Trivia

Dubbed himself in the French version of Moonraker (1979).

In the documentary Delphine Seyrig, portrait d'une comète (2000), he tells a very poignant anecdote related to Delphine Seyrig: the actress had once made him a gift of a succulent plant that grew flowers about every two years. He claims that it kept flourishing for about 15 years, but never again after Delphine's death.

Achieved international fame as the detective outwitting the villain in Chacal (1973).

Studied painting before turning to acting.

His father was English and one of his grandmothers was Irish; the family moved to Morocco in 1939 and to Paris in 1947.

Described the shooting of India Song (1975) as the happiest experience of his career.

He started acting because he thought it would be the one way to be all the different people he wanted to be but couldn't in one lifetime.

As of 2015, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Les Chariots de feu (1981), Les vestiges du jour (1993) and Munich (2005). Of those, Les Chariots de feu (1981) is a winner in the category.

His father was imprisoned for two years by the Vichy--Nazi collaborationist--regime during World War 2, as he was suspected of treason, because of the Mers el-Kébir attack on the French fleet by the British in July 1940. He came back a changed man two years later. Michael's portrayal of the vice-consul in India Song (1975) was inspired by these changes.

Following the death of Christopher Lee in 2015, Lonsdale became the oldest living Bond villain actor. Upon his own passing that status went to Julian Glover.

Appeared in six movies starring Delphine Seyrig: Comédie (1966), Baisers volés (1968), Chacal (1973), Aloïse (1975), India Song (1975) and Son nom de Venise dans Calcutta désert (1976). The two actors also worked together in several stage productions, including La chevauchée sur le lac de Constance (1974), which was filmed.

Nicknamed Delphine Seyrig "The Actress with the Cello Voice".