Next person biography:
Georges Aminel was born Jacques Maline, with Aminel being an anagram of his second name. He was born to a Parisian mother and a father from Martinique, making him biracial. This biracial heritage would later become a challenge for him in his pursuit of a successful career in theatre.
Aminel began his career at a young age of 19, playing a dumb Polynesian in the 1941 play "Faux Jour". However, he was often relegated to minor ethnic roles, such as an old Negro, an Arab, a Jew, and a fanatic native, which left him feeling dissatisfied.
It wasn't until 1954 that he was given a more rewarding role as Bistouri, a Black doctor, in Yves Jamiaque's "Bistouri". His performance was acclaimed by the critics, and he was later chosen by Jean-Louis Barrault to star in classic plays such as "Le soulier des atins", "Madame Sans Gêne", and Shakespeare's "Henry IV", where he played the impressive role of the Duke of York.
Aminel made history by becoming the first Creole actor to join the prestigious Comédie Française company. However, he resigned in 1972, which led to a decline in his career. He then focused on dubbing, a field in which he had excelled since the early 1950s.
Aminel's deep, powerful, and noble voice made him an ideal French substitute for international stars such as Orson Welles, Yul Brynner, Vittorio Gassman, and many others. He also provided voices for African American actors like Yaphet Kotto, Harry Belafonte, and James Earl Jones, including three "Star Wars" installments, where he matched up with Jones as Darth Vader.
Despite his impressive dubbing career, Aminel's film career was limited, with too few roles that did not do justice to his talents. Nevertheless, his voice will always be remembered for his contributions to many American and Italian classics, which were seen in French versions.
Georges Aminel passed away in 2007 and is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
