Carmel Dagan

Louis Jourdan, who crafted a Hollywood acting career in the footsteps of fellow dapper Frenchmen Maurice Chevalier and Charles Boyer and is best remembered for the musical "Gigi" and as the villain in James Bond pic "Octopussy," has died at 93. According to his friend and biographer Olivier Minne, he died Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills. 

Jourdan offered a certain effortless charm that worked equally well in light heroic roles and more sinister ones.

"He was the last French figure of the Hollywood golden age. And he worked with so many of the greatest actors and directors," said Minne, who is working on a documentary and a book about Jourdan.

In Vincente Minnelli's 1958 musical confection "Gigi," Jourdan starred with Leslie Caron and Chevalier in an effort from the creatives of "My Fair Lady" and highly resembling a Frenchified version of it. The New York Times said, "Louis Jourdan is suave as the hero who holds out against (Gigi's) blossoming charms."

The film won nine Oscars; while Jourdan was not among those honored, he did receive a Golden Globe nomination in the comedy/musical actor category.

Raising his profile in the 1980s were bigscreen appearances in Wes Craven's campy monster movie "Swamp Thing" and James Bond film "Octopussy."

Read full article at Variety.