Louis de Funès

Louis de Funès de Galarza (July 31 1914, Courbevoie, France, - January 27 1983) was a French actor who is considered by many to be one of the giants of French comedy. He was enormously successful in France for many years but remained almost unknown in the United States except for the 1974 release of The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. In a 1968 poll, he was voted France's favorite actor. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000086/bio Many of his most successful films such as those in the Gendarme of St. Tropez series were pure slapstick, and although de Funès could play serious roles with a good deal of subtlety he was particularly known for his grimacing and outrageous facial contortions as he expressed anger, contempt, and astonishment.

Related Topics:
July 31 - 1914 - Courbevoie - France - January 27 - 1983 - Actor - Comedy - United States - 1974 - The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob - 1968 - Film - Gendarme of St. Tropez - Slapstick

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born to a Spanish family, de Funès was not a success in his early life, always being fired from his modest jobs. He became a pianist and played in bars, his musical talent later being showcased in films such as Le Corniaud and Le Grand Restaurant.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Pianist - Le Corniaud - Le Grand Restaurant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

De Funès began his show-business career in the theatre, where he enjoyed moderate success. He became better known as a comedian in films, however, becoming a star with such films as Ah! Les belles bacchantes and Le mouton à cinq pattes. In a number of these films he co-starred with the major French actors of the time, including Bourvil (in La Grande Vadrouille) and Jean Gabin (in Le Tatoué). For many years La Grande Vadrouille was the largest grossing film in French history. Even during his career as a movie star de Funès continued to play theatre.

Related Topics:
Theatre - Ah! Les belles bacchantes - Le mouton à cinq pattes - Bourvil - La Grande Vadrouille - Jean Gabin - Le Tatoué - Movie star

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The characteristic de Funès role in many of his films was that of a middle-aged or older man with a propensity to hyperactivity, bad faith, and uncontrolled anger. Along with his short height and his Jerry Lewis-like facial contorsions, this hyperactivity produced a highly comic effect, especially in contrast to Bourvil's roles of calm, stolid, good-humoured men. In de Funès' successful lead role in a cinematic version of Molière's The Miser these characteristics are greatly muted but are visible nevertheless pecolating just beneath the surface.

Related Topics:
Jerry Lewis - Molière - The Miser

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

De Funès suffered from a heart condition and risked a heart attack with every theatrical performance but nevertheless continued to perform regularly in plays like "Oscar". Eventually, he did die of a heart attack.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His remains are interred in the garden of his wife's castle; a variety of rose has been named for him (the Louis de Funès rose).

Related Topics:
Rose - Louis de Funès rose

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~