Capucine
A chic French actress and former model who brought elegant wit and continental flair to Hollywood's classic comedies.
1928–1990 (age 62)·French model and actress·Birthday: January 6·The Silent Generation
Biography
Born Germaine Lefebvre, Capucine was a willowy blonde discovered by a fashion photographer while riding a bicycle in Paris. She quickly became a sought-after model for the houses of Givenchy and Dior, her poise and striking looks defining 1950s haute couture. Her transition to film was seamless, and after being spotted by producer Charles K. Feldman, she was brought to Hollywood. While she acted in dramas, it was in sophisticated comedies where she found her niche. As the mysterious and glamorous Simone Clouseau in Blake Edwards' 'The Pink Panther,' she perfected the role of the seemingly aloof wife, her dry delivery and impeccable timing playing perfectly against Peter Sellers' chaos. She continued this vein in the madcap 'What's New Pussycat?' Her career was international, working across Europe and America, but she remained the epitome of a certain kind of effortless, slightly enigmatic European sophistication. Her life ended in tragedy, but her screen presence endures as a symbol of mid-century chic and comic subtlety.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Capucine was born in 1928, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Capucine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1928
#1 Movie
The Singing Fool
Best Picture
Wings
Capucine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1928Born
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1933Started school
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1941Became a teenager
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Could drive
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1946Could vote
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1949Turned 21
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1958Turned 30
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 40
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 50
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 60
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Died at 62
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
Key Achievements
- Starred as Simone Clouseau in the original 'The Pink Panther' (1963), a role that defined her as a comedy actress of elegant restraint.
- Had a leading role in the ensemble comedy 'What's New Pussycat?' (1965), written by Woody Allen.
- Maintained a successful film career spanning four decades and multiple countries, appearing in over 35 films.
- Was a top fashion model for elite Parisian couturiers like Hubert de Givenchy before her film career began.
Did You Know?
Her stage name, Capucine, is the French word for the nasturtium flower.
She was fluent in French, English, Italian, and German, which allowed her to work easily in European co-productions.
She lived for many years in Lausanne, Switzerland, in a house overlooking Lake Geneva.
Capucine was a passionate advocate for animal rights and owned several dogs throughout her life.
“Elegance is not about being noticed, it's about being remembered.”
