Patrick Bauchau

Of Russian-Belgian heritage, Patrick Bauchau cut a dashingly handsome, urbane figure on screen in leading and supporting roles. Tall, with striking looks and a lightly-accented, deep voice, he first made a splash right out of Oxford when cast by Eric Rohmer in "La Collectionneuse" (1967) as part of a romantic triangle. Although the film should have launched his career, he and his co-stars were dismissed as real-life quintessential hippies who had allowed themselves to be used by the director. Bauchau did find a second role in the little seen Spanish film "Tuset Street" (1968), but his subsequent diagnosis with hepatitis lend to his dropping out of acting for several years. In the interim, he variously worked as a journalist (contributing to FILM CULTURE) and crafted furniture, pillows and stuffed animals for famed artist Salvador Dali.