Wissenswertes

Father of Vincent Cassel, Olivia Cassel (deceased) and Rockin' Squat from his first marriage to Sabine Cassel and Cécile Cassel from his second marriage to Anne Cassel. Grandfather of Deva and Léonie (Vincent daughters).

Was originally scheduled to appear with his son, Vincent Cassel, in Public Enemy No. 1 - Todestrieb (2008), before his deadly cancer disease in 2007. They previously appeared together in Die purpurnen Flüsse (2000), Valse nocturne (1995) and Lola liebt's schwarzweiß (1993).

Although he spoke fluent English and appeared in several British and American films using his own voice, he was dubbed by Richard Briers in both of Richard Lester's first two "Musketeers" films, where he played King Louis XIII of France. As all the other prominent French characters were being played by British and American actors, it was felt that Cassell's natural French accent would be too much of a contrast.

Appeared in Cyrano und D'Artagnan (1964), opposite José Ferrer. Ferrer's wife, Rosemary Clooney, was also aunt to actor George Clooney, who appeared in Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's 13 (2007), opposite Jean's son, Vincent Cassel. Clooney's role has also been parodied by his cousin, Miguel Ferrer.

Being good friends with Serge Gainsbourg for decades, he climbed back on stage at the age of 74 for a retrospective called "Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite", which featured three unpublished songs from the 1960s (2006).

Born to Georges Crochon, a doctor, and his wife Louise-Marguerite Fabrègue, an opera singer, he grew up in Paris.

Has played both "d'Artagnan the Musketeer" and "Cyrano de Bergerac". In neither role, however, was he appearing in an adaptation of a literary work in which that character appears. In Cyrano und D'Artagnan (1964), he played "d'Artagnan". That film was not based on any of Alexandre Dumas's novels, or on the play "Cyrano de Bergerac", which featured a cameo by "d'Artagnan". In Die Rückkehr der Musketiere (1989), he played "Cyrano", but Cyrano does not appear in any of Dumas's novels.

Engaged to Françoise Dorléac in the early 1960s.

Head of the French Actors Union from 1966 to 1974.

Former father-in-law of Monica Bellucci. Father-in-law of Tina Kunakey.

Studied acting at the Cours Simon.