Advanced search

Richard Olivier was born on 9 August 1945 in Brussels, Belgium. He was a director and writer, known for Remember Marvin Gaye (2001), Strip School (1980) and Black Paris (1981). He was married to Shelly Marie Henrich. He died on 3 March 2021 in Brussels, Belgium.

Hélène de Saint-Père was born on 7 March 1960 in Brazzaville, Congo. She was an actress, known for Le conte d'hiver (1989), El invierno en Lisboa (1991) and Il est plus facile pour un chameau... (2003). She died on 4 May 2022 in Brussels, Belgium.

Born under the name Georges Remi on May 22, 1907 in Brussels, Belgium. As a child, Herge had a gift for drawing but never had any formal training in the visual arts. He attended both school and the boy scouts during the World War 1 and post-World War 1 Era. After he finished school Herge published his first ever cartoon: "The Adventures of Totor" for Le Boy-Scout Belge (a scouting magazine).

In 1928, he became in charge of the producing material for Le Petit Vingtieme (The Little Twentieth) a youth supplement newspaper. He began illustrating "The Adventures of Flup", "Nenesse", "Poussette", "Cochonnet", etc. January 10, 1929, Herge introduced a cartoon about a traveling Belgium reporter (Tintin) accompanied by his fox terrier (Snowy) traveling the Soviet Union. By 1930, Herge published the very first Tintin book: "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets". Tintin soon became Herge's "ligne claire" (French for clear line) legacy.

The later adventures of Tintin involved other locations of the world from China all the way to America. Within the next 50 years Tintin became one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century, due to its well-researched plots, appealing characters, humor, political thrillers, & real world settings. After completing 23 books, Herge passed away on March 3, 1983, leaving "Tintin and Alph-Art" (the 24th book) unfinished. Despite Herge not being able to give his Tintin series the proper end, all of his works along with Tintin will continue to inspire artists and enchant readers from the years to come.

The Flemish (Dutch-language Belgian) actor Julien Schoenaerts made a most notable acting career, foremost in the theatre but also on the movie - and TV screen.

Schoenaerts was born on 30 August 1925 in Eigenbilzen (Belgian province of Limburg). He once said his first public part was that of St-John at age four, when his sister put a living lamb in his arms during a Catholic procession. From age six Schoenaerts joined "Lust en Leven", the amateur theatre society his father belonged to. After classical humanities (Latin-Greek) he joined in 1948 the then two years young Studio Herman Teirlinck, after which he played ten years in Herman Teirlinck's theatre "Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg" (KNS) in Antwerp. In the 1950s he toured both Dutch-speaking countries with such plays as (both in Dutch translation) "De huisbewaarder" by Harold Pinter and "De kleine prins" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Frustrated by Flanders' weak theatre policy, he emigrated north, played a year in Karl Guttmann's Ensemble and two with De Nederlandse Comedie, but remained at unease. Schoenaerts returned to Belgium, working with the Flemish public broadcaster BRT, and simultaneously started his own Ringtheater. Unable to continue both, Schoenaerts started a solo career; his last theatre performance was in 1993.

His first screen part was in 1955 in 'Meeuwen sterven in de haven' (scenario by Ivo Michiels). Memorable film parts were Pieter De Coninck in Hugo Claus' 'De Leeuw van Vlaanderen' (1983) and Monseigneur Stillemans in the Oscar-winning 'Daens' (1992). In 1999 he acted in a movie for a young audience; in 2004 he and his son Matthias Schoenaerts appeared in Rudolph Mestdagh's 'Ellektra'.

His artistic interest extended to other arts forms. In 2003 the gallery of "kunstkring Jacques Gorus" in Antwerp held an exposition of his paintings and etchings. Since the 1970s he suffered from mental problems.

Toots Thielemans was born on 29 April 1922 in Brussels, Belgium. He was a composer and actor, known for The Getaway (1972), French Kiss (1995) and Midnight Cowboy (1969). He was married to Huguette Tuytschaever and Netty de Greef. He died on 22 August 2016 in Brussels, Belgium.

Peter Gorissen was born on 20 April 1955 in Anderlecht, Belgium. He was an actor and director, known for Fort Alpha (1996), Tangier (2006) and Thieves of the Wood (2018). He died on 20 October 2024 in Flanders, Belgium.

Tsilla Chelton was born on 21 June 1919 in Jerusalem, Palestine [now Israel]. She was an actress, known for Auntie Danielle (1990), Pandora's Box (2008) and The Musketeer (2001). She was married to Jacques Noël. She died on 15 July 2012 in Brussels, Belgium.

Frank Aendenboom was born on 24 October 1941 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Crimi Clowns (2012), Blueberry Hill (1989) and The Lion of Flanders (1984). He was married to Rosemarie Bergmans. He died on 31 March 2018 in Belgium.

Ida Maria Vinterberg was born on 28 February 2000 in Denmark. She was an actress, known for The Commune (2016). She died on 4 May 2019 in Verviers, Belgium.

After initial music training in his hometown, he began further studies at the Milan Conservatory under A. Bazzini and A. Ponchielli. In 1884 Puccini celebrated the performance of his first opera "Le Villi" in Milan. The success of the romantic piece earned him a contract with the publisher Giulio Ricordi. In 1989, his second, also romantic opera, "Edgar," was a failure. In contrast, "Manon Lescaut" was enthusiastically received by the Turin audience in 1893. The opera revealed Puccini's artistic touch for the first time. After this first masterpiece, the composer created "La Bohème", which premiered in 1896, a highly acclaimed piece that was internationally received as a prototype of Italian opera at the end of the 19th century. "Madame Butterfly" also became a success, first in Turin in 1904 and then worldwide. "La fanciulla del West" was performed in New York in 1910. Thanks to their outstanding originality, Puccini's operas founded a musical theater that conquered its place in international opera culture alongside those of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner and has retained it to this day. The master's final work remained unfinished.

Giacomo Puccini died on November 29, 1924 in Brussels. Shortly before that, the composer had been appointed to the Italian Senate. The opera "Turandot" was completed posthumously by the composer Franco Alfano and was first performed in Milan in 1926.

Brik Van Dijck was born on 25 May 1972. He was an actor and writer, known for David (2009), Verschoten & zoon (1999) and Familie (1991). He died on 5 October 2024 in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium.

Édouard Mathé was born in 1886 in Australia. He was an actor, known for Les Vampires (1915), The Vampires: The Terrible Wedding (1916) and The Vampires: Satanas (1916). He died in 1934 in Brussels, Belgium.

Pierre Culliford (pen name:Peyo) was a Belgian comics writer and artist. He contributed to several series, but his main claim to fame is creating the sword-and-sorcery series "Johan and Peewit" (1947-2001) and its spin-off, the adventure comedy series "The Smurfs" (1963-). His works have received several animated adaptations.

In 1928, Peyo was born in Schaerbeek, a municipality within the Brussels-Capital Region. In the early 20th century, Schaerbeek was a booming suburb with a large middle-class population. Peyo's father was an Englishman, while his mother was Belgian. Peyo received his art training at the "Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts", an art school located in Brussels.

Early in his career, Peyo worked for the animation studio "Compagnie belge d'actualités" (CBA). The studio folded after World War II, and Peyo decided to seek work as a comics artist. He was hired by the sports-oriented newspaper "La Dernière Heure" (The Latest Hour, 1906-). His salary was meager, and he supplemented his income through providing artwork for advertisements.

In 1947, Peyo created the character Johan for the "La Dernière Heure". The character was a heroic page of the Middle Ages, skilled in swordsmanship and aspiring to become a knight. Peyo had the character involved in fantasy-style adventures. In 1949, Peyo was hired by the newspaper "Le Soir" ("The Evening", 1887-), transferring the Johan comic strip to it. He created for this newspaper the comic strip "Poussy" ("Pussy"), featuring a cute black cat as the protagonist. This comic strip developed in a typical gag-a-day format.

In 1952, Peyo was hired by the comics magazine "Spirou" (1938-). He was reportedly recommended for hiring by his old friend André Franquin (1924-1997), who already worked for the magazine. Peyo transferred Johan to this magazine, and started writing longer adventures for him.

In 1954, Peyo retooled the "Johan" series to "Johan and Peewit", by adding a comic-relief sidekick for Johan. Peewit was a dwarf, depicted as a reformed thief, a professional court jester, and an inept musician. Unlike Johan, Peewit was a reluctant hero. But his cunning, his capacity for outwitting opponents, and his fighting skills made him a useful companion for the hero.

In 1958, Peyo wrote an adventure story called "The Flute with Six Holes", where Johan and Peewit seek a magical flute which was stolen. They meet the flute's creators, a race of blue-skinned gnomes, called the Smurfs. Peyo designed them as wearing traditional Phrygian caps (conical cap used in antiquity by various peoples of Anatolia and the Balkans), a developed a peculiar language and habits for them.

By 1959, the Smurfs had become popular enough to inspire merchandising of their own. Peyo was asked to create a spin-off comic strip for them. The characters supplanted Johan and Peewit in popularity, though Peyo preferred writing the original series. In 1960, Peyo founded his own studio, allowing him to have trained assistants work on Smurf-inspired stories, and other comics projects (such as "Steven Strong" and "Jacky and Célestin"). Peyo's most notable assistant during the early 1960s was François Walthéry (1946-), who would later create a number of successful series of his own.

In 1963, the first comics album devoted to the Smurfs was published. It was the story "The Purple Smurfs", featuring an infectious disease which turns the affected Smurfs into "violent, irrational and uncontrolled" beings with an urge to bite others. The album was successful, and ensured the production of further albums. By the time of Peyo's death in 1992, 16 comics albums had been completed.

Peyo remained active in the 1970s, but his work output diminished. He did, however, provide a script for the animated film "The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" (1976). He also was tasked with overseeing production aspects of the film. In the 1980s, Peyo authorized an adaptation of his work by the American studio Hanna-Barbera. He served as a story supervisor for the animated series "The Smurfs" (1981-1989). A notable hit of its era, the series lasted for 9 seasons and introduced the Smurfs to a wider international audience.

Until 1989, all Smurf stories were published by Dupuis due to a long-standing contract with Peyo. In 1989, Peyo decided to terminate their business relationship and to establish his own publishing house, Cartoon Creation. It turned out to be a failed business venture. Peyo had been facing recurring health problems throughout the decade, and was unable to properly handle the affairs of the new company. Within a few years, the company folded "due to management problems".

In 1992, the publishing rights to the Smurfs were sold to Le Lombard, a publisher known for holding the rights to "Tintin" since 1946. Peyo tried working with his new publisher, but his career was ending. On Christmas Eve 1992, Peyo died of a heart attack in Brussels at the age of 64.

A number of Peyo's series have been continued by other writers and artists. New Smurfs-related comics albums were published into the 2020s, often with input by Peyo's son, Thierry Culliford. The popularity of the Smurfs has endured, decades after the demise of their creator.

Marc Van Eeghem was born on 14 September 1960 in Brugge, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Windkracht 10 (1997), Het eiland (2004) and In Flanders Field (2014). He died on 14 December 2017 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Donald Madder was born on 30 May 1969 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Wittekerke (1993), Thuis (1995) and De bossen van Vlaanderen (1991). He was married to Toela Levoyannis. He died on 29 June 2001 in Heverlee, Flanders, Belgium.

Alice Roberts was born on 26 July 1906 in Belgium. She was an actress, known for Pandora's Box (1929), Das Schicksal derer von Habsburg - Die Tragödie eines Kaiserreiches (1928) and La femme rêvée (1929). She died on 29 October 1985 in Belgium.

Charlie Smalls was born on 25 October 1943 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer, known for The Wiz (1978), Faces (1968) and The Marc Pease Experience (2009). He died on 27 August 1987 in Belgium.

William Hope Hodgson was born on 15 November 1877 in the UK. William Hope was a writer, known for Matango (1963), Suspicion (1957) and The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971). William Hope died on 19 April 1918 in Ypres, Flanders, Belgium.

Ann Petersen was born on 22 June 1927 in Wuustwezel, Flanders, Belgium. She was an actress, known for Het sacrament (1989), Pauline & Paulette (2001) and Rubens, schilder en diplomaat (1977). She died on 11 December 2003 in Opwijk, Flanders, Belgium.

Michael Been was born on 17 March 1950 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Real Genius (1985), Tango & Cash (1989) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). He died on 19 August 2010 in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium.

Noureddine Farihi was born on 18 May 1957 in Casablanca, Morocco. He was an actor, known for The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023), Thuis (1995) and Thuis extra (2004). He died on 19 October 2022 in Belgium.

Senne Rouffaer was born on 19 December 1925 in Kapellen, Flanders, Belgium. He was an actor and director, known for Kapitein Zeppos (1964), Johan en de Alverman (1965) and Minder dood dan de anderen (1992). He died on 15 July 2006 in Belgium.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 16 December 1946 in Souvret, Belgium. He was a director and writer, known for Les malfaiteurs (1966), Karminsky-Grad (2011) and L'histoire du cinéma 16 (1982). He died on 5 November 2014 in Charleroi, Belgium.

Henri Xhonneux was born on 12 June 1945 in Eupen, Belgium. He was a director and writer, known for Brigade Anti-Sex (1970), Souvenir of Gibraltar (1975) and Marquis (1989). He died on 24 March 1995 in Belgium.

Arnold Willems was born on 24 March 1932 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was an actor, known for Wittekerke (1993), Merijntje Gijzens jeugd (1974) and De bossen van Vlaanderen (1991). He died on 8 August 2022 in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium.