JEAN-PIERRE AUMONT Biography - Other artists & entretainers

 
 

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JEAN-PIERRE AUMONT
       

Jean-Pierre Aumont (January 5, 1911 - January 29, 2001) was a French actor.

       

Born in Paris, France to a wealthy French family, Aumont began studying drama at the Paris Conservatory, following his mother, at the age of sixteen. His professional stage debut occurred at the age of 21. His film debut came one year later, when Jean de la Lune (Jean of the Moon in English) was produced in 1931. However, his most important, career-defining role came in 1934, when Jean Cocteau’s play La Machine Infernal (The Infernal Machine) was released in 1934.

       

However, right when his film and stage career began rising quickly, World War II broke out. Aumont stayed in France until 1942, when he realized that because of his Jewish ancestry, he would be forced to flee from the Nazi forces. He first fled to an unoccupied portion of Vichy territory, before moving, first to New York City, then Hollywood to further his film career. He began working with MGM; however, he was not content with staying in the safe United States while his fellow countrymen were fighting for their lives in Europe. Therefore, after finishing his film, The Cross of Lorraine (which was highly liked by certain Resistance leaders, including Charles de Gaulle), he joined the Free French.

       

After the completion of the film, Aumont was sent to North Africa, where he participated in Operation Torch, specifically in the country of Tunisia. Then, he moved with the Allied armies through Italy and France. Through the war, he was wounded twice. The first was on a mission with his brother. However, the second was more serious. Aumont’s Jeep was blown up near a mined bridge, and French Brigadier General Diégo-Charles-Joseph Brosset , commander of the 1st Free French Division , was killed. Because of his bravery during the fighting, Aumont received the Legion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre.