Grégoire Aslan
Encyclopedia
Grégoire Aslan was an Armenia
n actor.
Born Krikor Aslanian in Switzerland
or in Constantinople
, according to different sources, Aslan made his professional debut at 18 as a vocalist and drummer with a Paris
dance band, then launched an acting career under the name of Koko Aslan. His first film appearance was in Feux de joie (1938). He became an indispensable feature in many British and American films, usually playing foreigners – Russians, Frenchmen, Italians, Germans, Albanians and Middle Easterners – with equal finesse.
Aslan's more prominent screen appearances include gangster boss Duca in Joe MacBeth (1955), King of Kings (1961) (Herod), and Cleopatra
(1963) (Porthinos). In 1961, in The Devil at 4 O'Clock
, alongside Frank Sinatra
and Spencer Tracy
, he portrayed Marcel, a criminal who finds repentance by giving his life to save inhabitants from being killed by a volcanic eruption. In Paris, When It Sizzles
(1964), he played a police chief. He played another police chief in The Return of the Pink Panther
(1975). He appeared in over 110 film and TV roles.
Aslan died of a heart attack
in Cornwall
, England
.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n actor.
Born Krikor Aslanian in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
or in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, according to different sources, Aslan made his professional debut at 18 as a vocalist and drummer with a 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...
dance band, then launched an acting career under the name of Koko Aslan. His first film appearance was in Feux de joie (1938). He became an indispensable feature in many British and American films, usually playing foreigners – Russians, Frenchmen, Italians, Germans, Albanians and Middle Easterners – with equal finesse.
Aslan's more prominent screen appearances include gangster boss Duca in Joe MacBeth (1955), King of Kings (1961) (Herod), and Cleopatra
Cleopatra (1963 film)
Cleopatra is a 1963 British-American-Swiss epic drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The screenplay was adapted by Sidney Buchman, Ben Hecht, Ranald MacDougall, and Mankiewicz from a book by Carlo Maria Franzero. The film starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy...
(1963) (Porthinos). In 1961, in The Devil at 4 O'Clock
The Devil at 4 O'Clock
The Devil at 4 O'Clock is a 1961 disaster film with elevated themes, starring Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Based upon an eponymous novel by Max Catto, film was a precursor to the disaster movies of the 1970s, such as The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, and The...
, alongside Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
and Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, he portrayed Marcel, a criminal who finds repentance by giving his life to save inhabitants from being killed by a volcanic eruption. In Paris, When It Sizzles
Paris, When It Sizzles
Paris When It Sizzles is a 1964 romantic comedy film directed by Richard Quine and produced by Quine and George Axelrod. The screenplay is by George Axelrod based on the story and film Holiday for Henrietta by Julien Duvivier and Henri Jeanson. The music score is by Nelson Riddle, the...
(1964), he played a police chief. He played another police chief in The Return of the Pink Panther
The Return of the Pink Panther
The Return of the Pink Panther is the fourth film in the Pink Panther series, released in 1975. The film stars Peter Sellers in the role of Inspector Clouseau in his third Panther appearance, after the original The Pink Panther and A Shot in the Dark.Herbert Lom also reprises his role as Chief...
(1975). He appeared in over 110 film and TV roles.
Aslan died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Selected filmography
- Last HolidayLast Holiday (1950 film)Last Holiday is a 1950 British film featuring Alec Guinness in his sixth starring role. The low-key, dark comedy was written by J. B. Priestley and directed by Henry Cass, featuring irony and wit often associated with Priestley....
(1950) - Cairo RoadCairo Road (film)Cairo Road is a 1950 British crime film directed by David MacDonald and starring Laurence Harvey, Eric Portman, Maria Mauban, Harold Lang and John Gregson. A team of Egyptian anti-narcotic agents try to prevent shipments of drugs crossing the southern Egyptian border...
(1950) - Cage of GoldCage of GoldCage of Gold is a 1950 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Jean Simmons, Herbert Lom and Bernard Lee.-Plot:A young woman gives up her stable life and leaves her fiancé for a married man, who gets her pregnant and then abandons her....
(1950) - No Vacation for Mr. MayorNo Vacation for Mr. MayorNo Vacation for Mr. Mayor , is a French comedy film from 1951, directed by Maurice Labro, written by Christian Duvaleix, starring Grégoire Aslan and Louis de Funès.- Cast :* Grégoire Aslan : Mr Beaudubec* André Claveau : Philippe Lebon, the singer...
(1951) - Le Chevalier de la nuitLe Chevalier de la nuitLe Chevalier de la nuit , is a French comedy film from 1953, directed by Robert Darène, written by Jean Anouilh, starring Renée Saint-Cyr and Louis de Funès...
(1953) - He Who Must DieHe Who Must DieHe Who Must Die , is a 1957 French film directed by Jules Dassin. It is based on the novel Christ Recrucified by Nikos Kazantzakis. It was entered into the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Jean Servais - Photis* Carl Möhner - Agha...
(1957) - Our Man in HavanaOur Man in Havana (film)Our Man in Havana is a 1959 film directed and produced by Carol Reed and starring Alec Guinness, Burl Ives, Maureen O'Hara, Ralph Richardson, Noel Coward and Ernie Kovacs. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Graham Greene...
(1959) - The CriminalThe CriminalThe Criminal is a 1960 British drama film produced by Nat Cohen and directed by Joseph Losey, starring Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker and Jill Bennett. Baker plays an ex-con who takes part in the robbery of a racetrack and is caught and sent back to prison...
(1960) - King of Kings (1961)
- The High Bright SunThe High Bright SunThe High Bright Sun is a 1964 British action film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde, George Chakiris and Susan Strasberg. It is set in Cyprus during the EOKA uprising against British rule in the 1950s...
(1964) - Moment to MomentMoment to MomentMoment to Moment is a 1966 film directed by Mervyn LeRoy starring Jean Seberg as a married woman who has an affair which leads to murder....
(1965) - A Flea in Her EarA Flea in Her Ear (1968 film)A Flea in Her Ear is a 1968 20th Century Fox feature film adaptation of the play of the same title. Its screenplay was written by John Mortimer. It was directed by Jacques Charon and the cast included Rex Harrison, Rosemary Harris, Louis Jourdan, and Rachel Roberts.-Cast and crew:*Victor...
(1968) - Marry Me! Marry Me! (1969)
- You Can't Win 'Em AllYou Can't Win 'Em AllYou Can't Win 'Em All is a 1970 war film, written by Leo Gordon and directed by Peter Collinson, starring Tony Curtis and Charles Bronson as two American soldiers in 1922 Turkey who protect the three daughters of a Turkish governor while thwarting an Turkish army colonel's attempt to take gold on...
(1970) - The Golden Voyage of SinbadThe Golden Voyage of SinbadThe Golden Voyage of Sinbad is a fantasy film released in 1974 and starring John Phillip Law as Sinbad. It includes a score by composer Miklós Rózsa and is known mostly for the stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen...
(1973) - The Girl from PetrovkaThe Girl from PetrovkaThe Girl from Petrovka is a 1974 feature film starring Goldie Hawn and Hal Holbrook, based on the novel by George Feifer.-Cast:* Goldie Hawn as Oktyabrina* Hal Holbrook as Joe* Anthony Hopkins as Kostya* Grégoire Aslan as Minister...
(1974) - Blood Relations (1977)
- Gloria (1977)
- Meetings with Remarkable MenMeetings with Remarkable Men (film)Meetings with Remarkable Men is a 1979 British film directed by Peter Brook and based on the book of the same name. Shot on location in Afghanistan , it starred Terence Stamp, and Dragan Maksimovic as the adult G. I. Gurdjieff...
(1979)