# Louis Jouvet

> French actor (1887-1951)

**Wikidata**: [Q60801](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60801)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Jouvet)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/louis-jouvet

## Summary

Louis Jouvet (1887–1951) was a French actor, theatrical director, film director, theatre manager, and teacher who worked in French theatre and cinema from 1908 to 1951. He is best known for his work at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris and his contributions to French performing arts during and after World War I.

## Biography

- **Born:** 1887 (exact date and place not specified in source material)
- **Died:** 1951
- **Nationality:** France
- **Aliases:** Jules Eugène Louis Jouvet
- **Education:** Not specified in source material
- **Known for:** Acting, directing, and managing theatre productions in France; teaching; film direction
- **Employer(s):** Théâtre de l'Athénée (Paris, founded 1894)
- **Field(s):** Theatre, film, acting, directing, education, theatre management
- **Work Period:** 1908–1951

## Contributions

Based on the source material, Louis Jouvet's primary contributions include:

- **Theatrical Acting:** Working as an actor in dramatic and comic productions in film, television, theatre, and radio
- **Theatrical Direction:** Overseeing the mounting of theatre productions
- **Film Direction:** Controlling the artistic and dramatic aspects of film productions
- **Theatre Management:** Managing theatre operations, specifically at the Théâtre de l'Athénée
- **Teaching:** Helping others acquire knowledge, competences, or values in performing arts
- **Career Span:** Maintaining a professional career from 1908 to 1951, spanning World War I (1914–1918) and the interwar period

## FAQs

**What was Louis Jouvet's profession?**
Louis Jouvet was a French actor, theatrical director, film director, theatre manager, and teacher who worked in the French performing arts from 1908 to 1951.

**Where did Louis Jouvet work?**
Louis Jouvet worked primarily at the Théâtre de l'Athénée, a theatre located in Paris, France, which was founded in 1894.

**What era did Louis Jouvet work in?**
Louis Jouvet maintained his professional career from 1908 to 1951, which included the World War I period (1914–1918) and the interwar years.

**What is Louis Jouvet's full name?**
Louis Jouvet's full name was Jules Eugène Louis Jouvet.

**What makes Louis Jouvet notable?**
Louis Jouvet is notable for his multifaceted career spanning acting, directing, theatre management, and teaching in French theatre and film during the first half of the 20th century.

## Why They Matter

Louis Jouvet matters as a representative of the multi-disciplinary artist in early-to-mid 20th century French theatre. His career encompassed the entire ecosystem of theatrical production—performing, directing, managing, and teaching—making him a significant figure in the development of French performing arts. Working through World War I and into the post-war period, he contributed to maintaining and evolving French theatrical traditions during a transformative era in European history. His association with the Théâtre de l'Athénée, one of Paris's historic theatres, places him within an important institutional lineage of French stage production.

## Notable For

- Multi-disciplinary career spanning acting, directing, film direction, theatre management, and teaching
- Career duration of 43 years (1908–1951)
- Association with the historic Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris
- Work spanning World War I (1914–1918)
- Recognition as a significant figure in French theatre (sitelink count: 41)

## Body

### Early Career and Background

Louis Jouvet began his professional career in the performing arts in 1908, embarking on a path that would span over four decades. Born in 1887 in France, Jouvet entered the theatre world at a time when French theatrical traditions were well-established but facing new artistic movements and social changes. His full name was Jules Eugène Louis Jouvet, and he would become known by his shorter professional name, Louis Jouvet.

### Professional Roles and Functions

Jouvet's career was distinguished by its breadth across multiple theatrical and cinematic disciplines. As an **actor**, he performed in dramatic and comic productions, working across film, television, theatre, and radio—the major media of his time. As a **theatrical director**, he oversaw the mounting of theatre productions, shaping the artistic vision and execution of stage works. As a **film director**, he controlled the artistic and dramatic aspects of film productions, contributing to the French cinema of the interwar period. As a **theatre manager**, he managed operations at the Théâtre de l'Athénée, ensuring the continued functioning of this historic Parisian venue. As a **teacher**, he passed on his knowledge and experience to others entering the performing arts.

### Institutional Affiliation: Théâtre de l'Athénée

The Théâtre de l'Athénée served as a primary institutional home for Jouvet's work. This theatre, located in Paris, France, was founded in 1894 and represented an important venue in the French theatrical landscape. Jouvet's role at the Théâtre de l'Athénée would have encompassed both artistic and administrative responsibilities, typical of the multi-faceted roles held by theatre professionals of his era.

### Historical Context: World War I

Jouvet's career intersected with one of the most significant periods in modern European history: World War I (1914–1918). The global war, which originated in Europe, would have profoundly affected the French theatrical world—disrupting productions, displacing artists, and ultimately reshaping cultural institutions. Jouvet maintained his career through this period and continued working until 1951, meaning he also lived through the interwar years and into the post-World War II era.

### Career Timeline

Jouvet's professional activity spanned from 1908 to 1951, a period of 43 years. This extended career allowed him to develop and refine his craft across multiple roles and to influence the French performing arts community through various capacities. His work period encompassed the Belle Époque, World War I, the interwar period, and the early post-World War II years.

### Legacy and Recognition

Louis Jouvet is recognized as a significant figure in French theatrical and cinematic history. His sitelink count of 41 indicates substantial presence in digital knowledge bases, reflecting ongoing scholarly and popular interest in his work. The combination of his acting, directing, management, and teaching roles made him a comprehensive figure in the French performing arts ecosystem—one who contributed not only through performance but also through the cultivation of future generations and the administration of cultural institutions.

## References

1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
2. Integrated Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. The Fine Art Archive
5. general catalog of BnF
6. Find a Grave
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. MusicBrainz
9. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
10. SNAC
11. Internet Broadway Database
12. Discogs
13. filmportal.de
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. GeneaStar
16. Proleksis Encyclopedia
17. Croatian Encyclopedia
18. Base biographique
19. Munzinger Personen
20. [Le Monde. 1951](https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1951/08/18/la-carriere-de-louis-jouvet_2068437_1819218.html)
21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
22. Virtual International Authority File
23. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
24. Enciclopedia Treccani
25. The Movie Database
26. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
27. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data