Benoît-Constant Coquelin
Encyclopedia
Benoît-Constant Coquelin (23 January 1841 – 27 January 1909), known as Coquelin aîné, was a French
actor
, "one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age."
, Pas-de-Calais. He was originally intended to follow his father's trade of baker
(he was once called "un boulanger manqué" by a hostile critic), but his love of acting led him to the Conservatoire
, where he entered Régnier
's class in 1859. He won the first prize for comedy within a year, and made his début on 7 December 1860 at the Comédie-Française
as the comic valet, Gros-René, in Molière
's Le Dépit amoureux, but his first great success was as Figaro
in The Barber of Seville
, in the following year. It was an honor for Coquelin to be a part of the Comédie-Française at such a young age. This company had already been in existence for around 150 years.
He was made sociétaire in 1864. There were twenty-one and three-fourth shares and they were divided among the lead actors, known as societaires. The societaires co-manage, choose plays, and share profits. When there was an opening caused by retirement, resignation, or death, it was filled by a member of the pensionnaires. And just four years after joining the Comédie-Française, Coquelin became one of the elite societaires. During the next twenty-two years he created at the Comédie Française the leading parts in forty-four new plays, including Theodore de Banville
's Gringoire (1867), Paul Ferrier
's Tabarin (1871), Émile Augier
's Paul Forestier (1871), L'Étrangère (1876) by the younger Dumas
, Charles Lomon's Jean Dacier (1877), Edward Pailleron's Le Monde où l'on s'ennuie (1881), Erckmann and Chatrian's Les Rantzau (1884).
In consequence of a dispute with the authorities over the question of his right to make provincial tours in France he resigned in 1886. Three years later, however, the breach was healed; and after a successful series of tours in Europe and the United States
he rejoined the Comédie-Française as pensionnaire in 1890. During his time away from the Comédie he wrote his book Art and the Actor.
It was during this period that he took the part of Labussière, in the production of Victorien Sardou
's Thermidor
, which was interdicted by the government after three performances. In 1892 he broke definitely with the Comédie-Française, and toured for some time through the capitals of Europe with a company of his own; in New York
, for instance, he performed at Abbey's Theatre
in 1894, playing the lead in Tartuffe
(his son Jean played Orgon) and Mascarille in Les Précieuses ridicules
. In 1895 he joined the Renaissance theatre in Paris, and played there until he became director of the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
n 1897. Here he won successes in Edmond Rostand
's Cyrano de Bergerac
(1897), which he repeated in the summer of 1898 at the Lyceum Theatre, London), Émile Bergerat
's Plus que reine (1899),' Catulle Mendès
's Scarron (1905), and Alfred Capus
and Lucien Descaves
' L'Attentat (1906).
In 1900 Coquelin toured in America with Sarah Bernhardt
, appeared on Broadway
's Winter Garden Theatre
in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac (Bernhardt played Roxane). He made his only film, the duel scene from Cyrano de Bergerac with sound recording on phonograph cylinder
(see also Sound film/Early steps). The film is thought to be the first ever made with both color and sound. On their return to France he continued with his old colleague to appear in L'Aiglon, at the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt. He was rehearsing for the creation of the leading part in Rostand
's Chantecler, which he was to produce, when he died suddenly in Paris
in 1909. The New York Times printed an obituary, in which it described many tributes to the dead actor, including a visit by the personal secretary of the President of the Republic, Armand Fallières
.
Coquelin was an Officier de l'Instruction Publique and of the Legion of Honour. He published:
His brother, Ernest
, and his son, Jean, were also actors.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, "one of the greatest theatrical figures of the age."
Biography
Coquelin was born in Boulogne-sur-MerBoulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, Pas-de-Calais. He was originally intended to follow his father's trade of baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
(he was once called "un boulanger manqué" by a hostile critic), but his love of acting led him to the Conservatoire
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
, where he entered Régnier
Henri de Régnier
Henri François Joseph de Régnier was a French symbolist poet, considered one of the most important of France during the early 20th century....
's class in 1859. He won the first prize for comedy within a year, and made his début on 7 December 1860 at the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
as the comic valet, Gros-René, in Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's Le Dépit amoureux, but his first great success was as Figaro
Figaro
-Literature:* Figaro, the central character in:** The Barber of Seville by Beaumarchais***Il barbiere di Siviglia , the opera by Paisiello based on Beaumarchais' play...
in The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
, in the following year. It was an honor for Coquelin to be a part of the Comédie-Française at such a young age. This company had already been in existence for around 150 years.
He was made sociétaire in 1864. There were twenty-one and three-fourth shares and they were divided among the lead actors, known as societaires. The societaires co-manage, choose plays, and share profits. When there was an opening caused by retirement, resignation, or death, it was filled by a member of the pensionnaires. And just four years after joining the Comédie-Française, Coquelin became one of the elite societaires. During the next twenty-two years he created at the Comédie Française the leading parts in forty-four new plays, including Theodore de Banville
Théodore de Banville
Théodore Faullain de Banville was a French poet and writer.-Biography:Banville was born in Moulins in Allier, Auvergne, the son of a captain in the French navy. His boyhood, by his own account, was cheerlessly passed at a lycée in Paris; he was not harshly treated, but took no part in the...
's Gringoire (1867), Paul Ferrier
Paul Ferrier
Paul Ferrier , French dramatist, was born at Montpellier.He had already produced several comedies when in 1873 he secured real success with two short pieces, Chez l'avocat and Les Incendies de Massoulard. Others of his numerous plays are Les Compensations ; L'Art de tramper les femmes , with M...
's Tabarin (1871), Émile Augier
Émile Augier
Guillaume Victor Émile Augier was a French dramatist. He was the thirteenth member to occupy seat 1 of the Académie française on 31 March 1857.-Biography:...
's Paul Forestier (1871), L'Étrangère (1876) by the younger Dumas
Alexandre Dumas, fils
Alexandre Dumas, fils was a French author and dramatist. He was the son of Alexandre Dumas, père, also a writer and playwright.-Biography:...
, Charles Lomon's Jean Dacier (1877), Edward Pailleron's Le Monde où l'on s'ennuie (1881), Erckmann and Chatrian's Les Rantzau (1884).
In consequence of a dispute with the authorities over the question of his right to make provincial tours in France he resigned in 1886. Three years later, however, the breach was healed; and after a successful series of tours in Europe and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
he rejoined the Comédie-Française as pensionnaire in 1890. During his time away from the Comédie he wrote his book Art and the Actor.
It was during this period that he took the part of Labussière, in the production of Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play...
's Thermidor
Thermidor (play)
Thermidor is a four-act 1891 dramatic play by the 19th-century French playwright Victorien Sardou. The play is set during the French Revolution, almost exactly 100 years prior, and is one of seven Sardou plays set in that period...
, which was interdicted by the government after three performances. In 1892 he broke definitely with the Comédie-Française, and toured for some time through the capitals of Europe with a company of his own; in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, for instance, he performed at Abbey's Theatre
Knickerbocker Theatre (Broadway)
The Knickerbocker Theatre — previously known as Abbey's Theatre and Henry Abbey's Theatre — was a Broadway theatre located at 1396 Broadway in New York City. It operated from 1893 to 1930...
in 1894, playing the lead in Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
(his son Jean played Orgon) and Mascarille in Les Précieuses ridicules
Les Précieuses ridicules
Les Précieuses ridicules is a one-act satire by Molière in prose. It takes aim at the précieuses, the ultra-witty ladies who indulged in lively conversations, word games and, in a word, préciosité ....
. In 1895 he joined the Renaissance theatre in Paris, and played there until he became director of the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
The Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin is a venerable theatre and opera house at 18, Boulevard Saint-Martin in the 10e arrondissement of Paris.- History :...
n 1897. Here he won successes in Edmond Rostand
Edmond Rostand
Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism, and is best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand's romantic plays provided an alternative to the naturalistic theatre popular during the late nineteenth century...
's Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
(1897), which he repeated in the summer of 1898 at the Lyceum Theatre, London), Émile Bergerat
Émile Bergerat
Émile Bergerat was a French poet, playwright and essayist. He used the pseudonyms l'Homme masqué , Caliban and Ariel...
's Plus que reine (1899),' Catulle Mendès
Catulle Mendès
Catulle Mendès was a French poet and man of letters.Of Portuguese Jewish extraction, he was born in Bordeaux. He early established himself in Paris and promptly attained notoriety by the publication in the Revue fantaisiste of his Roman d'une nuit, for which he was condemned to a month's...
's Scarron (1905), and Alfred Capus
Alfred Capus
Alfred Capus was a French journalist and playwright, born in Aix-en-Provence and deceased in Neuilly-sur-Seine.-Biography:Son to a lawyer from Marseille, Alfred Capus went to university in Toulon...
and Lucien Descaves
Lucien Descaves
Lucien Descaves was a French novelist. A disciple of Joris-Karl Huysmans and the Goncourt brothers his novels Le Calvaire d'Héloïse Pajadou and Une vieille rate followed strongly the naturalism movement.The anti-military novel, Sous-Offs provoked a scandal...
' L'Attentat (1906).
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
, appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
's Winter Garden Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown Manhattan.-History:The structure was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac (Bernhardt played Roxane). He made his only film, the duel scene from Cyrano de Bergerac with sound recording on phonograph cylinder
Phonograph cylinder
Phonograph cylinders were the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound. Commonly known simply as "records" in their era of greatest popularity , these cylinder shaped objects had an audio recording engraved on the outside surface which could be reproduced when the cylinder was...
(see also Sound film/Early steps). The film is thought to be the first ever made with both color and sound. On their return to France he continued with his old colleague to appear in L'Aiglon, at the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt. He was rehearsing for the creation of the leading part in Rostand
Edmond Rostand
Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism, and is best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand's romantic plays provided an alternative to the naturalistic theatre popular during the late nineteenth century...
's Chantecler, which he was to produce, when he died suddenly in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1909. The New York Times printed an obituary, in which it described many tributes to the dead actor, including a visit by the personal secretary of the President of the Republic, Armand Fallières
Armand Fallières
Clément Armand Fallières was a French politician, president of the French republic from 1906 to 1913.He was born at Mézin in the département of Lot-et-Garonne, France, where his father was clerk of the peace...
.
Coquelin was an Officier de l'Instruction Publique and of the Legion of Honour. He published:
- L'Art et le comédien (1880)
- Molière et le misanthrope (1881)
- essay on Eugène ManuelEugène ManuelEugène Manuel , French poet and man of letters, was born in Paris, the son of a Jewish doctor.He was educated at the Ecole Normale, and taught rhetoric for some years in provincial schools and then in Paris. In 1870 he entered the department of public instruction, and in 1878 became inspector-general...
(1881) - essay on Sully-Prudhomme (1882)
- L'Arnolphe de Molière (1882)
- Les Comédiens (1882)
- L'Art de dire le monologue (with his brother, 1884)
- Tartuffe (1884)
- L'Art du comédien (1894)
His brother, Ernest
Ernest Alexandre Honoré Coquelin
Ernest Alexandre Honoré Coquelin was a French actor. Also called Coquelin cadet, to distinguish him from his brother, he was born at Boulogne, and entered the Conservatoire in 1864....
, and his son, Jean, were also actors.