Jean Martin

Jean Martin (6 March 1922 – 2 February 2009) was a French actor born in Paris, France, whose career spanned stage, screen, and radio across several decades. He served in the French Resistance during World War II and subsequently fought with French paratroopers in Indochina before turning his focus to the performing arts.

Martin built his theatrical reputation in Paris, working as a performer at the Théâtre National Populaire during the 1950s alongside engagements in radio productions. He became closely associated with the work of Samuel Beckett, originating the role of Lucky in Waiting for Godot and the role of Clov in Endgame. His political convictions shaped his career in significant ways: he signed the manifesto of the 121 opposing the Algerian War, a decision that led to his dismissal from the Théâtre National Populaire and a blacklisting from radio work, leaving him unemployed for a period.

His international screen profile rose considerably with his casting as French paratroop commander Colonel Mathieu in Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1965). Pontecorvo sought a little-known professional actor for the part, and Martin, who had extensive stage experience but limited screen credits at the time, was hired. The production presented challenges, as Martin was the film's sole professional actor working alongside non-professionals, and Pontecorvo expressed concern that their differing approaches might conflict on screen. Martin nonetheless expressed satisfaction with the finished film. He went on to appear as the gunslinger Sullivan in Sergio Leone's My Name is Nobody and as OAS adjutant Viktor Wolenski in The Day of the Jackal, both released in 1973. He also held one of the lead roles in the 1968 French television mini-series Les Compagnons de Baal and provided the voice of L'oiseau in the animated feature Le Roi et l'oiseau. Across his career Martin accumulated more than eighty film and television appearances, the majority in French and European productions.

In 1976, Martin brought his stage work to Broadway, appearing in Des Journées Entières Dans les Arbres. He continued performing in French film and television productions in the years that followed. Martin died of cancer in Paris on 2 February 2009, at the age of 86.