All The Babes
Francoise Dorleac
Also known as Françoise Dorléac
Career
Active 1960 – 1967
Biography
About Francoise Dorleac
Françoise Dorléac was a French actress and model, born in Paris on 21 March 1942. She was the elder sister of Catherine Deneuve, and the two often starred together, most famously in the 1967 musical The Young Girls of Rochefort. Dorléac's career was brief but bright, spanning from 1960 to 1967, and her filmography includes works with directors such as François Truffaut, Roman Polanski, and Philippe de Broca.
Dorléac modeled for Dior before making her film debut in The Wolves in the Sheepfold (1960). She quickly became a sought-after leading lady, appearing in That Man from Rio (1964) opposite Jean-Paul Belmondo, The Soft Skin (1964) directed by Truffaut, and Cul-de-sac (1966) under Polanski. Her international breakthrough came with Genghis Khan (1965) and Where the Spies Are (1966). In 1967, she starred with Gene Kelly and her sister in The Young Girls of Rochefort, a homage to Hollywood musicals. Her final role was in Billion Dollar Brain (1967) opposite Michael Caine.
Dorléac's personal life was intertwined with her professional one. She had a brief affair with François Truffaut, who called her "Raspberry." Jean-Pierre Cassel, her co-star in several films, wrote in his autobiography that she was the "love of his youth." She lived in an apartment on Boulevard Murat, opposite the building where she grew up. Her death was tragic: on 26 June 1967, at age 25, she lost control of her car near Nice and died in a fiery crash. She was on her way to the airport, afraid of missing her flight. Her body was identified only from a fragment of a cheque book, a diary, and her driver's licence.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Monday 26th of June 1967 (age 25)
- Years Active
- 1960-1967 (started around 18 years old; 7 years active)
- Birthplace
- Paris, Ile-de-France, France
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Auburn
- Eye Color
- Hazel
- Bra/Cup Size
- B
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
- Piercings
- ears
Performances
- Solo
- Nudity (Topless Only)
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 3k (as of June 2026)
Frequently asked
How did Françoise Dorléac die?
She died in a traffic accident on 26 June 1967, when she lost control of her rented Renault 10 and hit a signpost near Nice. The car flipped and burst into flames; she was pinned under the steering wheel and unable to escape.
Was Françoise Dorléac related to Catherine Deneuve?
Yes, she was Catherine Deneuve's elder sister. They starred together in The Young Girls of Rochefort and other films, and shared a bunk bed in the family home well into adulthood.
Which directors did Françoise Dorléac work with?
She worked with François Truffaut (The Soft Skin), Roman Polanski (Cul-de-sac), Philippe de Broca (That Man from Rio), and Michel Deville, among others.
What was her relationship with Jean-Pierre Cassel?
She was Jean-Pierre Cassel's leading lady in several films, including The Dance and Arsène Lupin contre Arsène Lupin. Cassel described her as the 'love of his youth' in his autobiography.
Did you know
- She modeled for Dior before making her film debut.
- François Truffaut affectionately called her 'Raspberry' during their affair.
- She shared a bunk bed with her sister Catherine Deneuve even as adults, according to Roger Vadim.
- Her body was identified after the crash only from a fragment of a cheque book, a diary, and her driver's licence.
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