Jean Jacques Gauthier (17 November 1891 – 13 March 1975), known by the stage name Jean Del Val, was a French actor, long based in the United States.

Life and career Born Jean Jacques Gauthier in Reims, Del Val moved to Los Angeles in the 1910s. He played roles during the Hollywood silent era, beginning with The Fortunes of Fifi in 1917. During the early days of talkies he served as a translator and vocal coach for French language versions of American-made films, as well as a dubber.

Two of his notable credits include the classic 1942 film Casablanca in a small role as an announcer for a French radio station in one of the opening scenes, and historical figure Ferdinand Foch in the 1941 film Sergeant York, based on the life of Alvin York. His most well-known role was comatose scientist Dr. Jan Benes in the 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage.

He also appeared on 5 episodes of the television series Combat!: first, uncredited in the episode "A Day in June", followed by "No Trumpets, No Drums" as Marceau, then as a French farmer in "Birthday Cake", Father Bomar in "The Steeple", and Brother Edmundo in "The Mockingbird".

Del Val's Broadway stage credits included the Cole Porter musical Fifty Million Frenchmen, Lulu Belle, and Oscar Wilde.

Death Del Val died at age 83 from a heart attack in Pacific Palisades, California. He is interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.

Selected filmography

The Fortunes of Fifi (1917) – Louis Bourcet Heart's Desire (1917) – Jacques Atonement (1919) – Tony The Mystery of the Yellow Room (1919) – Jean Sainclair A Sainted Devil (1924) – Casimiro A Man of Iron (1925) – Prince Novakian Fifty-Fifty (1925) – Jean Back to Liberty (1927) – Rudolph Gambier Soyons gais (1930) The Sap from Syracuse (1930) – Pierre Bouvet – French Engineer (uncredited) Sea Legs (1930) – Crosseti Women Men Marry (1931) – Pierre Renault The Magnificent Lie (1931) – Stage Manager Friends and Lovers (1931) – Marquis Henri de Pézanne Possessed (1931) – Waiter (uncredited) The Passionate Plumber (1932) – Chauffeur Quand on est belle (1932) – Gensler L'Athlète incomplet (1932) – Coach Rasputin and the Empress (1932) – Minor Role (uncredited) Le plombier amoureux (1932) Gabriel Over the White House (1933) – Representative at Debt Conference (uncredited) The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935) – Cook (uncredited) The Phantom Gondola (1936) – Monsieur de Montignac Block-Heads (1938) – French aviator (uncredited) Pack Up Your Troubles (1939) – Capt. Armande (uncredited) The Flying Deuces (1939) – Sergeant Charlie Chan in City in Darkness (1939) – French Cabby (uncredited) Everything Happens at Night (1939) – Gendarme Catching Thief (uncredited) The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940) – Jacques (uncredited) Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) – Italian Waiter (uncredited) The House Across the Bay (1940) – French Official (uncredited) I Was an Adventuress (1940) – Detective (uncredited) Earthbound (1940) – Train Dispatcher (uncredited) Brother Orchid (1940) – Frenchman (uncredited) Mystery Sea Raider (1940) – Captain Benoit Captain Caution (1940) – French Officer (uncredited) Triple Justice (1940) – Don Solas (uncredited) Drums of the Desert (1940) – Colonel Fouchet Down Argentine Way (1940) – Señor Rufino (uncredited) Arise, My Love (1940) – Conductor (uncredited) The Mark of Zorro (1940) – Sentry (uncredited) Hudson's Bay (1941) – Captain (uncredited) Rage in Heaven (1941) – Porter at Sanatarium (uncredited) That Night in Rio (1941) – Stock Exchange Clerk (uncredited) Hello, Sucker (1941) – Headwaiter (uncredited) Sergeant York (1941) – Marshal Ferdinand Foch (uncredited) Outlaws of the Desert (1941) – Faran El Kader Paris Calling (1941) – Peasant (uncredited) The Lady Has Plans (1942) – Bartender (uncredited) Secret Agent of Japan (1942) – Solaire Take a Letter, Darling (1942) – Headwaiter (uncredited) The Pied Piper (1942) – Railroad official Crossroads (1942) – Court Clerk (uncredited) Just Off Broadway (1942) – Henri – Waiter (uncredited) Dr. Renault's Secret (1942) – Henri (uncredited) Gentleman Jim (1942) – Renaud (uncredited) Casablanca (1942) – Police Officer (uncredited) Reunion in France (1942) – Porter (uncredited) Mission to Moscow (1943) – Molotov's Secretary (uncredited) Action in the North Atlantic (1943) – Capt. La Pricor (uncredited) Background to Danger (1943) – Clerk (uncredited) For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) – The Sniper Adventures of the Flying Cadets (1943, Serial) – Michaud – Nazi Agent M-7 [Ch. 13] (uncredited) Wintertime (1943) – Constable (uncredited) Paris After Dark (1943) – Papa Benoit (uncredited) The Song of Bernadette (1943) – Estrade (uncredited) Passage to Marseille (1944) – Raoul Doulaine (uncredited) Tampico (1944) – Port Pilot (uncredited) Uncertain Glory (1944) – Prison Turnkey (uncredited) Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944) – Waiter (uncredited) Molly and Me (1945) – Pierre Petard – Cook (uncredited) Cornered (1945) – M. Trabeau, First Prefect (uncredited) The Spider (1945) – Henri Dutrelle, Hotel Manager 13 Rue Madeleine (1946) – French Peasant with Wood (uncredited) Gilda (1946) – French Cartel Member (uncredited) O.S.S. (1946) – Conductor (uncredited) Monsieur Beaucaire (1946) – Minister of War (uncredited) So Dark the Night (1946) – Dr. Manet The Razor's Edge (1946) – Police Clerk (uncredited) The Return of Monte Cristo (1946) – Pinot (uncredited) Undercover Maisie (1947) – Headwaiter (uncredited) Buck Privates Come Home (1947) – Duprez – French Consul General (uncredited) The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947) – Commissioner Repeat Performance (1947) – Tony – Waiter (uncredited) Life with Father (1947) – François – Headwaiter at Delmonico's (uncredited) Down to Earth (1947) – Croupier (uncredited) The Foxes of Harrow (1947) – Dr. Le Fevre (uncredited) The Crime Doctor's Gamble (1947) – Theodore – Butler I Walk Alone (1947) – Henri the Chef (uncredited) Julia Misbehaves (1948) – Croupier (uncredited) Siren of Atlantis (1949) – Minor Role (uncredited) The Fighting O'Flynn (1949) – French Admiral (uncredited) The Great Sinner (1949) – Croupier (uncredited) The Secret of St. Ives (1949) – Count St. Ives Battleground (1949) – French Peasant Man (uncredited) Under My Skin (1950) – Minor Role (uncredited) Last of the Buccaneers (1950) – Sauvinct (uncredited) Rich, Young and Pretty (1951) – Headwaiter (uncredited) Hurricane Island (1951) – Tavern Patron (uncredited) The Law and the Lady (1951) – Chemin de fer Dealer (uncredited) Lovely to Look At (1952) – Creditor (uncredited) Park Row (1952) – Mr. Dessard (uncredited) The Iron Mistress (1952) – St. Sylvain (uncredited) The Hitch-Hiker (1953) – Inspector General The 49th Man (1953) – Agent Maurice Leroux Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) – Ship's Captain (uncredited) Little Boy Lost (1953) – Dr. Biroux (uncredited) Living It Up (1954) – French Chef (uncredited) The Gambler from Natchez (1954) – Dr. Ratan, Duel Official (uncredited) The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) – Doctor (uncredited) Pirates of Tripoli (1955) – Abu Tala Moonfleet (1955) – French Captain (uncredited) Duel on the Mississippi (1955) – Bidault Anything Goes (1956) – French Luggage Man (uncredited) Funny Face (1957) – Hairdresser Silk Stockings (1957) – Elderly Waiter (uncredited) The Sad Sack (1957) – French General (uncredited) Me and the Colonel (1958) – Old Gentleman (uncredited) The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959) – Javot (uncredited) Can-Can (1960) – Judge Merceaux Seven Thieves (1960) – Roulette Croupier (uncredited) The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961) – Louis (uncredited) Take Her, She's Mine (1963) – Concierge (uncredited) Bedtime Story (1964) – Croupier (uncredited) Sylvia (1965) – Maitre'd (uncredited) The Art of Love (1965) – Magistrate (uncredited) Fantastic Voyage (1966) – Jan Benes Wait Until Dark (1967) – The Old Man (uncredited) Darling Lili (1970) – Maitre D' (uncredited) Roll Out (1973) as Priest (Members of the Wedding)

Partial stage credits +YearTitleRoleVenueNotesRef.1923–24The DancersGustave / Stage ManagerBroadhurst Theatre, New York City1926–27Lulu BelleVicompte De VillarsBelasco Theatre, New York City1928–29A Play Without a NameTheodoreBooth Theatre, New York City1929–30Fifty Million FrenchmenLe Sahib Roussin / Joe ZelliLyric Theatre, New York City1937His ExcellencyAchille LebasThe Playhouse, WilmingtonBelasco Theatre, Washington D.C.1938Empress of DestinySegurSt. James Theatre, New York City1938–39Oscar WildeJulesFulton Theatre, New York City

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