DELAUNAY

delaunay, louis arsene (1826-1903), french actor, was born in paris, the son of a wine-seller. he studied at the conservatoire, and made his first formal appearance on the stage in 1845, in _tartuffe_ at the odeon. after three years at this house he made his debut at the comedie francaise as dorante in corneille's _le menteur_, and began a long and brilliant career in young lover parts. he continued to act as _jeune premier_ until he was sixty, his grace, marvellous diction and passion enchanting his audiences. it was especially in the plays of alfred de musset that his gifts found their happiest expression. in the thirty-seven years during which he was a member of the comedie francaise, delaunay took or created nearly two hundred parts. he retired in 1887, having been made a chevalier of the legion of honour in 1883.