Nicolas Desmares Explained

Nicolas Desmares (Rouen, 1650 – Paris, 3 November 1714) was a French comedian.^[1]

A brother-in-law of Champmeslé, he also called himself "Champmeslé" and with his sister Marie Champmeslé, they joined the theatre of Rouen. His talent earned him a call to perform at the court of King Christian V of Denmark. Recalled to Paris by his sister, he was received 28 March 1685 "sans début" (without a period of trial) – an honour bestowed for the first time – at the Comédie-Française where he specialized in peasant roles,^[2] which he played in a superior and inimitable way. He retired with a pension of 1000 livres on 27 June 1712.

He married the actress Anne d'Ennebaut, granddaughter of Montfleury, who gave him two daughters, both later actresses and sociétaires of the Comédie-Française: Charlotte Desmares and Christine Dangeville.

Further reading

• Book: The Oxford Companion to the Theatre. Oxford University Press. 1983. 0-19-211546-4. Hartnoll. Phyllis. Phyllis Hartnoll. 4th. Oxford et al.. 216. registration. the Internet Archive.
• Book: Lancaster, Henry Carrington. History of French Dramatic Literature in the Seventeenth Century. Pt. IV: The Period of Racine, 1673–1700. Gordian Press. 1966. 2. New York. 1149373442. Henry Carrington Lancaster. registration. the Internet Archive.

Notes and References

1. Book: Forman, Edward. Historical Dictionary of French Theater. 15 June 2016. 27 April 2010. Scarecrow Press. 9780810874510.
2. Champmeslé, Marie. Champmeslé, Marie s.v.. 5. 831.