Louis de Funès French Actor and Comedian (1914–1983)

French actor and comedian Louis de Funès was born on 31 July 1914 in Courbevoie. He passed away on 27 January 1983 at the age of 68. The recorded cause of death is myocardial infarction. He was known for Le Diable et les Dix Commandements (1962).

Early life

He studied at Cours Simon and Lycée Condorcet.

Career

Records list The Temptation of Barbizon (1946) as his earliest screen credit. In the 1950s, he appeared in Napoléon (1955, as Laurent Passementier, un soldat) and La Traversée de Paris (1956). The 1960s brought Fantômas (1964) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). His 1970s credits include Le Gendarme en balade (1970, as Gendarme Ludovic Cruchot) and The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973). During the 1980s, he worked on La Soupe aux choux (1981, as Claude Ratinier) and The Gendarme and the Gendarmettes (1982, as Gendarme Ludovic Cruchot).

In all, 155 films and one TV series appear in his credits from 1946 to 1982. He is also credited as director on L'avare, and writer on 6 titles, including The Gendarme and the Extra-Terrestrials. Alain Delon appears in two of his listed titles, including Carom Shots (1963). The records note piano as his instrument.

Recognition

Louis de Funès received the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1973. Further recognition came with a César Award.

Personal life

Marriages on record are to Germaine Louise Élodie Carroyer (1936 to 1942, divorced) and Jeanne de Funès (1943 to 1983, widowed). He was the father of Olivier de Funès, and has 3 children in total.