Henri Lafontaine
(1824-1898)

Born Louis-Henri-Marie Thomas Lafontaine in Bordeaux on 28 May 1824, he was known professionally as Henri Lafontaine or simply as Lafontaine. He joined the Comédie-Française in 1856 and was elected sociétaire in 1863.

His pious parents originally placed him in a seminary but the aspiring actor soon left to pursue a career on the stage. He first appeared at the Porte-Saint-Martin and then at the Gymnase. In 1856 he made his debut at the Comédie-Française in Le Cid.

While appearing the Gymnase again he met the actress Victoria Valous, who became his wife in 1863. 

In 1872, at the request of Victor Hugo himself, he played the eponymous hero of Ruy Blas at the Odéon. 

In later life he focused on his career as a novelist and playwright. He worked with Alphonse Daudet on adapting Daudet's novel Jack for the stage.

He died in Versailles on 23 Febraury 1898 and was buried in the Cemetery of Notre-Dame in Versailles.