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Philipp Lawrence Durand is a French-American actor, film director, screenwriter, and pianist. He has acted in more than 20 films and TV shows including Frasier, American Dreams, Usa High, Balls of Fury, and was the actor writer director of the thriller Black and Blue.

Early life

Actor Philippe Durand (stage name Philipp Lawrence Durand) was born Philippe Gilbert Durand. His mother, Lucienne, was a ballerina and his father, Roger, a tenor who began his singing career as a baritone. When Philippe was born, his parents were traveling a lot and needed more stability. His mother then worked for a firm overseas as the director's main secretary and his dad became an artist chief baker working with personalities. Philippe later said:

"I had the best parents in the world. I am so grateful to them for giving me a beautiful childhood and for always being supportive. They were in love with each other from beginning to end. They are in my heart forever".

At a very young age, Philippe began piano and sports and won several prizes. Before becoming an artist, Philipp was torn between being a concert pianist or a professional soccer player.

Very young Philippe began competing in sports and rapidly became an accomplished athlete.

At age 17, he fell in love with a young actress and discovered theater through her. He told his parents that from now on he wanted to become an actor. His parents let him pursue his dreams at one condition: that he finishes his studies at the University and obtains a diploma, which Philippe did.

Film career

Raised in the South of France, the only child Philippe Durand started his career with the Alphabet Theater, a reputable independent theater company in Nice, in the play entitled "Dieu aboie-t-il?" by Francois Boyer under the direction of Jean-Jacques Delbot then later Jacques Weber.

Encouraged by the reviews, Philippe pursued acting, mostly stage, playing the leading men in "The School Of Wives", "Don Juan" and "The Misanthrope" among others. Philippe got his first theatrical roles with the studio Of the Victorine: "Ombres", "Heidi", an appearance in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" with Michael Caine and Steve Martin, and "Monte-Carlo" with Joan Collins. On stage, Philipp played at the National Theater of Nice directed the lead role of the tormented and versatile soldier in love, Woyzeck, in "Woyzeck" by Georg Buchner. Philippe won a critic Award for the role (1994).

From Nice, Philipp when to Paris and it was in Paris that Philippe started to write and to direct while pursuing his acting career.

Philipp moved to Los Angeles in 1998 and soon appeared in "USA High" (1998), "Seven Stages". He then booked a guest-starring role in the Emmy Award-winning show, "Frasier" (2001), playing the lover of Peri Gilpin. The cast included Kelsey Grammer. Philipp booked a guest-starring role in "American Dreams" (2004), playing the French Mercenaire, Rene. Philippe has been seen in the feature film with Christopher Walken entitled "Balls of Fury"(Focus Pictures/Universal)(2007).

Acting, writing and directing

Philippe's first American movie as an actor, writer and director, was "Black and Blue"(2005-2006), a touching story about missing children.

Music

At a very young age Philipp was already writing songs and playing piano at the reputable National Conservatory of Nice under the direction of Jean-Pierre Cochereau and later Jean-Jacques Pereine. Philipp won many prizes in piano from age five to eighteen before starting an acting career a few years later.

Personal Life Philipp has been married two times and engaged to here times. Her ex wife May Brunet lived in Florida where Philipp lived for a while. Philipp is a fervent animal lover and activist. He often rescues animals in remote areas while making a film: he has three dogs named Thunder, Gatsby and Wonder, two horses, Bellamy and Mohave, and a pig, Happy Tarzan.

Philipp has expressed his commitment to supporting animal rights around the world, defending the cause of missing children and supporting an end to violence and harassment against women.

EXTERNAL LINKS

Philipp Lawrence Durand on IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0243825/ Philipp Lawrence Durand on Fusionmovies https://www4.fusionmovies.to/celebrity/lfOaTzUROg/philipp-lawrence-durand Philipp Lawrence Durand https://7watchlist.com/Celebrities/464465/philipp_lawrence_durand Philipp Lawrence Durand at www.wonderearthrescue.org