Jean Richard (18 April 1921 – 12 December 2001) was a famous French actor, comedian, and circus entrepreneur. He is best remembered for his long-running role as Inspector Maigret on French television and for his work managing circuses and a private zoo. While contemporary readers of the 1960s and 1970s would have immediately recognized him, most modern readers may not be familiar with his name or his iconic presence in French popular culture.

A Brief Asterix Cameo

In Asterix and the Laurel Wreath, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo included a playful visual reference to Richard’s circus persona. During a brief circus sequence where Asterix and Obelix interact with gladiatorial games, one of the animal tamers shown is a caricature of Jean Richard. This cameo appears in just a few panels, serving as a humorous nod to a well-known contemporary French entertainer of the time.

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