Yvan Chiffre
Yvan Chiffre (3 March 1936 – 27 September 2016) was a French filmmaker, producer, and legendary stunt coordinator whose daring work shaped both French and international cinema. A father to Philippe and Romain Chiffre, and grandfather to César Chiffre, his legacy spans generations.
Chiffre’s career reached its peak when he coordinated stunts for iconic films such as *Thunderball* and *Triple Cross* (directed by Terence Young), *Is Paris Burning?* (René Clément), *Z* (Costa-Gavras), and *Hotel Paradiso* (Peter Glenville). He also doubled for two of France’s biggest stars—Jean Marais and Alain Delon—and performed as a stuntman on *The Longest Day*. Among his many doubles were Cary Grant in *Charade*, Sterling Hayden in *Poppies Are Also Flowers*, and Eddie Constantine in *Lucky Jo*.
His contributions to French cinema include *Zorro* (Duccio Tessari), *La Grande Vadrouille* (Gérard Oury), and *Le Cercle Rouge* (Jean-Pierre Melville), along with over 200 other films.
In 1992, Chiffre published *À l’ombre des stars*, an autobiography recounting his life behind the scenes. He received the UNESCO Prize in Paris in 2014. The following year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored him in its 2017 Oscars In Memoriam segment, recognizing a lifetime of unforgettable contributions to film.