Georges Lacombe extended an extraordinary offer to Gerard Philipe, inviting him to take on a part in his 1946 film, Le pays sans étoiles. The critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, catapulting Philipe to stardom and propelling him to accept prominent roles in a succession of films, including L'idiot (1946),Devil in the Flesh (1947),The Charterhouse of Parma (1948),Such a Pretty Little Beach (1949),Juliette ou La clef des songes (1951),Fanfan la Tulipe (1952),Beauties of the Night (1952),The Red and the Black (1954),La meilleure part (1955),and Le joueur (1958).
In 1951, Gerard Philipe exchanged vows with Annie, his beloved wife, and shared his aspirations for a cozy home, family, and children. Their first child, Ann-Marie, was born in 1954, followed by Olivie in 1956. However, Gerard's life took a dramatic turn in 1959 when he returned to France, appearing tired and worn out. Medical professionals delivered the devastating news that he had liver cancer, forecasting a prognosis of either 15 days or six months. With unwavering calm, Gerard awaited his impending demise, ultimately succumbing to his illness on November 25, 1959.
