Patrick Dewaere was born Jean-Marie Patrick Bourdeau on 26 January 1947 at Saint-Brieuc in Britanny, in the north-west of France.  He was the third of six children and made his film debut at the age of four, under the name Patrick Maurin, in the 1951 film Monsieur Fabre.  He had a difficult childhood and hated school, partly because he was teased for his small film roles as a child.

In 1967, he appeared in a leading role in the French television series, Jean de la Tour Miracle, before joining the “Café de Gare” theatrical troupe, which included Coluche and Miou-Miou, who, like Dewaere, would achieve stardom in the 1970s.  At this time, the actor adopted the name Dewaere, the name of his great grandmother.  Dewaere’s association with the Café de Gare lasted 10 years whilst he pursued his film career.

Having appeared in Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s Les Mariés de l’an II in 1970 and Claude Faraldo’s Themroc in 1972 (along with the rest of the Café de Gare troupe), Patrick Dewaere achieved fame for his leading role in Bertrand Blier’s 1973 film Les Valseuses, in which he starred opposite another rising star, Gerard Dépardieu. 

In his film work, Dewaere appeared to be far more interested in playing difficult parts, often in experimental, low budget films, than by consolidating his bank balance and his celebrity.  He had a particular flair for playing losers and outsiders, where he demonstrated a considerable talent as an actor.  Good example of this can be seen in Alain Corneau’s 1979 film Série Noire and Luc Béraud’s 1980 film Plein Sud. 

Although greatly admired by the critics and the public alike, Dewaere never achieved international fame and never received an award for his performances, although he was often nominated for Césars and awards at Cannes. 

Patrick Dewaere’s career ended in tragic and mysterious circumstances which have never been fully resolved.  Whilst working on Claude Lelouch’s film Édith and Marcel, the actor decided to end his life, shooting himself with a rifle in his Paris home on 16 July 1982.  It was an inexplicable tragic act which robbed France of one of its most promising acting talents.

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