(1941- 1984)
André S.Gédéon belongs to a family who has always secured its social status in all levels: Education and most of all financial security.
André the youngest in the family of five has strived hard against his family's wishes in order to find his way in the Arts where he expressed himself freely. From tender age he mimicked and personified the characters of his comic books; locking himself up in his room. He completed his degree in Law at the University of St Joseph and worked in the Bank for few years; while working at night with a group of talented artists in what formed then the first seed of the "Theater de Chansonniers" that was called: "Le Theatre de 10 heures"(Yvette Surscok; Abadallah Nabbout; Gaston Chikhani; and Pierre Gedeon and others).
Following a fast progress and success in the Theatre; especially after his remarkable success in the play ": The malice of the old man". Andre's ambition was to reach out to the vast world of the cinema. After working in several Magazines and Newspapers he decided at an early age; his mid twenties; to leave all his hard work behind and adventure in a new country where he didn't have any previous connection with; or any knowledge of the language Tchecoslovaquia and this for the main reason that he respected the style and form of Arts that Central Europe was producing in the sixties against the fast growing machinery of the USA.
In Tchecoslovaquia Andre wrote and produced 3 short films that were very successful in Prague and back in Lebanon: "The temptation of the Devil" the Square of three Angles" and “memories”. Completing his 5 years degree at the FAMU in Prague with Honours Andre returned to Lebanon leaving behind a wife; Melissa Linhartova (a theatre fashion designer) and a son Sacha Gedeon of 5years; who both never succeeded to join him in a torn country by a civil war. In Lebanon Andre worked in many fields: as journalist in "Le Magazine" and "Le Reveil" and for the first time he wrote poems in Arabic and wrote few scripts for Tele-Liban "Artisans parmi nous " - "Handcrafters between us" and directed children programs with his second wife Chadia Elhage Gedeon: "Our little Kings" and "my Talent", additionally to his work side by side with the Brothers Rahbani in Petra in the role of Laius with Antoine Kerbage. Lebanon chocked Andre to the bones; his illness (asthma); got worse especially after his late production and Direction for his only film in Lebanon: "Lebanon despite everything" for the Episcopal Media Commission headed then by his Reverend Bishop Roland Abou Jaoude. The film featured Raymond Gebara; the late Rida Khoury; Antoine and Latifeh Moultaka; Rifaat Tarabay; Mounir Ghaoui; and Ward al-Khal in her first debut. André reinvented himself in Lebanon as a poet in both languages French and Arabic. He left behind a magnificent collection of poetry that was published posthumously: La Sève promise". André died in Hôtel Dieu at the age of 43 years after a coma of 40 days that was caused by a severe asthma attack.
"The Troubadour"; "the Gypsy;" "the Intense" did not reach his dreams... Being a judge in the Panel for International Films Festivals: Carlo Vivari; Andre's dream was to see the Lebanese movie not only contributing; but also playing an important role on the international scene. His influence in the TV production and direction was felt immensely especially in modernizing the filming and taking the camera outside the studio to become one with the context and the content.
Few Photos, Gédéon in theater and behind scene
Gédéon in his last scene as Laius in Jordan Petra
Gédéon and actor Antoine Kerbej in Jordan, Petra for Brothers Rahbani
Andre Gedeon backstage in Petra Jordan with his wife Chadia el-Hage Gedeon (Now Hajjar)