He didn't just play the part. He basically became the man. When David Suchet first pinned on the legendary mustache in 1989, nobody quite knew that he’d spend the next quarter-century obsessively inhabitng the skin of a fussy, egg-headed Belgian. It’s a long time. Twenty-four years, to be exact.
Most actors treat a recurring role like a comfortable pair of slippers. Suchet treated it like a sacred trust. He didn't want to be a caricature. He refused to be a "buffoon."
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Honestly, the way he prepared for the role is the stuff of acting legend. Before a single camera rolled, Suchet sat down with every single Agatha Christie book featuring the detective. He compiled a "character dossier." It wasn't just a list of quirks; it was a massive document containing over 90 different points of interest. How many lumps of sugar did Poirot take in his coffee? (Three). Did he prefer a morning jacket or a suit? (The morning jacket, though he fought the producers for it).
If you've ever watched the show and wondered why his walk looks so... specific, there's a reason for that. Suchet found a description in the books about Poirot having a "mincing gait." To achieve that precise, rapid shuffle, Suchet famously practiced by walking with a penny clenched between his buttocks. If the penny dropped, the walk was wrong. It sounds ridiculous, but it worked.
The Mystery of the Voice and the Little Grey Cells
The accent was another battleground. Most actors before him—think Peter Ustinov or Albert Finney—went for something broad. Suchet wanted something more grounded. He realized that since Poirot was Belgian, his French had to sound specific. He didn't want to sound like a Parisian waiter.
He developed a "head voice." Basically, he moved his resonance from his chest up into his throat and nasal cavity. It gave him that high-pitched, fastidious tone that sounded like a man who spent more time thinking than shouting.
Why the Fans Never Let Go
People often ask why David Suchet as Hercule Poirot remains the gold standard. It's the consistency. You can watch an episode from 1989 and then jump to the finale, Curtain, filmed in 2013, and the DNA of the character is identical.
- The Mustache: It changed slightly over the years, but it always remained "luxurious" and "immense."
- The Ethics: Suchet's Poirot was a man of deep faith, something the actor brought from his own life into the later, darker episodes.
- The Loneliness: Behind the twinkle in his eye, there was always a sense that Poirot was an outsider. A "true bachelor" who lived for his little grey cells because he had little else.
The show eventually covered every major story Christie ever wrote for the character. That’s 70 episodes in total. It’s an insane achievement that likely won't ever be repeated in the age of 8-episode streaming seasons.
What the TV Versions Got Right (and Wrong)
The early seasons were cozy. You had Captain Hastings (played by Hugh Fraser), the dependable Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), and the grumbling Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson). They were a family. It was Art Deco London at its most beautiful. Florin Court in Charterhouse Square served as the exterior for Whitehaven Mansions, and it’s still a pilgrimage site for fans today.
But things shifted.
As the series moved into the 2000s, the tone got gritty. The humor was dialed back. Episodes like Murder on the Orient Express (2010) weren't just mysteries; they were psychological dramas. Some fans hated it. They missed the "bon mot" and the lighthearted bickering. Others felt it finally showed the "real" Poirot—a man burdened by his own brilliance.
One of the most authentic touches was filming the final episode, Curtain, at Greenway. That was Agatha Christie's actual holiday home in Devon. Suchet described it as a deeply emotional experience, knowing he was ending the journey exactly where the "Queen of Crime" had spent her summers.
The Legacy of the Patent Leather Shoes
If you're looking to revisit the series or jump in for the first time, don't just go for the famous ones like Death on the Nile. Look for the short stories in the early seasons. They show a lighter side of the character that's often lost in the big movie adaptations.
How to watch like a pro:
- Start at the beginning: The Adventure of the Clapham Cook sets the tone perfectly.
- Watch the evolution: Compare an early episode to The Labours of Hercules to see how Suchet aged the character.
- Notice the hands: Suchet rarely used broad gestures. Everything was internal, contained, and precise.
It's been years since the final episode aired, but Suchet is still the face most people see when they close their eyes and think of the Belgian detective. He didn't just play a part; he protected a legacy.
To really appreciate the depth of the performance, pick up a copy of Suchet’s book Poirot and Me. It details the struggle to keep the character "true to Agatha" when producers wanted to change him. It's a masterclass in artistic integrity. Whether you're in it for the Art Deco fashion or the "order and method," there's no denying that the little man with the mustache found his perfect match in David Suchet.