American actors in European films

Burt Lancaster starred in many Italian films, but he played an iconic and towering role in "The Leopard" directed by Luchino Visconti. He portrays an Italian aristocrat in Sicily in the mid nineteenth century, witnessing historical change as Sicily is gradually breaking off from the Kingdom of Spain and is taken over by supporters of Garibaldi in view of forming a unified Italy. Burt Lancaster plays the character with great dignity and profound resilience as he observes the upheaval around him –decadence of the aristocracy, rise of new classes including opportunists- and the film, though slow paced and about three hours long, is a masterful record of an era and only Burt Lancaster could have carried the film and the part.

She did an amazing "Barbarella" in France directed by Roger Vadim her husband at the time, and several other French "serious" films; she speaks fluent French.

Starred in the extraordinary "Fellini Cazanova" directed by Federico Fellini ; he should have won an Oscar for his mind-blowing performance in this film. OK he is Canadian, but certainly deserves to be mentioned here.

Starred in the spaghetti westerns directed by Sergio Leone. In a very classy nod Clint Eastwood dedicated his picture "Unforgiven", a western (Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director 1993), to Sergio Leone.

Starred in many French films, and he is certainly a cosmopolitan figure (remember he once played a French villain aspiring to become the King of England ... ) He is a frequent performer on stage in classic and modern theater plays all over Europe.

Starred with Jean-Paul Belmondo in "L'Animal". In the sixties Jean-Paul Belmondo was a young dashing, up-and-coming, leading man in the French cinema. He did many comic adventure films featuring each the one hot star lady of the moment, and the likes of Ursula Andress, Jacqueline Bisset, and Claudia Cardinale were his film love interests. No way on earth could he ignore the gorgeous Raquel Welch to star with him ! (also please refer to Dyan Cannon entry in this list).

An intense actor, and with such luminous performances as the ones he did in "The Piano" (in 1993) and "Smoke" (in 1995) he is in a class of his own. He starred in Italian and French films, including, during the early 1980's, "La nuit de Varennes" directed by Ettore Scola, and a B French movie titled "Une pierre dans la bouche".

A great actress from the golden age... she starred in an Italian film "Lo Scopone Scientifico" directed by Luigi Comencini. Earlier on she starred in "The Nanny", a psychological thriller despite the innocent title, an English produced film (please see note on US actors in British films below- Shirley MacLaine entry).

A great visionary director and great actor obviously not choosing his engagements lightly. He directed "The Trial" in 1962 based on a Franz Kafka novel, a bewildering film, with Anthony Perkins in the lead and a first rate European cast. Orson Welles also starred in Italian films, and at least one somber French film, "La Decade Prodigieuse" directed by Claude Chabrol; set in modern times the character he played referred to someone who thought he was, well, God...(making his family members break the Ten Commandments!) but the film despite its interesting premise is slow and un-engaging and not one of Claude Chabrol's best. In 1963 he starred in "RoGoPaG", strange title but really made up of the initials of the four directors who each contributed a segment in this film. Orson Welles is cast as a... director of a film featuring the Crucifixion, not going as planned, and this particular segment is directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Starred in many French films, though not always in a leading role, but important ones, and he spoke fluent French

Mr. Bertolucci is of course a great Italian film director, mentioned here because some of his films such as "1900" or "Last Tango in Paris" or "The Sheltering Sky" featured top class American actors (Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, John Malkovich) but these films were funded to a great extent by Hollywood major studios even though the plot may have been set in Europe or North Africa. As the peerless Marlon Brando is mentioned we should note that he starred in 1969 in "Burn!", a European co-production.

Same remark as for Bernardo Bertolucci, he is a genius of a director, and Jack Nicholson worked with him in the title role in "The Passenger" (also known by another title "Profession:Reporter"). Antonioni also directed "Zabriskie Point" which one might call a European film about America, reflecting the director's "take" on American society and relevant issues of the time (1970); that film has a particular pace and is artistically and visually stunning, and featured Rod Taylor in a secondary but potent role.

Our generation doesn't unfortunately give this actor his due credit (1913 - 1999 , seldom appeared in films after 1970). He was very popular in Italian films depicting Roman times. Also pls. refer to entry on Steve Reeves in this list.

He was highly appreciated in France, and starred in French films opposite top French actors such as Alain Delon, and Marlene Jobert (mother of Eva Green, the Bond girl in "Casino Royale).

A remarkable actor who is often overly cast in "bad guy" roles due to his physique, but in between he chooses unconventional and experimental characters with daring directors. He recently starred on stage in a Russian play in Manchester, England, with Mikhail Baryshnikov (The play is "The Old Woman" by Daniil Kharms, directed by Robert Wilson; Willem Dafoe's make-up, if one checks his related photos in the play, is something else..). Such actors include Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman (worked with Stanley Kubrick); Nicole Kidman later worked with such off-beat directors as Lars Von Trier (so did Willem Dafoe -more than once-), Kirstin Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, Shia LaBoeuf, and Matt Dillon.

Those actors know such films may not always be commercial successes (and are maybe "flexible" with their own participation terms ?) but they "go" for the director to widen their acting experience and explore newer grounds in their craft. This is the stuff of true artists. However we must also consider that though many actors may sincerely wish to work with specific directors they could be contractually bound by their studio for a certain time or certain projects and may not have that latitude. At the risk of digressing from the main topic of this list I have to mention here all those actors and actresses who looked to work, even in cameo appearances, with the incomparable Woody Allen.

Played a very nice character in "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort", a French classic and iconic film. Another American actor, George Chakiris ("West Side Story"), who starred in Spanish/Italian films, also had a dancing part in this film. In 1960 Gene Kelly was commissioned by the Paris Opera to create a Jazz ballet, "Pas de Dieux" (not "Deux") which translates to "Dance of the Gods", set to George Gershwin's music.

Starred in Italian films, including a spaghetti western "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", and was one of the comic pillars of a French superproduction at the time "Le Cerveau".

She starred in "Vivre pour vivre", a Claude Lelouch film (director of "A man and a Woman") opposite Yves Montand. She also starred in lesser known films set in Greece: "The Day the Fish Came Out" and "The Magus". Candice Bergen is in a class of her own (even in TV series and light comedies) and deserves more recognition for her rich career. she is fluent in French (she was married to the French director Louis Malle during the last 15 years of his life).

Starred in Italian B movies, mainly westerns, and in 1963 he worked with Jean-Luc Godard (in "Le Mepris", with Brigitte Bardot no less..) , however he shined in the late 1980's in the German produced "Bagdad Cafe" (though the plot takes place in the US).

Another actor who deserved more recognition, his most famous role remains the co-astronaut in " 2001:A Space Odyssey ", but he also had a poised performance in " Model Shop ", directed by the French Jacques Demy, and opposite French dame Anouk Aimee. This film, though set in the US and with the main character portrayed by Gary Lockwood waiting to be drafted to the US army, has a very European feel.

Starred in at least two French films, one of them "Viva Maria" with Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau (which may have inspired a later remake, "Bandidas", with Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek), and an Italian Second World War film with an international cast. "Viva Maria" was directed by noted French director Louis Malle, who deserves a special mention here as he directed such English speaking films as "Atlantic City" (with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon) and "Pretty Baby" (with Brooke Shields).

Ms. Margret, in addition to great looks, also excelled in dramatic parts in films like “Carnal Knowledge” and even the TV film “The two Mrs. Grenvilles”. Earlier in her career she starred in Italian films directed by Dino Risi.

Mr. Nero is of course an Italian actor; he is mentioned in this list as he was the star of several Italian films in the 1960's and 1970's that featured top American actors in supporting roles, such as Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam, Lee J. Cobb, Anthony Quinn and Yul Brynner to name a few. Were they starting to age and lured to secondary roles overseas? they are all great personalities each in his own right.

American actors and actresses who starred in lesser known European films (Spanish / Italian / French / German/ Irish or a mix thereof) include:

F. Murray Abraham, Lola Albright, Rosanna Arquette ( in "Le Grand Bleu") Lauren Bacall, Carroll Baker, Marisa Berenson James Caan (worked with Claude Lelouch), Rory Calhoun, David Carradine (Worked with Ingmar Bergman in “The Serpent’s egg”), Keith Carradine, Montgomery Clift (in "The Defector", his last role on screen), Jennifer Connely, Chuck Connors, Richard Conte, Richard Crenna Brad Davis (in "Querelle", with the fabulous Jeanne Moreau), Bo Derek, Bruce Dern, Angie Dickinson, Faye Dunaway Mimsy Farmer, Mia Farrow, Jose Ferrer (worked with Abel Gance), Jo Van Fleet, Henry Fonda (in “Once upon a time in America” where he was, for the first time and in a memorable performance, the bad guy), Peter Fonda, James Fransiscus Vincent Gallo, Elliot Gould (worked with Ingmar Bergman), Harry Guardino (in "The Treasure of San Gennaro") Woody Harrelson, Ethan Hawke, Goldie Hawn, Sterling Hayden Frank Langella, John Phillip Law, Jack Lemmon, Jerry Lewis, Josh Lucas (in "The Guardian Angel"), Carol Lynley, Sue Lyon Lee Marvin, Frances McDormand (in "This must be the place", directed by Paolo Sorrentino in 2011 with Sean Penn -Let's hope this is a renewed trend by A list actors venturing into new territory, like Nicole Kidman mentioned above under Willem Dafoe entry), Robert Mitchum Jennifer O'Neill (of "Summer of 42" fame, whose "L'Innocente" was directed by Luchino Visconti) Sean Penn, George Peppard, Ron Perlman, Vincent Price Aidan Quinn Tony Roberts, Mickey Rooney (hilarious in "From Hong Kong with Love") Mickey Rourke John Savage, Telly Savalas, John Saxon, Roy Scheider, Alan Scott, Robert Stack (co-starred with French male icon Jean Gabin), Sylvester Stallone, Susan Strasberg, Barry Sullivan John Turturro Christopher Walken, Fred Ward, Shelley Winters

Starred in joint European co-produced films, most notably he did a powerful portrayal of Napoleon Bonaparte in "Waterloo" directed by the Russian Sergey Bondarchuk, and was Mussolini in an Italian film of the same name. We should mention James Coburn here as he co-starred with Rod Steiger in one spaghetti western directed by Sergio Leone.

Arnold Schwarzenegger came from Austria to the US, but America had long before "exported" Steve Reeves to Italy, where he played with considerable success mythical heroes in Italian films set in ancient Greek and Roman times.

Though already mentioned in this list (Franco Nero films) he deserves a separate entry here, as he starred in several Italian and Spanish films in a leading role. He always delivers (whichever character/context) and in 1954 he worked with Federico Fellini in "La Strada", but he is mostly remembered for his strong performances in Hollywood classic films.

One has to admire Dennis Hopper as he did not seek to play "pleasing" roles throughout his career. He starred in several co-produced european films, an additional indication of this thoroughly versatile personality.

Starred in French films including "the Plague" based on Albert Camus's famous novel "La Peste" where he played Dr. Bernard Rieux (Robert Duvall starred in this film), also in "J'enrage de son absence" directed by Sandrine Bonnaire, and in "Nearest to Heaven" with Catherine Deneuve. In Britain in the early nineties he starred in "Second Best" a low-budget powerful drama involving an adopted son. He speaks fluent French.

Sandrine Bonnaire co-starred with Kevin Kline (also fluent in French) in "Joueuse" in 2009 (English title "Queen to Play"). I wish William Hurt and Kevin Kline had more opportunities to take on off-beat roles such as in these films, without fanfare or bells: their performance, presence and demeanor simply elevate their screen characters.

Whether on TV or in secondary parts, he always leaves a mark perhaps because he seems so enigmatic (to his credit, never a superficial performance). He starred in a French TV film "Valparaiso", and in a Spanish film, "Kika", directed by Pedro Almodovar.

As "Columbo" Peter Falk was well known -and liked- overseas, and he starred in "Wings of Desire" directed by the German Wim Wenders, and also in an italian film about WWII "Rosolino Paterno, Soldato" which also featured Jason Robards and Martin Landau.

He starred in 1967 in "La Cintura di Castita" ("The Chastity Belt"), an italian comedy set in crusader times, with the beautiful Monica Vitti, and was Casanova in a French co-production. In the early seventies he starred in "The Persuaders", a British TV series, filmed on location all over Europe.

The French certainly knew how to spot an attractive lady like Ms. Cannon -so did the British Cary Grant, they were married early in her career- why didn't she appear in more American films? She starred in the French film "Le Casse" (English title "The Bandits") an extremely entertaining crime thriller in 1971 which also featured Jean-Paul Belmondo (performing personally all his incredible stunts) and Omar Sharif.

Certainly one of the most accomplished cinematic figures of her generation. She acted in a French and in an Italian film before she was 16; she speaks fluent French.

He starred in the Italian fim "Alfredo, Alfredo" directed by Pietro Germi in 1972. In 2012 he directed with extreme finesse "Quartet", an English production with veteran British actors.

Pity she passed away too soon. She starred in 2 French films, especially the significant and bold English-speaking film due to its setting and storyline, "Hanna K" , filmed in Jerusalem.

Actress extraordinaire..She graces any film with her presence... She starred in 1988 in "Madame Sousatzka" as a Russian immigrant piano teacher tutoring a gifted Indian teenager in London, an English film directed by John Schlesinger.

It is very difficult to add to this list US actors who appeared in totally English-produced films, lines are blurred because all major Hollywood studios operated one time or the other in Britain, collaborating with American and English actors (One thinks of Robert Mitchum in "Ryan's Daughter", all set in Ireland with British actors and local history background). In the UK the British Film Institute has established parameters under which it considers a film "British" (based on added material value in terms of British technicians involved in the making of the film and other local resources) and therefore qualifying it for partial official funding and certain tax advantages.

US actors and actresses who starred in "British" context films (though many movies were US-UK co-productions) include Elizabeth Taylor (Please see separate entry here below), Anne Bancroft ("The Pumkin Eater"), Gregory Peck ("The Million Pound Note", "The Scarlet and the Black"), Arthur Kennedy ("Murder She Said"), Lee Remick ("The Medusa Touch"), Tony Randall ("The Alphabet Murders"), Richard Chamberlain ("The Music Lovers"), Elliot Gould ("Puckoon"), James Caan (Submarine X-1), Susan Sarandon ("The Hunger").

Such list should also include: Andie Macdowell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral") Renee Zellweger ("Bridget Jones", "Miss Potter") Reese Witherspoon ("Vanity Fair") Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Pirate Radio") Christian Slater ("Basil", not forgetting his remarkable debut in the European co-produced "The Name of the Rose") Anne Hathaway ("Becoming Jane") Gwyneth Paltrow (in "Shakespeare in Love", where she obtained Best Actress Oscar).

New generation actresses (Renee, Reese, Anne, Gwyneth) had a perfect English accent in these films (Ms. Macdowell was playing an American character in her respective film), with Renee Zellweger even mastering the English working class accent, and Gwyneth Paltrow was at ease when the script incorporated Shakespeare's verse. (Further comments on the topic of US actors in Britain under Jesse Eisenberg entry below).

Back to Ms. MacLaine, a rare to find video of her's doing a full show at the Lido of Paris is a gem.

One of his (rare ?) comic roles was in a British film in 1989, "The Tall Guy", with Rowan Atkinson as his boss (but not as a Mr. Bean character), and the lovely Emma Thompson (with whom he has a memorable passionate scene in the film). More recently he starred in "Le Week-end" a British film shot in Paris. He did stage performances in London.

He starred in 1967 in "To Sir with love", where he gave a very sensible portrayal of a teacher in a difficult suburb school in London. That film, though produced by Columbia pictures Corp., is very English in context. The film could be considered the "ancestor" of such films as "Dead Poets Society", "Dangerous minds", and "Freedom Writers". The title song of the film, performed by Lulu, is a superb hymn to all teachers.

It is unfortunate that extremely likeable Ms. Kathleen Turner is seldom starring in films during the latter years (she is doing TV and theater work it seems); what is striking is that she has not yet a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (!!!)... She starred in 1987 in an Italian film, "Julia and Julia".

He belongs of course to the Pantheon of Hollywood greats... He starred in 1980 in "The Awakening", a British horror film involving a particularly vicious pharaonic mummy.

Starred in many European films, and he always gave solid performances, specially as an aristocrat or a steely businessman, whether in leading or secondary roles. He spoke fluent French.

She starred in European films some of them co-produced, and played a good part in one French film directed by talented Jean-Paul Rappeneau, "Tout feu tout flamme" (English title "All fired up") which featured top French star Yves Montand.

Remembering Anthony Franciosa's performances in various films he must have been a charming and sympathetic person in real life. He starred in several Italian films.

A truly great actor; if they ever make DVD box sets of his films these should be mandatory study material for aspiring actors in film schools. He starred in many European films, especially Italian ones.

When the camera focused on Lee Van Cleef eyes in cinemascope format (the equivalent of wide screen Panavision and Imax today) with Ennio Morricone's haunting tunes in the background we froze in our seats… Lee Van Cleef starred of course in timeless spaghetti westerns.

Starred in "The Pianist", a European co-produced film directed by Roman Polanski, and won the Oscar for his performance in this film.

We are all lucky to have been born in an age when photo and film were invented so we could see how beautiful Miss Elizabeth Taylor was. She had a special relation and affinity with Britain (not least perhaps because she was born in London, and later married to one of Britain's most powerful –and tempestuous- actors, Richard Burton), and in the year 2000 she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), the equivalent of "knighthood" for male actors and the subsequent "Sir" title. She starred in several UK based films, including "Secret Ceremony" (directed by Joseph Losey), "Night Watch", "A Little Night Music", and "Under Milk Wood", among others.

He recently made a bold turn in "The Double", an intriguing English film. It is noteworthy that such younger actors are choosing to take on unconventional roles with different directors (re Shia LaBoeuf mentioned earlier -Willem Dafoe entry). Kristen Stewart earned a lot of praise for her performance in "Clouds of Sils Maria", directed by the French Olivier Assayas (she won a French "Cesar" acting award for it), Maggie Gyllenhaal starred in joint US-UK film and TV productions, and Lindsay Lohan went for a theater engagement in London. Kevin Spacey should be mentioned here as he was Director of the classic Old Vic Theater in London for several years, one of the most prestigious artistic positions in the UK. In this he joins Sam Wanamaker who left a long lasting impact in the theater world in the UK. As mentioned earlier there are tens of American actors and actresses not mentioned in this list who worked in Britain in cinema, in TV series and on the London stage, notably with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and many also starred as the lead in BBC TV productions (such as the refined Robert Vaughn). If one is to draft a comprehensive list of US actors who worked in the UK and the Continent, the records and archives of such filming studios as Pinewood and Elstree in Britain, Cinecitta in Rome, and Boulogne/Montreuil in France should be consulted.

This topic would not be complete if Buster Keaton is not mentioned: This tremendously gifted comedian may have started it all, as in the early 1930's he made films in Europe, actually a French or Spanish remake of some of his American films, including one titled "Le Roi des Champs-Elysees" ( "The King of the Champs-Elysees" ). In 1965 he received a five minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

He played memorable characters in earlier Alfred Hitchcock films, and had undeniable charisma on the screen. He starred in Italian fims, including "Senso" directed by Luchino Visconti.

Another actor who deserved more recognition, as he brought such character and sincerity to the parts he played. One hopes Hollywood finds a way to pay tribute to its seniors before they pass away (for instance the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts could organize a yearly nod to actors who completed 50 years in the movies, in addition to its "in memoriam" segment during the Oscars ceremony). Stuart Whitman, who sadly passed away in March 2020, starred in several European co-productions.

She starred in 2000 in "Vatel", a predominantly French film set in 17th century France. She is a great actress, and in that film her hairdo, her royal court dresses and above all her glaring beauty steal the show. Earlier in her career she starred in an English production, "The adventures of Baron Munchausen" (with an absurd and nonsensical plot and dialogue, but that's the director's Terry Gilliam approach who was a member of Monty Python's team and their burlesque comic universe). Despite the British humor, the film's special effects appear outdated by today's standards, but it has its moments and featured Robin Williams in a small but extremely funny role.

She embodies the 1960's in many ways, had sadly a short life, and the words of Elton John for Marilyn Monroe in his song (Norma Jean) comes to mind " You lived your life like a candle in the wind..." She was the star of critically acclaimed "cinema club" American and French films.

Only when I saw the film "The Legend of 1900" –the Italian original title is far better "La Leggenda del Pianista sull' Oceano" which translates to "The legend of the pianist (who spent his life) over the ocean" – did I realize what a fine actor Pruitt Taylor Vince is and deserves a separate listing here; even though he is not the main character in the film his presence is overwhelming and we don't see an actor but a real life person with memories and emotions and as he says in the film "a story to tell". He is definitely one of the greatest contemporary American actors, and we have to thank Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of the "Legend..", for casting him in what is a truly exceptional performance.

He is (with Billy Kearns) a case apart among American actors who starred in European films. Jess Hahn fought in France during the Second World War including Normandy Landings, then came back to settle in France and married. He appeared mostly in secondary roles in French films, as an American: His looks were perfect to portray a typical American businessman. Billy Kearns (also credited as Bill Kearns) followed more or less a similar path, and appeared extensively in French films, also as an American businessman, military or policeman, and even starred in a French TV series for two seasons. Both Jess Hahn and Billy Kearns (who were friends) are positively remembered in France as likeable screen characters. The list of American movie professionals who moved to Europe and took permanent residency there should also include directors like Stanley Kubrick and Joseph Losey. Mimsy Farmer became famous in Italian horror films, and Eddie Constantine is still mistakenly taken for granted as a French actor. He was often cast as "the tough guy" but brought enormous depth to his screen character.