Biography

Subtle, refined acting technique

Chameleonic performances, being often unrecognizable from movie to movie

Magnetic, commanding screen presence

Often played perfidious or unlikable characters, generally high-positioned men with haughty, melliflous attitude

Polished diction; distinctive voice

Best remembered for his portrayal of Count de Montray in Marcel Carné's masterpiece Children of Paradise (1945).

Accomplished stage actor. His theatrical career began when his friend Max Jacob introduced to him to Georges Pitoëff. Impressed by the young Salou's incandescent desire to do some stage work, Pitoëff took him in his prestigious company and personally directed him in 32 plays. During his career, Louis also collaborated with Jean Cocteau, Pierre Fresnay, Jean Meyer, Raymond Rouleau and Fred Pasquali.

He appeared in 4 movies with Paul Bernard: Voyage sans espoir (1943), Roger la Honte (1946), La revanche de Roger la Honte (1946) and A Friend Will Come Tonight (1946).

The circumstances of his death are obscure to this day: some sources state he died of a heart attack, others mention suicide by an overdose of sleeping pills.

His father was a Gendarme from Brittany who had later been relocated to Oissel (Louis' birthplace). His mother was from Vexin.