Marc Eyraud, a French thespian, was cast more frequently as the ordinary man next door rather than the epic hero due to his average appearance, which was neither striking nor energetic. His facial features were commonplace, and his figure was unremarkable, often typecasting him as a chauffeur, educator, bartender, priest, doctor, or bookseller. However, he occasionally took on more unconventional roles, portraying everyday racism in Élise ou la vraie vie (1970) and even a character who sent his fellow man to his death in Vidocq et Compagnie.
Marc Eyraud had the unique ability to blend into the background, making him a blessing for film directors seeking to create a sense of realism. However, this talent also proved to be a curse for the actor, as he was often relegated to playing lackluster supporting characters that tended to fade into obscurity. If not for his role in the long-running TV series "Les cinq dernières minutes", Eyraud's career might have been even less memorable. From 1974 to 1992, he appeared in 73 episodes, playing police inspector Ménardeau and later "commissaire" Ménardeau.
Some of his lesser-known but remarkable performances include Bernard, an entomology enthusiast in Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe's L'araignée d'eau (1970),and King Arthur in Éric Rohmer's Perceval le Gallois (1978),alongside Fabrice Luchini. Marc Eyraud's career may not have been prestigious, but it was long-lasting, and he even appeared in a film during his retirement, titled La sonate des spectres (2015),which was released over a decade after its completion.
