Jean Gabin's Height
5ft 8 ¼ (173.4 cm)
French actor, best remembered for films like Gangster in Love, The Human Beast, Prisoner of War, Gentleman Gangster, French Cancan, Port of Shadows, Maigret Sets a Trap, The Cat, Any Number Can Win and The Sicilian Clan.
Unknown (Mondadori Publishers), published in Grazia magazine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Add a Comment21 comments
Average Guess (8 Votes)
5ft 8.03in (172.8cm)
5ft 8.03in (172.8cm)
Gerald S said on 7/Jun/23
Rob, could Gabin get a bit over this for peak?
He could pass for almost 5’9” in his films from the 1930s and 1940s, and was still looking a strong 5’8” into his final years.
Rob, could Gabin get a bit over this for peak?
He could pass for almost 5’9” in his films from the 1930s and 1940s, and was still looking a strong 5’8” into his final years.
Gerald S said on 7/May/23
Gabin looked every bit of 5’8” and some in Le Chat/The Cat. He had an easy three inches on 5’5” Simone Signoret.
Gabin looked every bit of 5’8” and some in Le Chat/The Cat. He had an easy three inches on 5’5” Simone Signoret.
Gerald S said on 31/Mar/23
The funny thing about Brialy is that sometimes he could look 5’11”, other times 5’9”, but he was in reality 5’10” range.
The funny thing about Brialy is that sometimes he could look 5’11”, other times 5’9”, but he was in reality 5’10” range.
meezemaker said on 16/Jan/23
Brially was a full 5'9. No more sorry.
Gabin 171 nearly
Brially was a full 5'9. No more sorry.
Gabin 171 nearly
Sinclair said on 9/Dec/22
Gabin could have so easily passed for 5’8.75” in Le Tatoué with 5’4.5” Louis de Funès, even though Gabin was in his mid sixties at the time. Gabin had a great four inches on de Funès in that film.
Gabin could have so easily passed for 5’8.75” in Le Tatoué with 5’4.5” Louis de Funès, even though Gabin was in his mid sixties at the time. Gabin had a great four inches on de Funès in that film.
Sinclair said on 28/Sep/22
Very worthy add Jean-Claude Brialy did indeed have a full two inches on Jean Gabin in L’Année Sainte, meaning Gabin was still very likely clearing 5’8” aged 71. Gabin’s character was also described as 1m75 numerous times in the film; funnily it was taller than he ever supposedly was.
Jean Gabin: 5’8.5” peak; 5’8.25” by 1975.
Jean-Claude Brialy: 5’10.25”
Very worthy add Jean-Claude Brialy did indeed have a full two inches on Jean Gabin in L’Année Sainte, meaning Gabin was still very likely clearing 5’8” aged 71. Gabin’s character was also described as 1m75 numerous times in the film; funnily it was taller than he ever supposedly was.
Jean Gabin: 5’8.5” peak; 5’8.25” by 1975.
Jean-Claude Brialy: 5’10.25”
Sinclair said on 7/Sep/22
There is a good chance Gabin never saw under 5'8.25" in his entire adult life. In his final film, Holy Year/L'Année Sainte, he could still pass for over 5'8".
Gabin just looked suspiciously shorter than usual in The Sicilian Clan, alongside Alain Delon and Lino Ventura.
There is a good chance Gabin never saw under 5'8.25" in his entire adult life. In his final film, Holy Year/L'Année Sainte, he could still pass for over 5'8".
Gabin just looked suspiciously shorter than usual in The Sicilian Clan, alongside Alain Delon and Lino Ventura.
Sinclair said on 4/Sep/22
Rob, Gabin still cut a fine 5’8.5” figure in La Horse, aged 65.
Rob, Gabin still cut a fine 5’8.5” figure in La Horse, aged 65.
Sinclair said on 29/Aug/22
Rob, from 1:27:37, Brialy again seems to own 5’10.25”.
Click Here
A good two inches between Brialy and Gabin; Gabin seemingly still clears 5’8” with other co-stars in the film and his character is described as about 1m75 and has 175 in his passport in the film.
5’10.25” concluded for Brialy?
Rob, from 1:27:37, Brialy again seems to own 5’10.25”.
Click Here
A good two inches between Brialy and Gabin; Gabin seemingly still clears 5’8” with other co-stars in the film and his character is described as about 1m75 and has 175 in his passport in the film.
5’10.25” concluded for Brialy?
Sinclair said on 15/Jul/22
Rob, at 17:11, Ventura does look like he clears 5’7” with Gabin, does he not?
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Perhaps, 5’7.5” is a bit generous for Ventura even if he pulls it off here; Gabin may have started to lose height. I currently propose 5’7.25” for Ventura.
Rob, at 17:11, Ventura does look like he clears 5’7” with Gabin, does he not?
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Perhaps, 5’7.5” is a bit generous for Ventura even if he pulls it off here; Gabin may have started to lose height. I currently propose 5’7.25” for Ventura.
Sinclair said on 3/Jul/22
Rob, could you please add Le Soleil des Voyous and L’Année Sainte to Gabin’s credits?
My interpretations on Gabin’s height over his films are:
5’8.5”: The Grand Illusion, Pépé Le Moko, Port of Shadows, The Dominici Affair, Killer, Maigret Sets a Trap
5’8.25”: Any Number Can Win, Pasha, Le Soleil des Voyous, L’Année Sainte, Maigret Sees Red, Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case
5’8”: The Cat, Don’t Touch the Grisbi, Speaking of Murder, Crime and Punishment, Verdict, Razzia, The Crossing of Paris
5’7.75”: The Sicilian Clan, Two Men in Town
Of course, all this cannot be accurate as these films are out of order in date; these were just my impressions. I doubt Gabin ever really dropped under the 5’8” mark, he still passed for a good 5’8” a year before his death in L’Année Sainte. 5’7.75” worst case for him. Oddly, Gabin did look barely 5’7” at times in The Sicilian Clan, such as when with Delon and Ventura, footwear though...
Editor Rob
Rob, could you please add Le Soleil des Voyous and L’Année Sainte to Gabin’s credits?
My interpretations on Gabin’s height over his films are:
5’8.5”: The Grand Illusion, Pépé Le Moko, Port of Shadows, The Dominici Affair, Killer, Maigret Sets a Trap
5’8.25”: Any Number Can Win, Pasha, Le Soleil des Voyous, L’Année Sainte, Maigret Sees Red, Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case
5’8”: The Cat, Don’t Touch the Grisbi, Speaking of Murder, Crime and Punishment, Verdict, Razzia, The Crossing of Paris
5’7.75”: The Sicilian Clan, Two Men in Town
Of course, all this cannot be accurate as these films are out of order in date; these were just my impressions. I doubt Gabin ever really dropped under the 5’8” mark, he still passed for a good 5’8” a year before his death in L’Année Sainte. 5’7.75” worst case for him. Oddly, Gabin did look barely 5’7” at times in The Sicilian Clan, such as when with Delon and Ventura, footwear though...
Editor RobI haven't ruled out the 8.5 figure, it's either that or 8.25 as he seemed to clear 5ft 8 and then lose a bit as he got over 50's.
Sinclair said on 1/Jul/22
Rob, how tall does Lino Ventura look with Jean Gabin?
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Editor Rob
Rob, how tall does Lino Ventura look with Jean Gabin?
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Editor RobIn some of those shots he looks half to 3/4 inch shorter, it's not a big amount really...of course Gabin's age is a consideration.
Tall Sam said on 30/Jun/22
I guess he’s not as big a star as those men but Jean Reno seems to be one of the tallest French movie stars. I don’t know if the average height is lower but he could trick one into thinking him like 6’3” just by his being quite a lot taller than his costars. At any rate Gabin was probably the biggest male French star of his day, could seem a little like France’s answer to Bogart. Love the diversity of roles Trintignant inhabited though.
I guess he’s not as big a star as those men but Jean Reno seems to be one of the tallest French movie stars. I don’t know if the average height is lower but he could trick one into thinking him like 6’3” just by his being quite a lot taller than his costars. At any rate Gabin was probably the biggest male French star of his day, could seem a little like France’s answer to Bogart. Love the diversity of roles Trintignant inhabited though.
Sinclair said on 28/Jun/22
Rob, funnily enough, I feel as though I can see 5’8.25” in the same way that you can see 5’8.5” for Gabin.
Being a full 5’10”, I am also interested to realise that I am taller than 4 out of 5 of France’s potentially most famous male actors (probably Delon, Belmondo, Depardieu, Gabin, Trintignant, in that order). Only Depardieu edged me out of those five and not even by a full inch. It just goes to show how these French icons could still convey an incredibly powerful screen presence without needing to be six feet +. Charles Boyer would have to be up there too and he was 5’9” at most, probably even less.
Editor Rob
Rob, funnily enough, I feel as though I can see 5’8.25” in the same way that you can see 5’8.5” for Gabin.
Being a full 5’10”, I am also interested to realise that I am taller than 4 out of 5 of France’s potentially most famous male actors (probably Delon, Belmondo, Depardieu, Gabin, Trintignant, in that order). Only Depardieu edged me out of those five and not even by a full inch. It just goes to show how these French icons could still convey an incredibly powerful screen presence without needing to be six feet +. Charles Boyer would have to be up there too and he was 5’9” at most, probably even less.
Editor RobThere's always a potential range people can look, some I feel are within a narrow range, others might be a more broad range.
The more you see of somebody, the narrower that range can become.
The more you see of somebody, the narrower that range can become.
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 23/Jun/22
Jean’s face is extremely familiar to me! I see that he was in a film called ‘The Cat’; now that would make sense! I’d plump
for a movie of that title as a matter of compulsion!
Meeeowl! 🐈
Jean’s face is extremely familiar to me! I see that he was in a film called ‘The Cat’; now that would make sense! I’d plump
for a movie of that title as a matter of compulsion!
Meeeowl! 🐈
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 22/Jun/22
Lovely to see this French actor has a page.
5ft8.25. 🕯
Lovely to see this French actor has a page.
5ft8.25. 🕯
Sinclair said on 22/Jun/22
Rob, could you please add The Cat, Any Number Can Win and Holy Year to Gabin’s credits?
Possible Jean Gabin height timeline:
Mid 1920s to 1940s- 5’8.5” to 5’8.75”
1950s to late 1960s- 5’8.25” to 5’8”
1970s- mostly still solid 5’8”
Rob, could you please add The Cat, Any Number Can Win and Holy Year to Gabin’s credits?
Possible Jean Gabin height timeline:
Mid 1920s to 1940s- 5’8.5” to 5’8.75”
1950s to late 1960s- 5’8.25” to 5’8”
1970s- mostly still solid 5’8”
Abdul-DK said on 21/Jun/22
Same height as Rob.
5’8 1/4 is fine.
Same height as Rob.
5’8 1/4 is fine.
Arch Stanton said on 21/Jun/22
Excellent new edition, thanks for this, legendary actor in France. Can you add The Grand Illusion? That's often in the top 10 greatest film lists in directors polls. A Jean Renoir classic. About 5 ft 8 seems right. I've seen maybe 7 or 8 of his films, still a lot to see.
Excellent new edition, thanks for this, legendary actor in France. Can you add The Grand Illusion? That's often in the top 10 greatest film lists in directors polls. A Jean Renoir classic. About 5 ft 8 seems right. I've seen maybe 7 or 8 of his films, still a lot to see.
Sinclair said on 21/Jun/22
Rob, doesn’t this youth photo of Jean Gabin around 1925 suggest 5’8.5”?
Click Here
In any case, thank you immensely Rob for this add and this listing is pretty close (would be my second or third choice). I coincidentally had another dream last night that Gabin was added and given 5’8.5” on first appearance but upon clicking his picture, 5’9” instead came up!
It is funny how, despite his rather average height, Gabin often looked taller than the majority of his co-stars, even in his last films (Killer, The Dominici Affair, Verdict, Holy Year), thus, leading me to believe generally no less than 5’8” for him. In fact, when watching The Dominici Affair, I thought 68-year-old Gabin still came across as a good 5’8.5”! Gabin also had 1.5 inches on 5’7” Bernard Blier in Killer! Gabin even gave 5’10.25” Jean-Claude Brialy, a run for his height, in Holy Year.
I thought Gabin looked his tallest in his films from the 1930s (The Grand Illusion, Port of Shadows) and as Maigret in Maigret Sets a Trap; a very solid 5’8.5” in those.
In The Cat, aged 66, Gabin still came across as a rock solid, compact 5’8”.
The only films I recall Gabin looking a weak 5’8” in, are The Sicilian Clan and Two Men in Town with Alain Delon. In Gabin’s earliest Delon collaboration, Any Number Can Win, Gabin is as usual maintaining his 5’8” + stature.
Interestingly, Lino Ventura often edged out Gabin throughout their many films together...
Editor Rob
Rob, doesn’t this youth photo of Jean Gabin around 1925 suggest 5’8.5”?
Click Here
In any case, thank you immensely Rob for this add and this listing is pretty close (would be my second or third choice). I coincidentally had another dream last night that Gabin was added and given 5’8.5” on first appearance but upon clicking his picture, 5’9” instead came up!
It is funny how, despite his rather average height, Gabin often looked taller than the majority of his co-stars, even in his last films (Killer, The Dominici Affair, Verdict, Holy Year), thus, leading me to believe generally no less than 5’8” for him. In fact, when watching The Dominici Affair, I thought 68-year-old Gabin still came across as a good 5’8.5”! Gabin also had 1.5 inches on 5’7” Bernard Blier in Killer! Gabin even gave 5’10.25” Jean-Claude Brialy, a run for his height, in Holy Year.
I thought Gabin looked his tallest in his films from the 1930s (The Grand Illusion, Port of Shadows) and as Maigret in Maigret Sets a Trap; a very solid 5’8.5” in those.
In The Cat, aged 66, Gabin still came across as a rock solid, compact 5’8”.
The only films I recall Gabin looking a weak 5’8” in, are The Sicilian Clan and Two Men in Town with Alain Delon. In Gabin’s earliest Delon collaboration, Any Number Can Win, Gabin is as usual maintaining his 5’8” + stature.
Interestingly, Lino Ventura often edged out Gabin throughout their many films together...
Editor Rob174 isn't impossible...8.25 or 8.5 could be argued.
Freddy said on 21/Jun/22
Great add Rob and Great Actor ! Thanks 👍🏼
Great add Rob and Great Actor ! Thanks 👍🏼
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