André Gaston Maillol, a French-British character actor, was born in Toulouse. He later became a British citizen through naturalization in 1967, taking on the stage name André Maranne in 1956. With his refined presence, Maranne excelled in stereotypical roles as French gendarmes, customs officers, and waiters, bringing a sense of authenticity to his performances.
One of Maranne's most iconic roles was that of Sergeant François Chevalier, the bespectacled and hapless aide to Herbert Lom, in six Pink Panther movies. He also made a memorable appearance in the popular British sitcom Fawlty Towers (1975),playing a culinary aide to Basil.
Despite his genuine myopia, Maranne rarely wore his glasses on screen, preferring to rely on his keen sense of observation and comedic timing. While his television appearances were undoubtedly his strong suit, Maranne did make notable appearances in films such as Darling Lili (1970) and The Nelson Affair (1973),where he played Admiral Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve, the ill-fated commander of the Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar.
In addition to his acting career, Maranne worked as a presenter for the BBC radio program Bonjour Francoise (1968),a French language course for beginners. He also acted in the BBC drama series La Chasse au Trésor (1968),designed to teach young children the basics of French.
After retiring in 1991, Maranne moved to Brighton, England, where he passed away in 2021 at the age of 94.
