Pierre Vernier, Belmondo's companion, dies at 93 after a rich career

12 October 2024 / Alice Leroy

On October 6, 2024, Pierre Vernier, a prolific actor and discreet figure in French cinema, died at the age of 93. A member of the famous "Bande du Conservatoire" alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Rochefort and Jean-Pierre Marielle, he had worked with the biggest names in the 7th art, although his face was more familiar than his name to the general public.

Close to Jean-Paul Belmondo, with whom he shared the bill in cult films such as The Professional (1981) or Itinerary of a spoiled child (1988), Pierre Vernier nevertheless liked to humorously recall that he "also existed without Bébel". His natural elegance and imposing stature made him a recognizable actor, although he never achieved star status. He had begun his career at the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique in the 1950s, where he rubbed shoulders with future legends of French cinema.

Born Pierre Louis Rayer in Charente, Vernier has worked in a multitude of genres. He has played under the direction of great directors such as Henri Verneuil and Joseph Losey, notably alongside Alain Delon in Mr. Klein (1976). His versatility had also led him to the small screen, where he made a name for himself with the lead role in Rocambole (1964), and successfully played General De Gaulle in a television series in 2008, a performance which earned him several accolades.

Knight of the National Order of Merit and Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, Pierre Vernier remained involved in the associative and charitable sector until the end of his life. Although his death marks the disappearance of another figure of the "Conservatory Band", his legacy, through his numerous roles in film, television and theater, remains unalterable.