**François Leterrier** (1929-2020) was primarily a film director, but he also had a significant, albeit less extensive, career as an actor. His most famous and iconic performance was as the protagonist, Lieutenant Michel Fontaine, in Robert Bresson's masterpiece *A Man Escaped* (1956). This role established him as an austere and intellectual face of French cinema.

His acting style was characterized by remarkable sobriety and emotional depth, often embodying thoughtful, measured characters tormented by inner dilemmas. In addition to Bresson's film, he also worked with other prominent directors, such as Alain Resnais in *Stavisky...* (1974) by Alain Resnais and *La gueule ouverte* (1974) by Maurice Pialat, albeit in supporting roles. His presence on screen, though not prolific, left a distinctive mark for the intensity and subtlety of his performances.