Leslie Caron is a French actress and dancer who appeared in some of the most popular films of the 1950s and ’60s. She is best known for her performances in “An American in Paris” (1951), “Gigi” (1958), and “The L-Shaped Room” (1962).
Born in Boulogne-sur-Seine, France, on July 1, 1931, Caron was the daughter of a doctor and a former ballet dancer. She began taking ballet lessons at an early age and made her stage debut at the age of 11. After appearing in a few French films, she was discovered by American film director Vincente Minnelli, who cast her in “An American in Paris.” The film was a huge success, and Caron went on to star in such classics as “Lili” (1953), “Daddy Long Legs” (1955), and “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955).
In 1958, Caron starred in the musical “Gigi,” for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She also received an Academy Award nomination for her performance. Caron continued to appear in both American and French films throughout the 1960s and ’70s. Some of her later films include “The April Fools” (1969), “Valentino” (1977), and “A Little Romance” (1979).
Caron has been married twice. Her first husband was British actor Michael Wilding, with whom she had two sons. She later married American producer Warren Beatty, with whom she had a daughter. Caron has been nominated for three Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. In 1999, she was awarded the César Award for Lifetime Achievement.
General Info
Full Name
Leslie Caron
Date Of Birth
July 1, 1931
Height
1.56 m
Profession
Actor, Dancer, Singer, Businessperson
Nationality
French
Family
Spouse
Michael Laughlin, Peter Hall, Geordie Hormel
Children
Jennifer Caron Hall, Christopher Hall
Parents
Margaret Petit, Claude Caron
Siblings
Aimery Caron
Accomplishments
Awards
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Drama, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress, BAFTA Award for Best British Actress, Grammy Hall of Fame
Nominations
Academy Award for Best Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Movies
An American in Paris, Gigi, Lili, Daddy Long Legs, Father Goose, The L-Shaped Room, The Glass Slipper, Fanny, Chocolat, The Divorce, Promise Her Anything, The Story of Three Loves, A Very Special Favor, The Man with a Cloak, Funny Bones, The Doctor's Dilemma, Glory Alley, The Man Who Loved Women, Th...
Even now, I feel furious with myself because whenever there's a camera pointed towards me, my MGM training makes me smile. I don't like it. You can see it on all the people who came from that era because there was no question of them not smiling for the camera. Even Katharine Hepburn -- and God knows she was a dramatic actress -- if the camera is on her, she smiles.
2
Unfortunately, Hollywood considers musical dancers as hoofers. Regrettable expression.
Facts
#
Fact
1
As of 2016 she is the 2nd earliest surviving recipient of a Best Actress Oscar nomination, behind only Olivia de Havilland. She was nominated in 1953 for Lili (1953).
2
She appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: An American in Paris (1951) and Gigi (1958) and the Best Picture nominees Fanny (1961) and Chocolat (2000).
3
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 25, a son Christopher Hall on March 30, 1957. Child's father is her 2nd ex-husband, Peter Hall.
4
Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 27, a daughter Jennifer Caron Hall on September 21, 1958. Child's father is her 2nd ex-husband, Peter Hall.
5
Currently resides between Paris, London and New York City. [September 2011]
6
New York City: Appeared for "An Evening of Leslie Caron" sponsored by the Film Forum Theater as part of her effort to promote her recent paperback, "Thank Heaven: A Memoir". [December 2010]
7
Owned and operated an inn located at "Villeneuve-sur-Yonne", about 100km South of Paris. The name of the inn is "La Lucarne aux Chouettes", which loosely translates to "The Owl's Nest". The hotel was sold in 2010 (1997).
She was nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for her performance in the play, "13 Rue De L'Amour", at the Arlington Park Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
15
Her first marriage to musician, composer and meat-packing planet heir (Hormel Foods) Geordie Hormel ended after three years. Her second marriage to famed stage director Peter Hall also ended in divorce, with his naming Warren Beatty, her co-star in Promise Her Anything (1966), as co-respondent. The London court ordered Beatty to pay court costs.
16
Once romantically linked (1995-1996) to handsome "Laredo" actor Robert Wolders who married older actress Merle Oberon and was the companion of older actress Audrey Hepburn until her death in 1993. Leslie is five years older than Wolders.
17
Was a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980.
18
She and her daughter, Jennifer Caron Hall, co-starred on an episode of The Love Boat (1977), in the roles of mother and daughter, both con artists, engaged in fleecing millionaires.
19
Her talent as a dancer had been already noticed in 1948 by Gene Kelly and his wife Betsy Blair in a Roland Petit's ballet on the theme of Oedipus, but they could not meet her at the end of the show, because she went home like a good girl.
20
When she told Fred Astaire that she wanted to create her own costumes for Daddy Long Legs (1955), he responded: "Okay, but no feathers, please." Astaire recalled the exasperation he had with one of Ginger Rogers' elaborate gowns in a dance scene in Top Hat (1935). Some ostrich feathers broke loose from Ginger Rogers' gown and mischievously floated in mid air around Astaire's face. The shedding dress episode was recreated to hilarious effect in a scene from Easter Parade (1948) in which Fred Astaire danced with a clumsy, comical dancer played by Judy Garland.
21
For Peter Hall's 30th birthday, her present was - simply - a Rolls Royce.
22
Parents are Claude and Margaret Caron; has one older brother: Aimery Caron.
23
Was president of the jury at the "Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin" in 1989.
