Marcel Cuvelier (1924-2015) was a French actor, theatre director, and screenwriter, a central figure in the theatre of the second half of the 20th century. His career is inextricably linked to Eugène Ionesco and the Theatre of the Absurd. In 1957, he directed the historic and definitive production of *The Bald Soprano* (*La Cantatrice Chauve*) at the Théâtre de la Huchette in Paris, also playing the role of Mr. Smith. The show, which became a cultural institution, has been running uninterruptedly ever since. In addition to his seminal work on Ionesco, Cuvelier had a prolific career as a film actor, appearing in films directed by prominent directors such as François Truffaut (*L'Enfant sauvage*), Costa-Gavras (*L'Aveu*, *État de Siège*), and Alain Resnais. His long and versatile career on stage and screen was crowned in 2000 with an honorary Molière Award for his exceptional contribution to French theatre.