Jess Hahn


Jesse Beryle Hahn was an American actor who mostly starred in French films.
After serving with the Marines in the Second World War, he moved to France in 1949 and took French citizenship.
Firstly a musician, he became an actor and starred in film noirs and westerns. A large man, Hahn often appeared in "strong man" roles, such as in Cartouche and Topkapi. Seen mostly as a character actor in French films, he played a rare leading role in Éric Rohmer's The Sign of Leo. Hahn was employed by French movie-maker Jean-Marie Pallardy, becoming one of his recurrent actors, until his retirement.
Hahn died at age 76 in Saint-Malo, France.

Selected filmography