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In 1962, while part of the renowned Theatre Moufftard in Paris, young Philippe Forquet was discovered by American director Robert Parrish, who cast him in a significant role in the film adaptation of Irwin Shaw's novel, In the French Style (1963).
As he learned English on the job, he portrayed the charming and somewhat naive younger boyfriend of Jean Seberg, who had gained widespread acclaim in France after starring in Otto Preminger's Saint Joan (1957). She enjoyed great popularity in France.
During the 1950s and 60s, attractive French movie stars were prominent in Hollywood. Icons like Maurice Chevalier, Yves Montand, and Brigitte Bardot were well-known, alongside a new wave of European stars including Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, and Louis Jourdan. Recognized for his striking looks, Forquet caught the attention of producers at Twentieth Century Fox and was offered a contract. In 1962, he was brought to Hollywood to be developed into the next French heartthrob.
His debut role was as a French artist and love interest in Take Her, She's Mine (1963), starring alongside James Stewart and Sandra Dee, a popular teen star married to Bobby Darin. Reserved and introspective yet intelligent and well-read, Philippe quickly rose as a promising movie star. His dark good looks, sharp wit, and French charm sparked excitement among female fans. Receiving thousands of fan letters weekly and featured in fan magazines, he was hailed as a new Montgomery Clift.
During filming, he fell in love with young actress Sharon Tate, also under contract, and they became engaged. However, their engagement ended as her burgeoning career created strains in their relationship. Consequently, Forquet ended his contract and returned to Europe.
He was often cast as a French aristocrat. In the cult film Camille 2000, he portrayed the darkly handsome and dangerous Count De Varville. In the Russian co-production Waterloo (1970), he played the Duc De La Bedoyere, aide-de-camp to the General, opposite Rod Steiger.
Forquet returned to Hollywood in 1970 to star in the ABC-TV series The Young Rebels, produced by Aaron Spelling. As another French nobleman, he played the American Revolutionary War hero General Marquis De Lafayette. Again, he received thousands of fan letters and appeared in numerous fan magazines as the new French heartthrob. His dimples and French accent captivated female fans, who requested posters and entered contests to win dates with him. The series aired opposite Lassie and Disney, ranking third in its 7:00 p.m. network time slot, but was canceled after one season.
He married Linda Morand during a break from acting, and they traveled across Europe. Gradually, Forquet shifted focus away from acting to manage family businesses. By the mid-1970s, he had retired from acting. The couple divorced amicably in 1976. He now lives a quiet life in France, remarried with three children.
