Darnel grew up in the 1930s in
Bayonne and
Paris. Eager to become an actor, he introduced himself to
Marcel Achard to ask him for advice. Achard directed him to the
Théâtre des Mathurins, where he made his debut on 1 July 1942. In 1945, at the
Théâtre du Châtelet, he performed in a stage production for orphans of
World War II and the
French Resistance. Darnel created the new
Chorégies d'Orange with Jacques Bourgeois in 1971. He also started the Festival de Nohant and the Musique en Côte Basque. In 1996, he started to host
Libre journal du spectacle on
Radio Courtoisie. Jean Darnel died in Paris on 20 November 2020. ==Television==