Paul Pavel, born Pavel Păruşcan (Bucharest, July 11, 1919 – Joigny, April 17, 2012), was a Romanian-born French actor. His film career is inextricably linked to the role of the Russian prisoner Maréchal in Jean Renoir's masterpiece, *La Grande Illusion* (1937), which made him famous at a young age. A survivor of deportation during World War II, he resumed his career in the post-war period, becoming a well-regarded character actor in French cinema. He worked with internationally renowned directors, including Marcel Carné in *Les Portes de la nuit* (1946) and Jules Dassin in *Rififi* (1955). His long career saw him remain active until the 2000s, with roles in over one hundred film and television productions, also appearing in highly successful films such as *Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain* (2001). For his artistic contribution, he was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.