Pierre Berton (1920 - 2004)

Canadian Author, Historian, and Journalist. A prolific writer, he authored 50 non-fiction books. He wrote on popular culture, Canadian history, critiques of mainstream religion, anthologies, children’s books and historical works for youth. His books became popular because his light and fast-paced style was not weighted down by footnotes or deep probes into primary sources. He […]

Pierre Blaise (1952 - 1975)

French Actor. He was discovered by motion picture director Louis Malle. He is best remembered for his film “Lacombe Lucien” (1974), in the title role. He also worked in “Les Noces de Porcelaine” (1974), “Die Grosse Ektase” (1975) and “Per le Antiche Scale” (1975).Cause of death: Car accident. (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)

Pierre Blanchar (1892 - 1963)

Actor. Algerian-born, he played leading roles in films such as “Man From Nowhere,” “Magnificent Sinner,” “Crime and Punishment” and “Lovers and Thieves.” Father of actress Dominique Blanchar. (bio by: MC)

Pierre Boulez (1925 - 2016)

Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez CBE (French: [pjɛʁ bu.lɛːz]; 26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor, writer and organiser of institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of the post-war classical music world. Born in Montbrison in the Loire department of France, the son of an engineer, Boulez studied at the Conservatoire […]

Pierre Boulle (1912 - 1994)

Author. A writer of mainstream French fiction, he often injected satire and social commentary into the pulpish plots of his books. Boulle’s best known novels are the war saga “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1952) and the science-fiction tale “The Planet of the Apes” (1963). Both were made into classic American films. Born in […]

Pierre Brasseur (1905 - 1972)

Actor. Born Pierre Albert Espinasse in Paris, France, he was International performer over 150 films and television series. He made his big screen debut in “Backbiters” (1924), followed by “Feu!” (1927). His many other film credits include “Café de Paris” (1938), “Two Shy Ones” (1943), “The Law” (1959), “King of Hearts” (1966) and “Macedoine” (1971). […]

Pierre Brice (1929 - 2015)

Pierre Brice was born in Brest, France. When he was 19, Brice enlisted in the French Army and fought in the First Indochina War. While patrolling in Indochina, one of his team triggered a mine and its explosion sent Brice whirling through the air, but left him virtually unhurt. Later he served as a paratrooper […]

Pierre Cartellier (1757 - 1831)

Sculptor. The son of a locksmith, Pierre studied at the Ecole Gratuite de Dessin, Paris, and then in the studio of Charles-Antoine Bridan and at the Académie Royale. He failed to win the Prix de Rome and began to earn his living modelling decorative motifs for bronze founders. At a time in European history when […]

Pierre Charles L’Enfant (1754 - 1825)

Engineer. Born Pierre Charles L’Enfant in France, he came to America in 1777 and joined the Continental Army a volunteer during the War of Independence, and attained the rank of major of engineers, and served to the end of the war. In 1791, when Congress decided to build a capital city on the Potomac, George […]

Pierre Clementi (1942 - 1999)

Actor. He was born in Paris, France. He began his career on cinema at young age and developed a prolific career, working in almost 100 films. He debuted in 1961 with the film “Adorable Menteuse.” Later, he appeared in “Il Gattopardo” but he obtained a big success in Luis Buñuel’s “Belle de Jour” (1967) and […]

Pierre Collings (1902 - 1937)

Screenwriter,  Cinematographer.  He won two Academy Awards,  for Best Original Story and Best Screenplay,  for “The Story of Louis Pasteur” (1936).  This film,  which also won an Oscar for star  Paul Muni,  launched Warner Bros.’ famous series of biopics of the late 1930s.  Collings was born in Nova Scotia,  Canada,  and entered films as an […]

Pierre Corneille (1606 - 1684)

Playwright, author of the theatrical classic ‘Le Cid’. (bio by: David Conway)

Pierre Dac (1893 - 1975)

Humorist Author. Born in Chalons-sur-Main, France, he was best remembered as a French humorist author, for his uplifting positive works. During World War II, Pierre Dac was one of the speakers on the BBC’s Radio Londres service to occupied France. He produced a series of satirical songs which, helped promote the spirits of those in […]

Pierre Dufresne (1927 - 1984)

French-Canadian actor. Remembered for his character of ‘Joseph-Arthur Lavoie’ on the TV program “Le Temps D’une Paix,” co-starred Nicole Leblanc. (bio by: Michèle)

Pierre Francis Koenig (1925 - 2004)

American Architect. Koenig, whose sleek glass-and-steel houses became emblems of the progressive values of Postwar suburbia, was part of a group of architects that also included Charles and Ray Eames, Raphael Soriano and Craig Ellwood, who helped make southern California one of the great laboratories of 20th century architecture. After returning from a four-year stint […]

Pierre Fränckel (1934 - 2004)

Director, Actor,  Producer. He made numerous productions for Swedish film and TV during his career.  Among his many credits are “Freud flyttar hemifrån” (1991), “Zorn” (1994), “Längtans blåa blomma” (1998) and “Judith” (2000).  He was manager of the Uppsala Stadsteater from 1981 to 1985 and the Länsteatern Örebro from 1978 to 1991, and was vice […]

Pierre Fresnay (1897 - 1975)

Pierre Fresnay (4 April 1897 in Paris, France – 9 January 1975) was a French stage and film actor. Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach, he was encouraged by his uncle, actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film. During the 1920s, Fresnay appeared in many popular stage productions, most notably in the title […]

Pierre Theodore Verhaegen (1796 - 1862)

One of the founders of the non-religious university of Brussels (UniversitŽ Libre de Bruxelles).

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732 - 1799)

Musician, politician, inventor, spy, arms dealer and playwright (‘The Barber of Seville’ and ‘The Marriage of Figaro’) Cause of death: Complications connected with lengthy heavy-drinking. Apoplexy

Pierre-Basile Mignault (1854 - 1945)

Canadian jurist. Member of the Supreme Court of Canada. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on September 30, 1854. While attending McGill University, he did the required legal clerkship in the law office of Mousseau, Chapleau et Archambault. He graduated with a B.C.L. degree in 1878 and was called to the bar the same year. In 1906 […]

Pierre-Jean David d’Angers (1788 - 1856)

Sculptor. Born in Angers, France, he was a French sculptor and medalists. As one of the most versatile artist of his era, he was judged by many contemporary critics to be the greatest sculptor of the 19th Century. He began modeling figures during his three-year sojourn in Italy, after winning the coveted Prix de Rome […]

Pierre-Jules Hetzel (1814 - 1886)

Writer. He is most famous as Jules Verne’s editor.

Pierrepont Burt Noyes (1870 - 1959)

Business Executive. The son of Oneida Community founder John Humphrey Noyes, he studied at Colgate and Harvard Universities and joined Oneida Limited, the corporation formed from the Oneida Community commune after the death of John Humphrey Noyes. Pierrepont Noyes became the company’s President and focused its effort on producing one product, and under his leadership […]

Piers Sellers (1955 - 2016)

Piers Sellers was born in Crowborough, Sussex. His education started at Tyttenhanger Lodge Pre-preparatory School in Seaford, East Sussex, and Cranbrook School, Kent, from which he graduated in 1973 and where he was trained as a Royal Air Force cadet to pilot gliders and powered aircraft. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in ecological […]

Pieter Brueghel, the Elder (1970 - 1569)

Artist. South-Netherlandish painter and father of Jan Bruegel. His contemporaries dubbed him ‘Boeren-Bruegel’ (Farmers-Bruegel) for his skillful sketches of country-life, a nickname that does not do justice to either his work nor his talent. He was an apprentice of Pieter Coecke van Aelst, whose daughter Mayken he later married. He spent some time in France […]

Pietro Annigoni (1910 - 1988)

Artist. A native of Milan, Italy, he is most notable for his portrait paintings of beggars, and for his 1955 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which has been used on several colonial banknotes including the 1968 Rhodesian note. His portrait of Queen Elizabeth II hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. Known for […]

Pietro Boetto (1871 - 1946)

Pietro Boetto was born in Vigone to Antonio and Caterina (née Anghilano) Boetto. One of two brothers and three sisters, he was confirmed by Bishop Filippo Chiesa of Pinerolo in 1883. Boetto attended the diocesan seminary of Giaveno from 1884 to 1888, when he entered the Society of Jesus on February 1. While studying at […]

Pietro Consagra (1920 - 2005)

Italian Abstract Sculptor. He was born in Mazara del Vallo (Sicily) and died in Milan. He is best known for his works in iron and bronze. He moved to Rome in the mid-1940s and co-founded a group named “Forma.” Consagra was also an essayist and art critic. He published “La Necessita della Scultura” and an […]

Pietro Consagra (1920 - 2005)

Italian Abstract Sculptor. He was born in Mazara del Vallo (Sicily) and died in Milan. He is best known for his works in iron and bronze. He moved to Rome in the mid-1940s and co-founded a group named “Forma.” Consagra was also an essayist and art critic. He published “La Necessita della Scultura” and an […]

Pietro Lazzari (1895 - 1979)

Sculptor. Pietro received his formal education from the Ornamental School of Rome (Master Artist). After the end of the First World War, Lazzari joined the Italian Futurist movement and exhibited with such artists as Giacomo Balla and Gino Severini. He then moved to Paris for several years before returning to Rome where his first solo […]