Claude Carliez (10 January 1925 – 17 May 2015) was a French master at arms in classical fencing who became a period and fencing advisor for French films. He then became a stunt performer, stunt coordinator, special effects person, and film director. He worked with prominent figures of the French cinema such as Jean Marais, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Louis de Funès, Gérard Oury and André Hunebelle. He was President of the Academie d'Armes de France and the first President of the French Stuntman's Union.

Biography

The son of a dancing expert, Carliez was born in Nancy, France in 1925. He first began fencing in Joinville-le-Pont at the age of 18, becoming a Master at Fencing at 21. Due to the proximity of the school to film studios, Claude became a technical advisor on historical weapons and costumes for several films. In 1959, Claude appeared in the swashbuckler film Le Bossu, starring Jean Marais and directed by André Hunebelle, who both propelled his film career forwards. Hunebelle placed him in charge of all the stunts for his next film Le Capitan, and he advanced to doing stunts for The Battle of Austerlitz. Carliez worked not only on historical films, but also on contemporary films such as Hunebelle's Fantômas series. He became the stunt arranger to André Hunebelle's OSS 117 film series in a manner similar to Bob Simmons of the James Bond films. When the James Bond film Moonraker was produced in France and Brazil, Claude choreographed numerous stunts for the film In 1969, Jean Marais suggested that Claude direct him in Le Paria (1969). He died on 17 May 2015, at the age of 90.

Filmography