How tall was Maurice Ronet

Gerald S said on 2/May/23
Yes, like Michel Piccoli, Ronet was a true 5’11.5” verging closer towards 5’11.75” than 5’11.25”. It really would have been a toss up between those two, I could not say who was taller. Although, if I had to, I’d guess Piccoli as closer to 182cm than Ronet, but only just.

Jake: 1.84 m - 1.85 m said on 22/Apr/23
Ronet looked an easy 5ft 11.5 near Anthony Quinn in 'Lost Command'. Definitely around that 182 cm mark, maybe near 183 cm earlier in the day.

Gerald S said on 13/Apr/23
Rob, who do you think was a stronger 5’11.5” out of Ronet and Michel Piccoli?

Sinclair said on 27/Sep/22
Who would be your favourite French actor, Rob?

Mine is by far and away 5’9.75” André Maranne but of the ones currently listed on this site, 5’11.5” Maurice Ronet is an easy favourite for me. He had such charm and charisma and made such good use of these important cinematic attributes across his many celebrated leading and supporting film roles.

Sinclair said on 18/Aug/22
Yes, 5’11.75” is also plausible in Elevator to the Gallows, the Fire Within and Plein Soleil but six feet is definitely out. Ronet hardly cleared 5’11” in The Marseille Contract; an ageing Anthony Quinn seemed to have two inches on Ronet and James Mason strangely even seemed to edge out Ronet in one scene. I’d still vote 5’11.5” for Ronet though. Optimal listing, Rob.

Sinclair said on 17/Aug/22
Admittedly, 5’11.75” is also arguable in Elevator to the Gallows, The Fire Within and Plein Soleil but six feet is out. In The Marseille Contract, Ronet looks a strong 5’11” at best; James Mason seeming taller than Ronet in a scene raised alarm bells for me. 5’11.5” is the best shout for Ronet.

Sinclair said on 16/Aug/22
I can see a solid argument for 5’11.75” in La Piscine, but whether Ronet was more 5’11” or 6’0”, I could not say.

Sinclair said on 23/Jun/22
I think it was Maurice's very slim build which made him look more or less, six feet tall. Most people would guess him at six feet. It is only us height experts who know better, in that regard.

Sinclair said on 14/Jun/22
Yes, only a good two inches between Ronet and Perkins.

However, another reason to not upgrade Ronet to 5’11.75” are these photos with 6’1”? Michael Lonsdale.

Click Here
Click Here

I can similarly see a good two inches between Ronet and Lonsdale!

Jake: 1.84 m- 1.85 m said on 13/Jun/22
Maybe, Sinclair. He certainly did not appear any more than 2 inches shorter than Anthony Perkins.

Sinclair said on 13/Jun/22
I think (although 5’11.5” is perfect for him) that Ronet was more likely 5’11.25” than 5’11.75” because in The Destructors, an ageing Anthony Quinn had a good two inches on Ronet, yet, Michael Caine had a good half inch on Quinn in that same film. 6’2.5” Sidney Poitier had a full inch on Caine in The Wilby Conspiracy (meaning Caine peaked at 6’1.5”), thus, Quinn was barely 6’1” in The Destructors. However, I saw close to two inches between Quinn and Ronet. In one scene, 5’11.25” James Mason even seemingly edged out Ronet, but I think camera angles, ground level and Mason’s hat had some influence on that.

Jake: 1.84 m - 1.85 m said on 5/Jun/22
Watched him in the classic film 'Elevator to the Gallows' and he appeared very close to 6ft. Rob, is 5ft 11¾ a possibility for him? He seemed a very solid 182 cm.

Sinclair said on 24/Apr/22
Rob, what would be your favourite Maurice Ronet film?

The Swimming Pool, Purple Noon and The Destructors all make my top 50. I recall Ronet looked tallest however in The Fire Within, a solid 5’11.5” in that.

Sinclair said on 9/Apr/22
Rob, you have le Feu Follet/The Fire Within listed twice. Could you please replace one of them with Lost Command?

At least we can all be sure that Ronet was over 5’11” but under six feet.

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 9/Apr/22
Hmm…. that was my Dad’s peak height. I suppose it was quite tall those days.

5ft11.5.

Sinclair said on 8/Apr/22
It is such a pity that Maurice Ronet only lived to 55 years of age :(


Maybe there was more of a chance of 5'11.25" rather than 5'11.75" for Ronet. There was not a full two inch height difference between Ronet and Alain Delon in Purple Noon or The Swimming Pool but yes, 5'11.5" is perfect for Ronet.

While watching Le Feu Follet several years ago, I remember thinking Ronet gave a James May type height of 5'11.5". I also now reckon Ronet was the exact same height as actor Dean Jones, maybe Jones could have had measured 5'11.75" like I had previously claimed but he did not look much over 5'11" in The Love Bug, so 5'11.5" probably best suits him too.

Jake: 1.84 m- 1.85 m said on 7/Apr/22
Thanks,Rob.182 does look quite close.

Harold Green 6'1 1/8(185.7cm) said on 7/Apr/22
Hi Rob,

How tall does the guy look on the right in the image next to Maurice? Also I would agree Maurice is 5’11.5.

Sinclair said on 7/Apr/22
WOW! Thank you so much Rob, words cannot express how grateful I am for you adding this icon on my request, words fail me. Not only that but you even took my word for him being 5’11.5”! It’s not often we agree to the same fraction on a height listing first off. You’re often much better at pegging them than I am.

I don’t think anyone could argue with 5’11.5” for Ronet, he had a good 4cm on Delon in all of their films together and 6’1.5” Anthony Quinn had a good two inches on Ronet in Lost Command. I thought Quinn had more like 1.5” on Ronet in The Destructors, given that Quinn had probably lost some height by then, as 6’1.5” to 6’1.75” Michael Caine had half an inch on Quinn in that film I thought. In Bloodline, Ronet had a clear edge on Omar Sharif, which isn’t surprising given that Sharif was only 5’10” and change.

Many thanks again Rob:)