry, and performed in both French and American films and television programs during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. In 1962 he was a regular performer on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall. Some of his notable Hollywood film credits include the Tony Curtis comedy Wild and Wonderful (1964), the James Garner and Dick Van Dyke comedy The Art of Love, and the Academy Award winning musical film Camelot (1967). One of his final screen credits was as Captain Rondicherry in the 1989 television miniseries Around the World in 80 Days made for CBS television.

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