Coquelin, Benoît Constant definition of Coquelin, Benoît Constant in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Coquelin, Benoît Constant (bənwä` kôNstäN` kôklăN`), 1841–1909, French actor, known as Coquelin aîné [the elder]. He made his debut at the Comédie française in 1860 and achieved fame in classic comic roles, such as the valets in Molière's plays and Beaumarchais's Figaro. He made an extensive tour of Europe and America in 1886. In 1897 he created his greatest characterization, the title role in Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, at the Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin, which he also managed. In 1900 he toured the United States with Sarah Bernhardt and returned to Paris to play opposite her in Rostand's L'Aiglon. Highly critical and analytical toward his art, and believing in simulated rather than real emotions, he wrote L'Art et le comédien (1880) and Les Comédiens, par un comédien (1882); his approach led to an interesting debate with Sir Henry Irving Irving, Sir Henry, 1838–1905, English actor and manager, originally named John Henry Brodribb. He made his debut in 1856 and achieved fame in 1871 with his portrayal of Mathias in Leopold Lewis's The Bells, a role he often repeated.
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Ernest Alexandre Honoré Coquelin, 1848–1909, known as Coquelin cadet [the younger], acted at the Comédie française after 1868. At his best in secondary comic roles, he was also popular for his monologues and several amusing books written under the pseudonym Pirouette.