Biography
Jean-Claude Carrière was a French screenwriter, novelist, dramatist and actor. Born on 17 September 1931 in Colombières-sur-Orb, Hérault, he studied literature and history at the École normale supérieure de Saint-Cloud before publishing his first novel, Lézard, in 1957. He began his film career writing novelisations for Jacques Tati and collaborating with Pierre Étaix, with whom he won an Academy Award for the short film Heureux Anniversaire (1962).
Carrière became best known for his long collaboration with Luis Buñuel on the director’s late French films, including Belle de Jour (1967), The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) and That Obscure Object of Desire (1977). His other screenplays include The Swimming Pool (1969), The Tin Drum (1979), The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) and Birth (2004). He received a César Award for The Return of Martin Guerre (1983) and an Honorary Oscar in 2014. He also adapted the Mahabharata for the stage with Peter Brook and served as president of La Fémis, the French national film school.
Carrière died on 8 February 2021 in Paris.
