**Jean Gabin (1904-1976)** was a French actor, one of the most iconic and recognizable figures of French cinema.

His career boomed in the 1930s, when he established himself by portraying the melancholic 'common man,' often cynical and doomed by an adverse fate. Key roles from this period include the deserting legionnaire in *Pépé le Moko* (1937), the non-commissioned officer in Jean Renoir's *La Grande Illusion* (1937), and the desperate lover in Marcel Carné's *Le Quai des brumes* (1938).

After World War II, his image evolved. Gabin transitioned to playing more mature and authoritative characters: paternal figures, middle-aged gangsters with their own moral code, police inspectors, or businessmen. The success of *Touchez pas au grisbi* (1954) revitalized his career, followed by films such as *Le cave se rebiffe* (1961) and *Un singe en hiver* (1962).

His acting style was characterized by a restrained realism and an imposing screen presence, featuring an expressive face (the famous 'gueule') that made him a symbol of authenticity and quiet strength.