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- The Flemish (Dutch-language Belgian) actor Julien Schoenaerts made a most notable acting career, foremost in the theatre but also on the movie - and TV screen.
Schoenaerts was born on 30 August 1925 in Eigenbilzen (Belgian province of Limburg). He once said his first public part was that of St-John at age four, when his sister put a living lamb in his arms during a Catholic procession. From age six Schoenaerts joined "Lust en Leven", the amateur theatre society his father belonged to. After classical humanities (Latin-Greek) he joined in 1948 the then two years young Studio Herman Teirlinck, after which he played ten years in Herman Teirlinck's theatre "Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg" (KNS) in Antwerp. In the 1950s he toured both Dutch-speaking countries with such plays as (both in Dutch translation) "De huisbewaarder" by Harold Pinter and "De kleine prins" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Frustrated by Flanders' weak theatre policy, he emigrated north, played a year in Karl Guttmann's Ensemble and two with De Nederlandse Comedie, but remained at unease. Schoenaerts returned to Belgium, working with the Flemish public broadcaster BRT, and simultaneously started his own Ringtheater. Unable to continue both, Schoenaerts started a solo career; his last theatre performance was in 1993.
His first screen part was in 1955 in 'Meeuwen sterven in de haven' (scenario by Ivo Michiels). Memorable film parts were Pieter De Coninck in Hugo Claus' 'De Leeuw van Vlaanderen' (1983) and Monseigneur Stillemans in the Oscar-winning 'Daens' (1992). In 1999 he acted in a movie for a young audience; in 2004 he and his son Matthias Schoenaerts appeared in Rudolph Mestdagh's 'Ellektra'.
His artistic interest extended to other arts forms. In 2003 the gallery of "kunstkring Jacques Gorus" in Antwerp held an exposition of his paintings and etchings. Since the 1970s he suffered from mental problems. - Writer
- Art Department
Born under the name Georges Remi on May 22, 1907 in Brussels, Belgium. As a child, Herge had a gift for drawing but never had any formal training in the visual arts. He attended both school and the boy scouts during the World War 1 and post-World War 1 Era. After he finished school Herge published his first ever cartoon: "The Adventures of Totor" for Le Boy-Scout Belge (a scouting magazine).
In 1928, he became in charge of the producing material for Le Petit Vingtieme (The Little Twentieth) a youth supplement newspaper. He began illustrating "The Adventures of Flup", "Nenesse", "Poussette", "Cochonnet", etc. January 10, 1929, Herge introduced a cartoon about a traveling Belgium reporter (Tintin) accompanied by his fox terrier (Snowy) traveling the Soviet Union. By 1930, Herge published the very first Tintin book: "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets". Tintin soon became Herge's "ligne claire" (French for clear line) legacy.
The later adventures of Tintin involved other locations of the world from China all the way to America. Within the next 50 years Tintin became one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century, due to its well-researched plots, appealing characters, humor, political thrillers, & real world settings. After completing 23 books, Herge passed away on March 3, 1983, leaving "Tintin and Alph-Art" (the 24th book) unfinished. Despite Herge not being able to give his Tintin series the proper end, all of his works along with Tintin will continue to inspire artists and enchant readers from the years to come.- Noureddine Farihi was born on 18 May 1957 in Casablanca, Morocco. He was an actor, known for The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023), Thuis (1995) and Thuis extra (2004). He died on 19 October 2022 in Belgium.
- Writer
- Director
- Music Department
Pierre Culliford (pen name:Peyo) was a Belgian comics writer and artist. He contributed to several series, but his main claim to fame is creating the sword-and-sorcery series "Johan and Peewit" (1947-2001) and its spin-off, the adventure comedy series "The Smurfs" (1963-). His works have received several animated adaptations.
In 1928, Peyo was born in Schaerbeek, a municipality within the Brussels-Capital Region. In the early 20th century, Schaerbeek was a booming suburb with a large middle-class population. Peyo's father was an Englishman, while his mother was Belgian. Peyo received his art training at the "Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts", an art school located in Brussels.
Early in his career, Peyo worked for the animation studio "Compagnie belge d'actualités" (CBA). The studio folded after World War II, and Peyo decided to seek work as a comics artist. He was hired by the sports-oriented newspaper "La Dernière Heure" (The Latest Hour, 1906-). His salary was meager, and he supplemented his income through providing artwork for advertisements.
In 1947, Peyo created the character Johan for the "La Dernière Heure". The character was a heroic page of the Middle Ages, skilled in swordsmanship and aspiring to become a knight. Peyo had the character involved in fantasy-style adventures. In 1949, Peyo was hired by the newspaper "Le Soir" ("The Evening", 1887-), transferring the Johan comic strip to it. He created for this newspaper the comic strip "Poussy" ("Pussy"), featuring a cute black cat as the protagonist. This comic strip developed in a typical gag-a-day format.
In 1952, Peyo was hired by the comics magazine "Spirou" (1938-). He was reportedly recommended for hiring by his old friend André Franquin (1924-1997), who already worked for the magazine. Peyo transferred Johan to this magazine, and started writing longer adventures for him.
In 1954, Peyo retooled the "Johan" series to "Johan and Peewit", by adding a comic-relief sidekick for Johan. Peewit was a dwarf, depicted as a reformed thief, a professional court jester, and an inept musician. Unlike Johan, Peewit was a reluctant hero. But his cunning, his capacity for outwitting opponents, and his fighting skills made him a useful companion for the hero.
In 1958, Peyo wrote an adventure story called "The Flute with Six Holes", where Johan and Peewit seek a magical flute which was stolen. They meet the flute's creators, a race of blue-skinned gnomes, called the Smurfs. Peyo designed them as wearing traditional Phrygian caps (conical cap used in antiquity by various peoples of Anatolia and the Balkans), a developed a peculiar language and habits for them.
By 1959, the Smurfs had become popular enough to inspire merchandising of their own. Peyo was asked to create a spin-off comic strip for them. The characters supplanted Johan and Peewit in popularity, though Peyo preferred writing the original series. In 1960, Peyo founded his own studio, allowing him to have trained assistants work on Smurf-inspired stories, and other comics projects (such as "Steven Strong" and "Jacky and Célestin"). Peyo's most notable assistant during the early 1960s was François Walthéry (1946-), who would later create a number of successful series of his own.
In 1963, the first comics album devoted to the Smurfs was published. It was the story "The Purple Smurfs", featuring an infectious disease which turns the affected Smurfs into "violent, irrational and uncontrolled" beings with an urge to bite others. The album was successful, and ensured the production of further albums. By the time of Peyo's death in 1992, 16 comics albums had been completed.
Peyo remained active in the 1970s, but his work output diminished. He did, however, provide a script for the animated film "The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" (1976). He also was tasked with overseeing production aspects of the film. In the 1980s, Peyo authorized an adaptation of his work by the American studio Hanna-Barbera. He served as a story supervisor for the animated series "The Smurfs" (1981-1989). A notable hit of its era, the series lasted for 9 seasons and introduced the Smurfs to a wider international audience.
Until 1989, all Smurf stories were published by Dupuis due to a long-standing contract with Peyo. In 1989, Peyo decided to terminate their business relationship and to establish his own publishing house, Cartoon Creation. It turned out to be a failed business venture. Peyo had been facing recurring health problems throughout the decade, and was unable to properly handle the affairs of the new company. Within a few years, the company folded "due to management problems".
In 1992, the publishing rights to the Smurfs were sold to Le Lombard, a publisher known for holding the rights to "Tintin" since 1946. Peyo tried working with his new publisher, but his career was ending. On Christmas Eve 1992, Peyo died of a heart attack in Brussels at the age of 64.
A number of Peyo's series have been continued by other writers and artists. New Smurfs-related comics albums were published into the 2020s, often with input by Peyo's son, Thierry Culliford. The popularity of the Smurfs has endured, decades after the demise of their creator.- Writer
- Director
- Art Director
Maurice De Bevere (pen name: Morris) was a Belgian comics writer and artist. He was best known for creating the long-running Western comedy series "Lucky Luke" (1946-), and serving as its main artist from 1946 to his death in 2001. Lucky Luke is one of the best-selling comics series in Europe, and has been translated into 23 languages.
In 1923, Morris was born in the city of Kortrijk, located in West Flanders. It is an on old city, starting out as the Gallo-Roman settlement of Cortoriacum. It has served as a center for the flax and wool industry since the Middle Ages. Morris was educated at a Jesuit school in Aalst, East Flanders. He was bored there, and liked to draw doodles while in class.
After gaining a college degree, Morris was hired by the animation studio "Compagnie Belge d'Actualités" (CBA). Several other stars of Belgian comics started out as staff for this studio. The studio shut down following World War II. Morris then found work as an illustrator for the newspaper "Het Laatste Nieuws" (1888-), and the magazine "Moustique" (1924-). He specialized in drawing caricatures of then-famous movie stars.
In 1946, Morris created the "Lucky Luke" series for the comics magazine "Spirou" (1938-). It is a long-running Franco-Belgian comics magazine, that publishes stories in anthology format. The eponymous character of Morris' new series was a solitary cowboy and gunslinger who traveled across the 19th-century Wild West, persistently helping those in need. The series typically combines adventure themes with humorous situations, and a satirical view of Western tropes.
Early in his work for "Spirou", Morris became closely associated with the magazine's leading artists of this period. They were Jijé (Joseph Gillain, 1914-1980), André Franquin (1924-1997), and Will (Willy Maltaite, 1927-2000). Together, they became known as "La bande des quatre" ("Gang of Four").
In 1948, Morris temporarily moved to the United States, along with Jijé and Franquin. He was interested in finding out what remained of the Wild West, and he also wanted to meet and interact with American comics artist. Morris remained in the United States until 1954. He befriended the American artists Jack Davis (1924 - 2016), and Harvey Kurtzman (1924-1993). He helped his new pals launch the humor magazine "Mad" (1952-2018) for the publisher EC Comics.
During his stay in the United States, Morris became acquainted with the French expatriate comics writer René Goscinny (1926-1977). Following their return to Europe, they decided to collaborate in the "Lucky Luke" series. Goscinny served as the series' main writer from 1955 to his death in 1977. He developed a supporting cast for the main character, which helped the series in gaining popularity.
Until 1968, nearly all Lucky Luke adventures and comic albums were printed by the publishing house Dupuis, the parent company of "Spirou". The company had a series of financial difficulties in the late 1960s, and Morris decided to switch publishers. In 1967, the "Lucky Luke" series started being printed in the comics magazine "Pilote" (1959-1989), the flagship publication of the publisher Dargaud.
In 1984, Morris allowed the adaptation of the "Lucky Luke" series into an English-language animated series by the studio Hanna-Barbera. Though it was not the first adaptation of the series in animation, it helped introduce the series to an American audience. It was released in syndication in the United States.
Until the 1980s, Morris focused all his efforts in the "Lucky Luke" series. In 1987, he launched the spin-off comic book series "Rantanplan" (1987-2011), focusing on a dimwitted, accident-prone, and gluttonous guard dog that had served as a supporting character for Lucky Luke since 1960. The character is a spoof of Rin Tin Tin. The spin-off series had the guard dog traveling the world, getting involved in misadventures, and always misunderstanding the world surrounding him.
In 2001, Morris suffered an accidental fall while trying to repair the roof of his residence. He was hospitalized, but suffered a pulmonary embolism while he was bedridden. He died in July 2001, at the age of 77. The "Lucky Luke" series has since continued under other writers and artists. Several of Morris' key characters have remained popular over the decades, and have starred in an ever-increasing number of adaptations.- Hélène de Saint-Père was born on 7 March 1960 in Brazzaville, Congo. She was an actress, known for Le conte d'hiver (1989), El invierno en Lisboa (1991) and Il est plus facile pour un chameau... (2003). She died on 4 May 2022 in Brussels, Belgium.
- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Richard Olivier was born on 9 August 1945 in Brussels, Belgium. He was a director and writer, known for Remember Marvin Gaye (2001), Strip School (1980) and Black Paris (1981). He was married to Shelly Marie Henrich. He died on 3 March 2021 in Brussels, Belgium.- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Italian composer, one of the greatest exponents of operatic realism, who virtually brought the history of Italian opera to an end. His mature operas include "La Bohème" (1896), "Tosca" (1900), "Madama Butterfly" (1904), and "Turandot" left incomplete.- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Michael Been was born on 17 March 1950 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Real Genius (1985), Tango & Cash (1989) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). He died on 19 August 2010 in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium.- Philippe Jeusette was born on 23 March 1966 in Rocourt, Liege, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Two Days, One Night (2014), The Unknown Girl (2016) and The Child (2005). He died on 25 August 2022 in Heyd, Belgium.
- Frank Aendenboom was born on 24 October 1941 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Crimi Clowns (2012), Blueberry Hill (1989) and The Lion of Flanders (1984). He was married to Rosemarie Bergmans. He died on 31 March 2018 in Belgium.
- Tsilla Chelton was born on 21 June 1919 in Jerusalem, Palestine [now Israel]. She was an actress, known for Auntie Danielle (1990), Pandora'nin Kutusu (2008) and The Musketeer (2001). She was married to Jacques Noël. She died on 15 July 2012 in Brussels, Belgium.
- Donald Madder was born on 30 May 1969 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Wittekerke (1993), Thuis (1995) and De bossen van Vlaanderen (1991). He was married to Toela Levoyannis. He died on 29 June 2001 in Heverlee, Flanders, Belgium.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Marc Van Eeghem was born on 14 September 1960 in Brugge, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Windkracht 10 (1997), Het eiland (2004) and In Flanders Field (2014). He died on 14 December 2017 in Antwerp, Belgium.- Ida Maria Vinterberg was born on 28 February 2000 in Denmark. She was an actress, known for The Commune (2016). She died on 4 May 2019 in Verviers, Belgium.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Bernard Gérard was born on 26 April 1930 in Mouvaux, Nord, France. He was a composer, known for Z (1969), Intacto (2001) and L'insolent (1973). He died on 29 June 2000 in Etterbeek, Brussels, Belgium.- Actor
- Director
Hugo Van Den Berghe was born on 19 June 1943 in Wetteren, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor and director, known for Cordon (2014), Rubens, schilder en diplomaat (1977) and Spoed (2000). He was married to Blanka Heirman. He died on 23 February 2020 in De Haan, Flanders, Belgium.- Actor
- Director
Nand Buyl was born on 12 February 1923 in Antwerpen, Belgium. He was an actor and director, known for Stille waters (2001), Het hemelbed (1960) and Het zwaard van Ardoewaan (1972). He was married to Chris Lomme and Jeanne De Backer. He died on 24 March 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.- Sjarel Branckaerts was born on 11 September 1947 in Turnhout, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Alfa Papa Tango (1990), Buiten de Zone (1994) and Spoed (2000). He died on 10 June 2007 in Brussels, Belgium.
- Carl Ridders was born on 20 June 1958 in Roosendaal, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. He was an actor, known for Spoed (2000), Flikken (1999) and She Good Fighter (1995). He died on 7 December 2008 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium.
- Alice Roberts was born on 26 July 1906 in Belgium. She was an actress, known for Pandora's Box (1929), Das Schicksal derer von Habsburg - Die Tragödie eines Kaiserreiches (1928) and La femme rêvée (1929). She died on 29 October 1985 in Belgium.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Hugo Claus was born on 5 April 1929 in Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium. He was a writer and director, known for Vrijdag (1980), De verlossing (2001) and De vijanden (1968). He was married to Veerle de Wit and Elly Claus. He died on 19 March 2008 in Antwerp, Belgium.- Actor
- Writer
Gaston Berghmans, quite possibly Belgium's greatest comedian of all time, was born in 1926 in Merksem, a community which is part of the city of Antwerp. He had a very normal and healthy childhood and attended middle school to become a craftsman, just like his father before him.
Right before the Second World War, Gaston had been starring in some local plays in his off-time, and decided to become a professional comedian during the War, quitting his job as a handyman on ships in the port of Antwerp. In this period in his life, he met up with some guardian angels that would procure his future in the entertainment industry.
Later, he met up with Leo Martin, also born in Antwerp, but raised in Brussels. Together they formed the legendary comedy duo 'Gaston & Leo', that toured around theaters all over the country and made TV appearances with hilarious sketches. They also made some features movies including _"Zware jongens" (1984)_, _"De Paniekzaaiers" (1986)_ and _"Gaston en Leo in Hong Kong" (1988)_. Their last big thing together was a Sunday evening sketch show called _"Gaston & Leo Show" (1989)_, which aired from 1989 until 1993, when Leo died of cancer. When asked about this period later in his life, Gaston said that he felt like he had died along with his friend.
After losing Leo, Gaston starred in his own television show (_"Gaston Berghmans Show" (1994)_) for a few years, but he realized that things would never be the same again. After retiring from sketch comedy television in 2000, he only made a limited number of on-screen appearances, mostly in shows that tributed him. In 2008, he ended his acting career in the way he wanted to, with a large dramatic movie part in _"Christmas in Paris" (2008)_. That picture however flopped, making people demand him to get into another final project. Gaston kept refusing this, saying his health did not longer allow him to do so. After years of physical ups and downs, he eventually passed away on May 21, 2016 in a rest-home in Schoten, surrounded by his family.- Gilles Villeneuve was born on 18 January 1950 in St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada. He was married to Johanne Barthe. He died on 8 May 1982 in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Toots Thielemans was born on 29 April 1922 in Brussels, Belgium. He was a composer and actor, known for The Getaway (1972), French Kiss (1995) and Midnight Cowboy (1969). He was married to Huguette Tuytschaever and Netty de Greef. He died on 22 August 2016 in Brussels, Belgium.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Henk van Montfoort was born on 16 May 1931 in Alkmaar, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He was an actor, known for Rotterdam (1979), Tweemaal drie in de zes (1961) and De TV maakt muziek (1955). He died on 17 September 2002 in Brasschaat, Belgium.- Marc Janssen was born on 27 April 1940 in Brecht, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for The Memory of a Killer (2003), Flikken (1999) and Zaman (1983). He died on 14 March 2017 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium.
- Actress
- Director
- Costume Designer
Dora van der Groen was born on 10 March 1927 in Antwerp, Belgium. She was an actress and director, known for Pauline & Paulette (2001), Minder dood dan de anderen (1992) and Dakota (1974). She was married to Tone Brulin and Wies Andersen. She died on 8 November 2015 in Antwerp, Belgium.- Herman Denkens was born on 8 May 1926 in Deurne, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Sinjorenbloed (1953), Nonkel Jef (1995) and Bex & Blanche (1993). He died on 4 September 2001 in Belgium.
- Frans Van De Velde was born on 6 April 1933 in Deurne, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Pa heeft een lief (2000), Ramona (1991) and Lili & Marleen (1994). He died on 16 February 2017 in Antwerp, Belgium.
- Ann Petersen was born on 22 June 1927 in Wuustwezel, Flanders, Belgium. She was an actress, known for Het sacrament (1989), Pauline & Paulette (2001) and Rubens, schilder en diplomaat (1977). She died on 11 December 2003 in Opwijk, Flanders, Belgium.
- Actor
- Sound Department
Bert André was born on 6 August 1941 in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands. He was an actor, known for Flodder (1986), Halleluja! (2005) and Flodder 3 (1995). He was married to Mieke Verheyden. He died on 21 May 2008 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium.- Eugène-François Vidocq was born on 25 July 1775 in Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France. Eugène-François was a writer, known for Vidocq (2001), A Scandal in Paris (1946) and Vidocq (1939). Eugène-François died on 11 May 1857 in Belgium.
- Actor
- Writer
Ivo Pauwels was born on 18 August 1938 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was an actor and writer, known for Kapitein Zeppos (1964), Bompa (1989) and Mega Mindy (2006). He died on 8 September 2023 in Lier, Flanders, Belgium.- Leopold II (French: Léopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor, Dutch: Leopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor; 9 April 1835 - 17 December 1909) was the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909 and, through will and effort, the absentee owner and autocratic ruler of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908.
Born in Brussels as the second but eldest surviving son of Leopold I and Louise of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the Belgian throne in 1865 and reigned for exactly 44 years until his death, the longest reign of a Belgian monarch to date. He died without surviving legitimate sons. The current Belgian king descends from his nephew and successor, Albert I. - Actor
- Director
- Producer
Robert Lussac was born on 6 July 1902 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor and director, known for Le pèlerin de l'enfer (1947), De verlossing (1975) and Wij, heren van Zichem (1969). He died on 5 December 1987 in Deurne, Flanders, Belgium.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Victor Lewis-Smith was born on 12 May 1957 in Essex, UK. He was a producer and writer, known for Unlawful Killing (2011), TV Offal (1997) and Spitting Image (1984). He was married to Virginia Stewart Duff. He died on 10 December 2022 in Bruges, Belgium.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Gaston Schoukens was born on 5 February 1901 in Brussels, Belgium. He was a director and producer, known for Si tu vois mon oncle (1933), Monsieur mon chauffeur (1928) and Bossemans et Coppenolle (1938). He died on 10 April 1961 in Brussels, Belgium.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Thierry Zéno was born on 22 April 1950 in Namur, Belgium. He was a director and producer, known for Wedding Trough (1974), Eugène Ionesco, voix et silences (1987) and Des morts (1979). He died on 7 June 2017 in Belgium.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Roland Verhavert was born on 1 May 1927 in Melsele-Waas, Belgium. He was a director and producer, known for The Conscript (1974), Meeuwen sterven in de haven (1955) and Het afscheid (1966). He died on 26 July 2014 in Belgium.- Dolf Denis was born on 26 November 1898 in Brussels, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Bossemans et Coppenolle (1938), C'était le bon temps (1936) and Gardons notre sourire (1937). He died on 21 August 1985 in Jette, Belgium.
- Editor
- Director
- Actor
Jef Bruyninckx was born on 13 January 1919 in Duffel, Flanders, Belgium. He was an editor and director, known for Wat doen we met de liefde? (1957), Vuur, liefde en vitaminen (1956) and Vrijgezel met 40 kinderen (1958). He died on 15 January 1995 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium.- Nora Tilley was born on 3 February 1952 in Brussels, Belgium. She was an actress, known for De wet volgens Milo (2004), Daar is een mens verdronken (1983) and Intensive Care (1991). She died on 21 June 2019 in Putte, Flanders, Belgium.
- Whoever thinks of Flemish actor Johny Voners, a pseudonym of Johny Hoebrechts, probably remembers unmotivated sergeant, disaster of a goalkeeper and drunk harlequin Xavier who needs even less introduction than the sitcom. A dishonor to Voners, whose massive career began in the 1960s. A jack of all trades, at a young age Voners co-starred in youth-targeting whodunit Axel Nort (1966), as detective Dirk Talboom. In 'Axel Nort', he served as a sidekick to Nand Buyl, one of his mentors at the drama school he attended, Royal Conservatory Brussels. He denounced bureaucracy in comedy show De collega's (1978) as sub-head of the Finance Department Thierry De Vucht. In later years, he became active as a singer notably covering French-Armenian singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour's repertoire with Voners' distinctive voice range resembling that of Aznavour. He was previously married to Anne-Mie Volders and Janine Bischops. He was the first main cast member of the long-running sitcom F.C. De Kampioenen (1990) to pass away. Voners died from skin cancer at the age of 74, on March 17, 2020 in Waregem, Flanders, Belgium.
- Édouard Mathé was born in 1886 in Australia. He was an actor, known for Les vampires (1915), The Vampires: The Terrible Wedding (1916) and The Vampires: Satanas (1916). He died in 1934 in Brussels, Belgium.
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Soeur Sourire ("Sister Smile") a.k.a. the Singing Nun, was born Jeanine Deckers on October 17, 1933, in Belgium. She attended art school as a young girl, while also developing her musical talents. Jeanine learned to sing and play, and write her own songs. She was not from a close-knit family, and even though Jeanine said she was not against marriage, she was more at home with convent life. In the 1950s she joined a Dominican convent and (as was a custom in some religious orders) she abandoned her real name and chose a new one: Sister Luc-Gabrielle. She sang and played guitar for church groups. Eventually, Philips Record Co. discovered her, and signed her to a contract (with her profits being donated to her Order, since had taken a vow of poverty). Sister Luc adopted the stage name Soeur Sourire ("Sister Smile"). In 1963, she wrote "Dominique" (a tribute to the founder of her Dominican order), which was her one big hit. She won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel music that year. A taped version of her singing that song was broadcast on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 (the same year the Beatles appeared on his show). MGM turned her life into a syrupy movie _Singing Nun, The (1965)_ starring Debbie Reynolds in the titular role, and Soeur Sourire wrote most of the songs. It was perhaps more publicity than she wanted, that same year the Singing Nun stopped performing music, preferring to concentrate on her studies in the convent. A year later she left the convent and resumed her singing career; she changed her name to Luc Dominique, combining her religious name and her hit song. By the late 1960s, her songs had controversial themes. She joined with a woman, Annie Pescher, and together they owned and operated a school for autistic children. In the 1980s, the Belgian government said that the Singing Nun owed over $60,000 in back taxes, on money she had earned during her singing career while a nun. She had donated all her proceeds to the convent, but the Belgian government said she owed the money nonetheless. In 1985, Luc Dominique and Annie Pescher killed themselves in a suicide pact. The Singing Nun will be remembered by this song... "Dominique, nique, nique, Over the land he plods along, And sings a little song. Never asking for reward, He just talks about the Lord, He just talks about the Lord."- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Åsleik Engmark was born on 27 December 1965 in Oslo, Norway. He was an actor and director, known for Twigson (2009), Brødrene Dal og mysteriet med Karl XIIs gamasjer (2005) and Twigson Ties the Knot (2010). He was married to Helle Engmark. He died on 12 February 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.- Director
- Art Director
- Writer
Passionate about filmmaking in general and cinematographic technique in particular, self-taught director Emile-Georges De Meyst (1902-1989) tried and managed to make movies in his native Belgium, a country which did not benefit, like its neighbor France, from an organized film industry. And it must be said that, come hell or high water, De Meyst managed to maintain a steady output for four decades, which is quite an accomplishment considering the difficulties he had to cope with. Not that his films are very good as a whole, but he proved that with enough determination films could be made on a regular basis in Belgium. The adventure began in 1923 when De Meyst, then studying Romance philology in Liège, decided that he would make his first film, entitled La roche du diable (1923). He hired a few local amateur actors, wrote, photographed and produced (with the support of his mother who lent him 40,000 Belgian francs) this melodrama, quite typical of its time period. The following year, De Meyst left for Paris where his technical skills were noticed by Abel Gance, who hired him. The young Belgian had indeed designed a system of mirrors that helped to multiply the number of extras on the screen by ten. Quite useful for someone like Gance about to produce such a visually demanding epic as Napoleon (1927). Back in his native country, E.G. DeMeyst embarked on an ambitious project, La Brabançonne (1932), meant to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Belgian revolution. But filmed as a silent and presented with the addition of a poor soundtrack, unsupported by the authorities, the film soon disappeared from the screens. Disappointed by this experience, De Meyst found refuge in Paris where he made one or two unrewarding comedies before returning to Brussels where , in 1936, he directed what is considered his best work Le mort (1936), a dark naturalistic tale in which he played the main part alongside French actress Gina Manès. After the war, the Belgian helmer tried to bring French quality to his films, often using Gallic thespians like Jean-Louis Barrault in the adaptation of Fernand Crommelynck's Le cocu magnifique (1947) or Louis Salou in the crime flick Les atouts de Monsieur Wens (1947) The rest of his production consists in popular movies meant for the Belgian French speaking public, the last one being Filles de fraudeurs (1962). After which, E.G. De Meyst retired until his death at 87. Like so many of these brave little soldiers who moved heaven and hell to help Belgian cinema to exist, E.G. De Meyst is now unjustly forgotten.- Director
- Writer
Jean Brismée was born on 20 August 1926 in Pipaix, Leuze-en-Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium. He was a director and writer, known for Monsieur Plateau (1967), Devil's Nightmare (1971) and Jean Rouch (1962). He died on 18 January 2024 in Waterloo, Belgium.- Actor
- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Dimitri Dupont was born in 1955 in Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor and writer, known for Wittekerke (1993), Veel geluk, professor! (2001) and Aspe (2004). He died on 18 July 2007 in Belgium.