About
Max Linder, born Gabriel-Maximilien Leuvielle on December 16, 1883, in Saint-Loubès (Gironde), is a major figure of silent cinema. Joining Pathé in 1905, he created the character of 'Max', an elegant gentleman with a top hat, the first recurring character in film history. His worldwide popularity made him the highest-paid actor in the world in 1912. His comic art deeply influenced Charlie Chaplin, who called him 'the Professor'. Mobilized during World War I, he was seriously wounded and gassed, affecting his health permanently. He died in 1925, leaving a body of work that marked slapstick comedy. His daughter Maud Linder helped preserve his legacy.
* 1883-12-16 — † 1925-10-28
Major works
- Seven Years Bad Luck (1921)film
- King of the Circus (1924)film
- En compagnie de Max Linder (1963)compilation film
- L'Homme au chapeau de soie (1983)documentary
Key milestones
- 1905Joins Pathé Frères and creates the character Max.
- 1912Becomes the highest-paid actor in the world.
- 1925Dies in Paris in a suicide pact with his wife.
Themes
slapstickelegancesituation comedyinfluence on cinemahealth and war
Sources: britannica.com · collections-search.bfi.org.uk · cinematheque.fr