Jeanne d’Alcy (Jeanne d'Alcy)

Jeanne d’Alcy

Actress. Mistress and second wife of film pioneer Georges Méliès. She was a performer with the Théâtre Robert-Houdin when Méliès purchased it in 1888. She would go on to appear in many of the director’s early film works such as The House Of The Devil (1896), a very early example of the horror film, After The Ball, The Bath (1897), which is notable as being the first film to feature nudity, Robbing Cleopatra’s Tomb (1899) as Cleopatra, Cinderella (1899) as the Fairy Godmother, and as Joan Of Arc (1900) in this early color production, which is thought to be the earliest appearance of the French heroine in films. She remained with Méliès through his declining years, when his fame and fortune slipped away, and married him after his first wife died in 1925. The couple lived far from the spotlight in Paris with Méliès’ granddaughter Madeleine Malthête-Méliès. In the early thirties Méliès was finally recognized for his contributions to the film industry and made a Knight of the Legion of Honor. Although now honored by his country, Méliès was still unemployed, so in 1932 the Cinema Society arranged for Méliès and his family to live at La Maison du Retraite du Cinéma, a retirement home for filmmakers located in Orly. Méliès and d’Alcy would remain married until his death in 1938. She is buried under her birth name Charlotte Faes. (bio by: Sean McKim)  Family links:  Spouse:  Georges Méliès (1861 – 1938)

Born

  • March, 20, 1865
  • France

Died

  • October, 10, 1956
  • France

Cemetery

  • Cimetière du Père Lachaise
  • France

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