Biografía

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 Mesrine: Enemigo Público (2008), before his deadly cancer disease in 2007. They previously appeared together in Los ríos de color púrpura (2000), Valse nocturne (1995) and Métisse (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 et d'Artagnan (1964), opposite José Ferrer. Ferrer's wife, Rosemary Clooney, was also aunt to actor George Clooney, who appeared in La nueva gran estafa (2004) and Ahora son 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at the age of 74 for a retrospective called "Jean-Pierre Cassel chante et danse Gainsbourg Suite", which featured three unpublished songs from the 1960s (2006).