Actress. She was best known for her graphic, sexually-oriented role opposite Marlon Brando in the highly controversial 1972 film “Last Tango in Paris”. Born in Paris, she was the daughter of actor Daniel Gelin, whom she did not meet until she was 16. Her mother was a bookstore owner of Rumanian descent. Schneider made her stage acting debut at age 15 with no prior training or experience, and began playing small roles in films in 1969. Selected by director Bernardo Bertolucci for the part of Jeanne (Brando’s young lover) in “Last Tango in Paris”, the picture launched her into international stardom. She had another memorable performance opposite Jack Nicholson in Michelangelo Antonioni’s “The Passenger” (1975), but her subsequent career was tarnished by a scandalous personal life and she was relegated mostly to European B pictures.  Her other credits include “The Love Mates” (1970), “Merry-Go-Round” (1973) and “Jane Eyre” (1996). Schneider died following a long illness. (bio by: C.S.)  Family links:  Parents:  Daniel Gelin (1921 – 2002)