Michel Charles Lemoine, a multifaceted individual, was born on September 30, 1922, in Pantin, Seine-Saint-Denis, France. He embarked on a journey in the world of theater, training under the renowned Rene Alexandre of the Comedie Francaise in the 1940s.
During this period, Lemoine toured extensively, taking on a wide range of roles in student theater productions. His debut major part was as Lenny in a stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." Throughout the 1950s, he continued to work steadily on stage, gradually transitioning into film work in the late 1940s.
However, it wasn't until the 1960s that Lemoine's film career truly gained momentum with his pivotal role as Marco in The Prisoner of the Iron Mask (1961). This cinematic breakthrough led to a diverse array of film roles in genres such as Westerns, thrillers, science fiction, spy movies, and costume dramas.
Throughout his career, Lemoine collaborated with notable directors like Mario Bava, Sacha Guitry, Jesús Franco, Julien Duvivier, Antonio Margheriti, and José Bénazéraf.
In addition to his acting work, Lemoine made his directorial debut with How Short Is the Time for Love (1970),which received widespread attention at the Cannes Film Festival. His subsequent film, Les désaxées (1972),caused a significant stir due to its controversial content.
Furthermore, Lemoine's offbeat film, Seven Women for Satan (1976),was so provocative that it was banned in its native France, limiting its theatrical distribution to sex cinemas that prohibited patrons under the age of 18.
In the late 1970s, Lemoine transitioned from soft-core erotica to more explicit hardcore films, often using pseudonyms and featuring French porn starlet Olinka Hardiman.
Sadly, Michel Charles Lemoine passed away at the age of 90 on July 27, 2013, at his home in Vinon, Cher, France.
