Grandmesnil (actor)

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Jean-Baptiste Fauchard (19 March 1737 – 24 May 1816), known by his stage name Grandmesnil (or Grand-Ménil), was a French actor and playwright. He began as a lawyer in Paris, then a counsellor in the Admiralty, but left France in 1771 after opposing the Maupeou reforms. In Brussels he turned to acting, later returning to France to perform in Marseille and Bordeaux, where he played wealthy financiers and other high‑status roles. He made his debut at the Comédie-Française on 31 August 1790 and became a full member in 1792, retiring on 21 March 1811. Grandmesnil was regarded as one of the best interpreters of Molière, especially in the roles of Arnolphe and Harpagon. His refined manners and steady life were valued, and in 1796 he was invited to join the Académie des Beaux-Arts in the Literature and Fine Arts section. He wrote two plays, though they may not have been performed in his lifetime.