Maurice Ronet (born Maurice Julien Marie Robinet; April 13, 1927 – March 14, 1983) was a French film actor, director, and writer. He was a prominent figure in European cinema, particularly noted for his contributions to the French New Wave and his frequent collaborations with influential directors of the mid-20th century.
Early Life and Career Born in Nice, France, Ronet was the son of stage actors Emile Robinet and Gilberte Dubreuil. He began his professional acting career on the stage after studying at the Paris Conservatory. He made his motion picture debut in 1949 in Jacques Becker’s Rendez-vous de juillet.
Major Works and Collaborations Ronet achieved international recognition through his work with director Louis Malle. He starred in Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (Elevator to the Gallows, 1958), a landmark of early New Wave cinema featuring a score by Miles Davis. He later received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a suicidal intellectual in Malle's Le Feu follet (The Fire Within, 1963), a performance that earned him the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival.
He frequently appeared in films alongside Alain Delon, most notably in René Clément’s Plein Soleil (Purple Noon, 1960)—an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley—and Jacques Deray’s La Piscine (The Swimming Pool, 1969). Throughout his career, Ronet worked with various other significant directors, including Claude Chabrol, Marcel Carné, and Roger Vadim.
Directing and Writing In addition to his acting career, Ronet directed several films and television productions. His directorial credits include Le Voleur de Tibidabo (1964) and a 1976 film adaptation of Herman Melville’s short story Bartleby. He also published literature, including the book L'Île des dragons (1973).
Death Maurice Ronet died of cancer in Paris on March 14, 1983, at the age of 55. He is buried in the village of Bonnieux in the Vaucluse department of France.