Guitry, Lucien-Germain

1860

1925

The French actor, dramatist and manager Lucien-Germain Guitry was born in Paris on 13 December 1860. After leaving the Conservatoire, Guitry first appeared as Armand in a revival of “La dame aux camellias” at the Gymnase in 1878. In 1891 he acted the romantic title role in Dumas’s “Kean”. In 1902 he became manager at the Théâtre de la Renaissance, where he also acted. When the actor Coquelin died during rehearsals for Rostand’s “Chantecler” in 1909, Guitry took on the title role. He also appeared in many plays written by his son Sacha Guitry (1895-1957), who presented the sculpture of his father (S0019) to the Garrick Club. Guitry gave a notable performance in “Pasteur". He was considered one of the greatest actors of his time. See Burnim and Wilton, “The Richard Bebb Collection in the Garrick Club”, B0030, and James Harding, “The Last Boulevardier” (1968).