Léonie Juliana, Baroness Cooreman (16 June 1928 – 4 September 2020), best known by her stage name Annie Cordy, was a Belgian singer and actress. She appeared in more than 50 films from 1954 and staged many memorable appearances at Bruno Coquatrix' famous Paris Olympia. Her version of "La Ballade de Davy Crockett" was number 1 in the charts for five weeks in France in August 1956. She was born in Laeken, Belgium, where in 2004, King Albert II of Belgium bestowed upon her the title of Baroness in recognition for her life's achievements.
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Early life
Cordy was born in the Brussels suburb of Laken, Belgium, the daughter of Maria de Leeuw and Jan Cornelius Cooreman. She had a brother, Louis, and a sister, Jeanne.
At the age of eight, her mother enrolled her in a dance class. She learned piano and music theory, while pursuing her studies, and participated in charity galas. Between the dance numbers, she sang the hits of the day. Artistic director of Le Lido encouraged her to leave Brussels, her hometown, and Annie Cordy arrived in Paris on 1 May 1950, to be hired as a lead dancer.
1952–1960
Cordy recorded her first songs in 1952 ("Les Trois Bandits de Napoli", "Quand c'est aux autos de passer", "La bourrée d'Auvergne montagnarde") and made her debut in the musical, "La Route fleurie", alongside Georges Guétary and Bourvil. This lasted until 1955.
Then she made her film debut in 1953 when she appeared as herself in Boum sur Paris, next to Jacques Pills and Armand Bernard. That same year, she had her first hit record with "Bonbons, caramels, esquimaux, chocolats" or "Léon".
In 1954 she starred in April Fools' Day as Charlotte Dupuy, alongside her friend Bourvil, Louis de Funès, Denise Grey, and Maurice Biraud. The film was a big success with almost three million ticket sales. She also played Madame Langlois in Sacha Guitry's Royal Affairs in Versailles, with Michel Auclair, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Jean-Louis Barrault, Bourvil, Gino Cervi, Claudette Colbert, Nicole Courcel, Daniel Gélin, Jean Marais, Gisèle Pascal, Édith Piaf, Gérard Philipe, Micheline Presle, Tino Rossi, Orson Welles, and Nicole Maurey. The film was the #1 movie in France in 1954. It is still one of the 100 most successful films at the French box office of all time, the 89th highest grossing title.
In 1955 her song "Fleur de Papillon" became a hit. She also starred in two motion pictures. First, Hello Smile ! directed by Claude Sautet, with Henri Salvador, Louis de Funès, Darry Cowl and Jean Carmet and an Italian comedy, Beautiful but Dangerous, in which she just made a short appearance.
In 1956 she starred as Cri-Cri in Le Chanteur de Mexico, directed by Richard Pottier, with Luis Mariano, Bourvil, and Fernando Rey. The film was again a big success, with almost 5,000,000 tickets sold, and it was #5 at the box office for 1956 and #247 of all time in France. At the same time she had a hit on the song charts with the French version of The Ballad of Davy Crockett, which stayed at number 1 for 5 weeks in France in August 1956.
In 1957 she played Titine in a West German remake of Victor and Victoria, directed by Karl Anton. That same year, she starred in her second musical, "Tête de linotte" with Jean Richard which lasted until 1960.
1961–1970
From 1961 to 1964 Cordy starred in her third musical, opposite Luis Mariano, named "Visa pour l'amour" featuring the hit "Visa pour l'amour".
In 1964 she sang the hit song "Six Roses".
From 1965 to 1967, she had the leading female part in "Ouah ! Ouah !", another musical with Bourvil. This musical featured the hit "Le p'tit coup de chance". At the same time, back in cinema, she played Lily in Ces dames s'en mêlent, directed by Raoul André, with Eddie Constantine and Nino Ferrer. She also made a cameo in "L'or du duc" directed by Jacques Baratier, with Claude Rich, Danielle Darrieux, Elsa Martinelli, Pierre Brasseur, Jean Richard, and Charles Trenet.
In 1967, she played Maryse in "Ces messieurs de la famille", directed by Raoul André, with Francis Blanche, Michel Serrault, Darry Cowl, Jean Poiret, Jean Yanne, Michel Galabru, and Eddie Constantine.
In 1968 she starred in "Pic et Pioche", a musical with her friend Darry Cowl.
In 1969 she played Mme Marthe in "Le bourgeois gentil mec". It was the third time that she was directed by Raoul André, and the movie also stars Jean Lefebvre, Darry Cowl, Francis Blanche, and Bella Darvi.
The 1970 year was very successful for Cordy: she worked for the fourth time with Raoul André in the movie "Ces messieurs de la gâchette", a sequel of "Ces messieurs de la famille". She signed on for her role as Maryse, and the movie also featured, Francis Blanche, Jean Poiret, Michel Serrault, Darry Cowl, Micheline Dax, and Patrice Laffont. She also played for René Clément, the role of Juliette in Rider on the Rain, alongside Marlène Jobert, Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, and Gabriele Tinti. The movie was a big success: it was the #3 movie at the box-office in 1970, in France. Also that year, she was directed by Claude Chabrol as Mme. Pinelli in The Breach. She starred alongside Stéphane Audran, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Michel Bouquet and Jean Carmet. On top of her success in cinema, she also had a musical hit, "Le Chouchou de mon Coeur"
1971–1980
In 1971, she played Nelly in Le Chat, directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre. The film also starred Jean Gabin and Simone Signoret, and was very well received, with more than one million tickets sold. She also started a new musical, "Indien vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras", where she starred with Pierre Doris.
In 1972, she starred in the titular role of the French version of Hello, Dolly!. She also played Brigitte in "Les galets d'Étretat". The movie is directed by Sergio Gobbi and starred Virna Lisi. Then, she played Andrée in "Les portes de feu", alongside Emmanuelle Riva and Jacques Balutin.
In 1973, she played Nina in Tre per una grande rapina, with Michel Constantin and Adolfo Celi. She also played in "La dernière bourrée à Paris", in which she worked for the fifth time with the director Raoul André and starred alongside Francis Blanche, Roger Coggio, Micheline Dax, Michel Galabru, Marion Game, and Tony Kendall. She played in "Elle court, elle court la banlieue" directed by Gérard Pirès and starring Marthe Keller, Jacques Higelin, Robert Castel, Ginette Leclerc, Claude Piéplu, Alice Sapritch, Victor Lanoux, Daniel Prévost, Coluche, Diane Kurys, and Miou-Miou. The film was a success with more than a million and a half tickets sold.
In 1974, she released La bonne du curé. This song became a classic and is one of her greatest successes with more than two million sales worldwide. At the same time, she continued to make movies like "Les gaspards", directed by Pierre Tchernia and starring Michel Serrault, Philippe Noiret, Michel Galabru, Charles Denner, Gérard Depardieu, Chantal Goya, Roger Carel, Daniel Ivernel, Jean Carmet, and Gérard Hernandez. She also played Pupa in the Italian movie Commissariato di notturna, directed by Guido Leoni and starring Rosanna Schiaffino, Gastone Moschin, George Ardisson, Emma Danieli, Giacomo Furia, Gisela Hahn, Leopoldo Trieste, Maurice Ronet, Luciano Salce, Carlo Giuffrè, Aldo Bufi Landi, Jean Lefebvre, Michele Gammino, Roger Coggio, Nerina Montagnani, Lorenzo Piani, Luciano Rossi, Bruno Scipioni, and Alfredo Varelli.
In 1975, she starred in the leading role of Souvenir of Gibraltar, directed by Henri Xhonneux, also starring Eddie Constantine. In addition she played Isabelle's mother in "Isabelle devant le désir", starring Jean Rochefort, Anicée Alvina, and Mathieu Carrière. This same year, she also had several musical hits : "Ya kasiti", "Jane la tarzane", and one of her most famous hits, "Frida Oum Papa".
1981–1990
In 1981, she played Mme Hortense in the TV Movie written by Didier Decoin, "Les fiançailles de feu", alongside Pierre Malet and Paul Le Person. She also played the leading role in the TV Movie "Madame Sans-Gêne", an adaptation of Victorien Sardou's play, in which she appeared with Raoul Billerey. This same year she made her stage drama debut with the same play, "Madame Sans-Gêne".
In 1982, she's apoeared in the final musical in which she had the leading part, "Envoyez la musique". This same year on Television, she had her own TV Series, "Madame S.O.S.", it lasted one season. She played alongside Jean-Pierre Darras and Jeanne Herviale. The series's soundtrack, "Si j'étais le soleil", was sung by Cordy. She had also another musical success with "Nini Pompon".
In 1983, after six years of absence from the cinema, she returned with Le Braconnier de Dieu, directed by Jean-Pierre Darras, in which she played the leading female part. The movie also starred Pierre Mondy, Jean Lefebvre, Michel Galabru, Daniel Ceccaldi, Catherine Allégret, Rosy Varte, Odette Laure, Marthe Mercadier, Paul Préboist, and Roger Pierre. Meanwhile, Cordy experienced yet another musical success with the song "Le rock à Médor".
In 1985, she had another musical hit which became a cult favorite, Cho Ka Ka O.
In 1986, she appeared principally in Theater, with three plays in one year. First as Madame de Sévigné, in the play of the same name, in which she played the center role. Then, she played in "La Mienne s'appelait Régine" at the Théâtre de l'Œuvre. And finally, she played in "Merci Apolline", an original play.
In 1987, she resumed her role in the classic play "Madame Sans-Gene", that she had already played in 1981, on stage and in a TV Movie.
In 1989, she appeared in one episode of the French television Series, "Le bonheur d'en face", in which she played Irène Lecoin, in an episode directed by Teff Erhat. She also starred in the play "Mademoiselle Plume", in the leading role.
1991–2000
While Cordy continued to give concerts and musical compilations were released with her past albums, she was more present on television as an actress.
After a two-year break, she was back in 1993, when she appeared in the TV Series "Inspecteur Médeuze", next to Francis Perrin, Christophe Bourseiller, Jacques Seiler, and Mouss Diouf.
1994, was a big year for her. First, she starred in the movie La Vengeance d'une blonde, directed by Jeannot Szwarc, and with Christian Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel, Clémentine Célarié, Thierry Lhermitte, Marc de Jonge, Philippe Khorsand, Angelo Infanti, and Urbain Cancelier. It was a big success with more than two million tickets sales at the box office. It was the fourth most successful French film of the year 1994 in France, behind An indian in the city, Léon: The Professional, and La Cité de la peur. She played Bertoune, the central character, in the TV Movie "La fille du roi", which also stars Raoul Billerey. This same year, she appeared in two plays. First, "Six heures au plus tard" with Xavier Percy and then "La Célestine" with Gérard Chambre. In both plays, she played the lead character.
In 1995, she played in her first Short film, "Vroum-vroum", written by Eduardo Manet, in which she starred next to Michael Lonsdale, Claire Nebout, and Jean-Paul Comart. She played in one episode of the TV Series "Baldi", next to her friend Charles Aznavour. She also had the leading role in the TV Movie "Fanny se fait un sang d'encre". She also sang for the French soundtrack of Pocahontas, named "Ecoute ton coeur".
In 1996, she played in a Short called "Moi j'aime Albert", alongside André Pousse. She also played Hélène in an episode of "Le refuge", starring Maxime Leroux and direct by Alain Schwartzstein.
In 1997, she played in three TV Movies. First, "Le diable en sabots" from a novel by Claude Seignolle, in which she played Marie Fer, alongside Patrick Préjean. Then, she played the leading role in "Une mère comme on n'en fait plus", with Nathalie Boutefeu and Cécile Vassort. Finally, she played Solange Serpette in "Sans cérémonie", directed by Michel Lang, written by Claude d'Anna, and also starring Charles Aznavour and Caroline Vasicek.
2001–2020
In 2001, she starred in the TV Movie "La tortue", with Pascale Arbillot.
In 2002, she starred in two TV Movies. First, "Les rebelles de Moissac", with Françoise Bertin and Maurice Chevit, and then, "Passage du bac", with Charles Aznavour, Alexis Tomassian, Bernard Blancan, and Urbain Cancelier.
In 2003, Annie played Lucette, the central character in an episode of "Fabien Cosma", with Louis-Karim Nébati and Gérard Hernandez.
In 2004, she played in the Short film "Zartmo". She was also back in the motion picture "Madame Édouard", after ten years of having not appeared in any film. "Madame Édouard" also starred Michel Blanc, Didier Bourdon, Dominique Lavanant, Josiane Balasko, Rufus, Andréa Ferréol, and Bouli Lanners. For her role in "Les Femmes de Cristal", she received the Woman Crystal Award in the category "Cinema and Theatre".
In 2005, she appeared in an episode of "Le tuteur", with Tony D'Amario.
In 2006, Cordy played Rose, the leading female character in the movie "Le Dernier des fous". The movie is based on the novel "The Last of The Crazy People" written by Timothy Findley. She was in the movie with Dominique Reymond. She also starred in "C'est beau une ville la nuit", directed by Richard Bohringer, and also featuring; Romane Bohringer, Robinson Stévenin, Luc Thuillier, Jacques Spiesser, Farid Chopel, Daniel Duval, Annie Girardot, Sonia Rolland, Christian Morin, and Paul Personne. She's also appeared on stage in "Lily & Lily", a play in which she had the leading part, with Christian Morin and Firmine Richard. She was also the narrator for the documentary, "Moi, Belgique" on RTBF, in which she related the history of her country, Belgium.
In 2008, she played Mme Graindorge in Disco, Fabien Onteniente's movie starring Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Depardieu, Samuel Le Bihan, Isabelle Nanty, Chloé Lambert, Marie-Christine Adam, Pauline Delpech, Xavier Beauvois, and Danièle Lebrun. The film was a big success with more than two million ticket sold in France. It was the third most successful French movie in France in 2008, just behind Welcome to the Sticks and Asterix at the Olympic Games. This same year, she played in Le crime est notre affaire, directed by Pascal Thomas and based on the novel 4.50 from Paddington, written by Agatha Christie. The movie also starred Catherine Frot, André Dussollier, Claude Rich, Chiara Mastroianni, Melvil Poupaud, Christian Vadim, Hippolyte Girardot, and Yves Afonso. This was also a success with more than a million tickets sold in France. Also in 2008, the channel RTBF organised a special night for Annie, named "Quelque chose en nous d'Annie Cordy", in which a number of artists appeared to pay a tribute to her.
Death
On 4 September 2020, Cordy suffered cardiac arrest at her home in Vallauris, France, where she lived with her niece. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead. She was 92 years old.
In popular culture
Albert Uderzo gave Annie Cordy a cameo as the wife of the Belgian chieftain in the Asterix comic book story Asterix in Belgium.
Honours
2005: Baroness of Belgium.
24 October 2013 : Commander of the Order of the Crown.
2022: Léopold II Tunnel in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean renamed "Annie Cordy Tunnel"
Filmography
Box-office
Movies starring Annie Cordy with more than a million entries in France.