Francis Veber

Biography

Francis Paul Veber (born 28 July 1937) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer, and theater playwright. Many of his French comedies feature recurring types of characters, named François Pignon (a bungler) and François Perrin (a bully). Several of them have been remade as Hollywood products with his participation (for instance, La chèvre as Pure Luck), or adapted (for instance, Le dîner de cons into Dinner for Schmucks). Some of his screenplays started as theater plays (for instance, Le dîner de cons). This theatrical experience contributes to his films' tight structure, making them "marvels of economy". Veber was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, the son of a writer mother and Pierre-Gilles Veber, a screenwriter. Veber's father was Jewish and his mother was Armenian-Russian (Veber was baptized at birth). His grand-uncle was writer Tristan Bernard. Trivia Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1985 Is partly of Armenian descent like master filmmakers Mikhail Vartanov and Sergei Parajanov. Personal Quotes "Je ne vis pas en Amérique, je vis à Hollywood" - "I don't live in America, I live in Hollywood". Filmography As director: 1976 : Le Jouet (The Toy), starring Pierre Richard, Michel Bouquet, Fabrice Greco 1981 : La Chèvre (Knock on Wood), starring Gérard Depardieu, Pierre Richard 1983 : Les Compères (ComDads), starring Pierre Richard, Gérard Depardieu 1986 : Les Fugitifs, starring Pierre Richard, Gérard Depardieu 1989 : Three Fugitives, starring Nick Nolte, Martin Short 1992 : Out on a Limb, starring Matthew Broderick, Jeffrey Jones 1996 : Le Jaguar, starring Jean Reno, Patrick Bruel 1998 : Le Dîner de Cons (The Dinner Game), starring Thierry Lhermitte, Jacques Villeret 2000 : Le placard (The Closet), starring Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu 2003 : Tais-toi !, starring Jean Reno, Gérard Depardieu 2006 : La Doublure (The Valet), starring Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, Daniel Auteuil, Dany Boon, Virginie Ledoyen, Kristin Scott Thomas 2008: L'emmerdeur (A Pain in the Ass), starring Richard Berry, Patrick Timsit, Virginie Ledoyen As screenwriter: 1969 : Appelez-moi Mathilde, directed by Pierre Mondy 1972 : Il était une fois un flic, directed by Georges Lautner 1972 : Le grand blond avec une chaussure noire, directed by Yves Robert 1973 : La Valise, directed by Georges Lautner 1973 : L'Emmerdeur, directed by Édouard Molinaro 1973 : Le magnifique, directed by Philippe de Broca 1974 : Peur sur la ville, directed by Henri Verneuil 1974 : Le retour du grand blond, directed by Yves Robert 1975 : Le téléphone rose, directed by Édouard Molinaro 1975 : Adieu poulet, directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre 1976 : On aura tout vu, directed by Georges Lautner 1976 : Le Jouet 1978 : La Cage aux Folles, directed by Édouard Molinaro 1979 : Cause toujours... tu m'intéresses, directed by Édouard Molinaro 1979 : Coup de tête, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud 1980 : La cage aux folles II, directed by Édouard Molinaro 1980 : Sunday Lovers / Les séducteurs, directed by Bryan Forbes, Gene Wilder, Dino Risi and Édouard Molinaro 1981 : Buddy Buddy, directed by Billy Wilder 1981 : La Chèvre 1982 : Partners, directed by James Burrows 1982 : The Toy, directed by Richard Donner 1983 : Les Compères 1985 : L'homme à la chaussure rouge (The Man with one red shoe), directed by Stan Dragoti 1985 : Hold-Up, directed by Alexandre Arcady 1986 : Les Fugitifs 1989 : Three Fugitives 1991 : Pure Luck, directed by Nadia Tass 1994 : My Father the Hero, directed by Steve Miner 1995 : Fantôme avec chauffeur, directed by Gérard Oury 1996 : The Birdcage, directed by Mike Nichols 1996 : Le Jaguar 1997 : Father's Day, directed by Ivan Reitman 1997 : Le Dîner de Cons 1998 : Dead Letter Office, directed by John Ruane 2000 : Le placard 2002 : Tais-toi ! 2006 : La doublure 2008 : L'emmerdeur [edit]As producer 1982 : Partners, directed by James Burrows 1989 : Three Fugitives 1991 : Pure Luck, directed by Nadia Tass 1997 : Father's Day, directed by Ivan Reitman 2006 : The Valet 2010 : Dinner for Schmucks Honors He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur[6] on 21 September 1996, and promoted to Officier (Officer) in 2008. He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite in 2001.