Jean Cocteau

Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was born on July 5, 1889 in Maisons-Laffitte, France. Cocteau left home at the young age of 15, and began publishing works of poetry and literature only a few short years later. Among his notable early works were poetry collections "Aladdin's Lamp" and "The Frivolous Prince," though his most famous works would come a few years down the line. Cocteau published what would ultimately become his most celebrated novel, "Les Enfants Terribles" (1929) at age 40, before moving swiftly into the world of theater and cinema.

His experimental play "La Voix humaine" was first staged in 1930. Following his proper cinematic directorial debut, "The Blood of a Poet" (1932), Cocteau would wait 14 years before helming another feature, in the meantime focusing his energies on theatrical pursuits like "Les Parents terribles" and "L'Aigle à deux têtes." The result of his patience regarding the screen yielding "Beauty and the Beast" (1946), and "Orpheus" (1950) and "Coriolan" (1950) not long afterward. Cocteau penned numerous additional works of poetry, theater, and criticism before he died on Oct. 11, 1963 in Milly-la-Foret, France at age 74 following a heart attack.