Louis Gendre was born June 19, 1921, in Marseilles, France, changing his name once he became an actor. He studied drama in Paris, and made his first film appearance in "Le Corsaire," (1938) costarring Charles Boyer.

Left: Louis Jourdan in "La comédie du bonheur (Comedy of Happiness)" (1940), in which a wealthy older man is committed to an asylum by anxious relatives after he begins giving his money away.

During the German occupation of France, Jourdan was forced into a labor gang, before escaping and joining the French Underground.

After the war, Jourdan was signed by producer David O. Selznick. Jourdan's first American film was Alfred Hitchock's "The Paradine Case" (1947), in which Alisa Valli plays a widow accused of murdering her husband. Jourdan is her late spouse's butler, who becomes caught up in the intrigue.

Louis Jourdan and Gregory Peck in Alfred Hitchock's "The Paradine Case."

Joan Fontaine carries the torch for concert pianist Louis Jourdan in Max Ophuls' epic of unrequited love, "Letter From an Unknown Woman" (1948).

Louis Jourdan reads the story of a woman's undying love for him, in Max Ophuls' "Letter From an Unknown Woman" (1948).

Jennifer Jones, Louis Jourdan and Van Heflin in the 1949 screen version of "Madame Bovary."

Louis Jourdan in a publicity photo for "Madame Bovary."

Debra Paget and Louis Jourdan find love - and an erupting Polynesian volcano - in the 1951 adventure, "Bird of Paradise."

Louis Jourdan and Jean Peters in the pirate adventure, "Anne of the Indies."

In the 1954 romance "Three Coins in the Fountain," Maggie McNamara is an American in Rome who falls under the amorous spell of a prince (Louis Jourdan).

He's but a commoner, but the tutor played by Louis Jourdan thinks he has a chance with a princess (played by Grace Kelly) -- and maybe he does -- in the 1956 romantic comedy, "The Swan."

Doris Day is pursued by her intensely jealous second husband (Louis Jourdan), who already has blood on his hands, in the 1956 suspenser, "Julie."

Brigitte Bardot and Louis Jourdan in the 1956 French comedy, "La mariée est trop belle," also known as "The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful" or "Her Bridal Night."

Hermione Gingold, Louis Jourdan and Leslie Caron sing "The Night They Invented Champagne," in the Lerner and Loewe musical, "Gigi" (1958).

The film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In the 1980s, Jourdan toured in a stage version of "Gigi," playing Maurice Chevalier's role.

Suzy Parker and Louis Jourdan in the romantic drama, "The Best of Everything," set in the ruthless world of New York City book publishing.

Elizabeth Taylor and Louis Jourdan in "The VIPs" (1963).

Louis Jourdan is a French fashion designer and Ann-Margret is an assistant buyer from New York who become entangled as part of a romantic triangle (or is that a quadrangle? Quintangle?) in the 1966 romantic comedy, "Made In Paris."

Louis Jourdan was a creepily suave vampire in the 1977 BBC film, "Count Dracula."

In the 1983 James Bond film "Octopussy," Louis Jourdan played Kamal Khan, an Afghan prince involved in untoward international intrigue which only 007 (Roger Moore) can stop.