Jacques Sernas, also known as Jack Sernas, was a Lithuanian-born actor who gained international recognition for his striking good looks and versatility in European costumers and spectacles during the 1950s and 1960s.
Born on July 30, 1925, in Paris, France, Sernas was raised by his mother after his father's untimely death when he was just a year old. He was educated in Paris and later joined the French Resistance during World War II, where he was captured by German forces and imprisoned in Buchenwald for over a year before being freed.
After the war, Sernas initially pursued a career in medicine, but he soon found himself drawn to acting. He made his film debut in the French film "Miroir" (1947) alongside Jean Gabin, and went on to appear in a variety of Italian and European films, including comedies, dramas, and action films.
Sernas' breakthrough role came in 1956 when he was cast alongside Rossana Podestà and Brigitte Bardot in the film "Helen of Troy." He then appeared in the Hollywood film "Jump Into Hell" (1955) and had a few guest roles on American television.
However, despite his early success, Sernas' career began to decline, and he was relegated to supporting characters in Italian and European films. One of his most notable roles during this period was as a fading matinée idol in Federico Fellini's masterpiece "La Dolce Vita" (1960).
In the 1960s, Sernas continued to appear in a range of films, including "Goddess of Love" (1957),"The Nights of Lucretia Borgia" (1959),"Duel of Champions" (1961),and "Duel of the Titans" (1961). He also appeared in the epic historical dramas "55 Days at Peking" (1963) and "The Secret Agents" (1965).
As the years went by, Sernas' appearances on film became less frequent, and he began to focus more on television work in Italy. He continued to act well into his 80s, appearing in a few elderly roles, including a 2003 TV movie about Pope John XXIII.
Jacques Sernas passed away on July 3, 2015, at the age of 89, in Rome, Italy.
