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Jean Martin

Jean Martin

Actor · Died February 2, 2009, aged 86 · Paris, France

Jean Martin (6 March 1922 - 2 February 2009) was a French actor. Coming from a Berry family, he spent part of his childhood in Biarritz, where his father worked for a furrier. During the Second World War, he hid to escape the Forced Labor Service. Staying in Paris, he appeared in two films by Maurice Tourneur: "The Devil's Hand" (1942) then "Cécile Est Mort" (1943). At the twilight of the forties, he started doing theater. In 1953, Jean Martin gained notoriety by playing the new play by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, "Waiting for Godot", under the direction of Roger Blin, becoming the first to take on the role of Lucky. The same Roger Blin produced “End of the Game” (1957), by the same Beckett, a few years later, and entrusted the same Jean Martin with the role of Clov. In 1960, Jean Martin staged his first play, “Letter Dead”, by Robert Pinget. In 1962, he again staged a play, “The Representatives”, by Aglaé and Mona Mitropoulos, adapted by Michel Arnaud. Alongside this theatrical career which would prove to be rich, Jean Martin returned to cinema: “Notre-Dame de Paris” (1956), by Jean Delannoy, “Paris belongs to us” (1958), by Jacques Rivette, “Ballade for a thug " (1962), by Jean-Claude Bonnardot, "La foire aux dunces" (1963), by Louis Daquin and "À toi de fait mignon" (1963), by Bernard Borderie. In 1960, he was a signatory of the Manifesto of the 121 entitled “Declaration on the right to insubordination in the Algerian war”. In 1965, a role marked his career, that of Colonel Mathieu, in a film retracing the struggle in 1957 for control of the Casbah district of Algiers between FLN militants and French soldiers: "The Battle of Algiers" . Three years after the end of the Algerian War, the subject is still sensitive on each side of the Mediterranean; the film was banned in France upon its release, then censored until 2004. Jean Martin, very convincing in this role of division commander (historically, the commander is General Massu, but the character is inspired by Colonel Bigeard), is the only professional actor in the film. His large stature, his strong personality and his imperious face predispose him to notable roles generally showing authority: chief doctor, police commissioner, high-ranking military officer, ecclesiastical dignitary...; one of the most impressive will undoubtedly be that of a doctor vehemently expelling from his hospital a judge Fayard, Patrick Dewaere, a bit of a cavalier in "Le Juge Fayard Dit Le Shérif" (1976). Claude Zidi mocks these roles in his comedies: principal in “La moutarde monte au nose” (1974), bank director in “La Course À L'Échalote” (1975), chief doctor in “L'aile ou la thigh” (1976), principal inspector in “Bête mais disciplined” (1979) and examiner in “Inspecteur la Bavure” (1980). Alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, he is… cardinal in “L’Hériter” (1972) and… divisional commissioner in “Peur Sur La ville” (1975)! But also alongside Terence Hill in “My Name is Nobody” (1973) in the role of Sullivan, or “One Genius, Two Associates, One Bell (1975). After devoting a large part of his career to the theater, appearing in around fifty films, Jean Martin died on February 2, 2009, in Paris.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 6, 1922
Died
February 2, 2009 (aged 86)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Actor
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 23% in 30 days

What are Jean Martin's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
30%
Morality
24%
Bonds
21%
Self
14%
Society
10%
Survival
2%
Greed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
6
Tense
5
Absurd
3
Warm
3
Dread
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jean Martin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Martin's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Lucie Aubrac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Paul Lardanchet

  • Les Jupons de la révolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Marquis de persan

  • The Crime of Ovide Plouffe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sculpteur

  • Le fou du désert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 4 episodes · as Saint-Quentin

  • La Puce et le privé (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Gérard Le Tizou, head waiter

  • Inspector Blunder(1980)

    as Examination policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The King and the Mockingbird(1980)

    as L’oiseau (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • La Femme flic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Le colonel Morange

  • The Associate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as M. Bastias

  • L'homme en colère(1979)

    as Bully

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dossier 51 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Vénus

  • The Cat(1977)

    as Legrand

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Rendez-vous en noir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 6 episodes · as Le commissaire

  • Le juge Fayard dit Le Shériff(1977)

    as Surgeon

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Carpathian Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Orfanik, the Inventor

  • A Woman at Her Window(1976)

    as Drieu La Rochelle (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Le Gentleman des Antipodes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Sainte-Rose

  • The Wing or The Thigh?(1976)

    as Le médecin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Police Commissioner Moulin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Larsen

  • A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe(1975)

    as Colonel Pembroke

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Messiah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Pontius Pilate

  • La Course à l'échalote(1975)

    as Le directeur de la banque

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Alouqa or the Comedy of the Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Jean Croix

  • The Night Caller(1975)

    as Divisional commissioner Sabin

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • An Invitation to the Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Marquis of La Rocherie

  • The Time of the Beginning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Direttore clinica / Sottocapo

  • I'm Losing My Temper(1974)

    as Headmaster

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Cry of the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as M. Bunkermann

  • Successive Slidings of Pleasure(1974)

    as The Priest

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Nobody(1973)

    as Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Day of the Jackal(1973)

    as Victor Wolenski

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Inheritor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mgr. Schneider

  • The Beguines(1972)

    as René

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Mandrin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 6 episodes · as Robert de Cazes

  • La Nuit bulgare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • HPW ou Anatomie d'un faussaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Bjorn

  • Troubleshooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Homme de Varèse

  • Promise at Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Igor Igorevitch

  • The Woman in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 13 episodes · as Frédéric Fairlie

  • Safety Catch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Butler

  • Don't Take God's Children for Wild Geese(1968)

    as A henchman of Charles (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Baal's Companions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 7 episodes · as M. De Plassans

  • I Love You, I Love You(1968)

    as Un responsable d'édition

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Manon 70(1968)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Invention of Morel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Stoewer

  • Graf Yoster gibt sich die Ehre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Gaston

  • The Nun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Monsieur Hébert

  • Les filous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Soldier Martin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Monnier

  • The Battle of Algiers(1966)

    as Colonel Philippe Mathieu

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Your Turn, Darling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Les Culottes rouges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Un homme de la troupe (uncredited)

  • Gustave Moreau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator

  • Paris Belongs to Us(1961)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Fortunate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as faux croque-mort

  • Forgotten Stones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Cecile Is Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Le garçon d'étage (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles from 1944 to 1997; peak year 1974.

Biggest box office

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

$963K worldwide

Highest rated

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

My Name Is Nobody (1973)

Film career

19441997

Peak 1974 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1960Screen debut· Fortunate
  • 1980First top-billed film· The King and the Mockingbird
  • 1980Career best· The King and the Mockingbird

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 57: 57 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s1 · acting1960s15 · acting1970s32 · acting1980s7 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 4% of 23 roles
607075

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jean Martin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th6

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

The Beguines (1972)

69th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

Midcredits 98th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 55. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Jean Martin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Martin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ennio Morricone shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers