François Simon (1917-1982) was a Swiss actor of extraordinary intensity, a key figure in both Swiss theater and cinema. Son of the legendary actor Michel Simon, François carved out his own unique artistic path, distinguishing himself with an ascetic, intellectual, and deeply tormented style, far removed from his father's exuberance. A pillar of the Geneva theater scene, his gaunt face and magnetic presence were essential to the birth of New Swiss Cinema in the 1960s and 70s. His most iconic role remains that of the industrialist Charles in Alain Tanner's Charles, Dead or Alive (1969), the movement's flagship film. His filmography is filled with collaborations with major Swiss directors, such as Tanner and Claude Goretta, where he often embodied disillusioned intellectuals, outsiders, or mystical figures, leaving a legacy of rigor and profound interpretative depth.