André Pousse

André Pousse 20 October 1919 9 September 2005 was a noted French actor and in his youth also a notable cyclist While primarily known as a leading French actor André Pousse began his professional career as a cyclist primarily track His greatest cycling achievements took place in the infamous Vél dHiv Vélodrome dHiver or Winter Velodrome in Paris where he won the prestigious six days of Vél dHiv races from 1942 to 1949 Indeed Pousse is the record holder in this event and will remain so as the Vél dHiv has since been torn down The race as it was took place in front of 20000 spectators and was a major French cultural and sporting event It lasted six days and nights and until twoman teams were established it was apt to land exhausted participants in hospital as Pousse himself remarked Alain Delon who as a child attended the races as an ardent admirer of Pousse remembers competing with other children for the honor of bringing Pousse his bicycle at the beginning of a race André Pousse retired from the track in 1950 and later from 1960 went on to his better known years as an actor in cinema and television He played mostly gangster roles in police films of the time For many years he was the artistic director of the Moulin Rouge in Paris and many other establishments including the Casino of Lebanon He also served as the agent of many French actors Source Article André Pousse from Wikipedia in English licensed under CCBYSA 30