Louis de Funès | |
---|---|
Born |
Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza 31 July 1914 Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
Died | 27 January 1983 Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France |
(aged 68)
Cause of death | stroke |
Nationality | French |
Other names | Fufu |
Years active | 1945–1982 |
Height | 5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (1.64 m) |
Spouse(s) | Germaine Louise Élodie Carroyer (1936–1942) Jeanne Augustine Barthélemy (1943–1983) |
Awards | Grand prix du rire, 1957, Comme un cheveu sur la soupe Victoire du cinéma, 1965 Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, 1973 César d’honneur, 1980 |
Louis de Funès (French pronunciation: [lwi də fy.nɛs]; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983), born Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza, was a popular French actor of Spanish origin and one of the giants of French comedy alongside André Bourvil and Fernandel. His acting style is remembered for its high energy performance, wide range of facial expressions and engaging, snappy impatience and selfishness. A big part of his most famous work was in collaboration with director Jean Girault, and together, they wrote and directed the French classic L'avare (1980) in which he also starred.
He was a household name in several countries of Europe (Greece, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Albania, Romania, USSR, Iran and Yugoslavia in particular) for many years, yet remained almost unknown in the English-speaking world. He was seen only once in the United States in 1974 with the release of The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, which was nominated for a Golden Globe. According to a 1968 poll, he was France's favourite actor – having played over 130 roles in film and over 100 on stage.
Louis de Funès was born on 31 July 1914 in Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine to parents from Seville, Spain. Since the couple's families opposed their marriage, they settled in France in 1904. His father, Carlos Luis de Funès de Galarza, a nobleman and his mother side from family marquesses de Galarza, had been a lawyer in Spain, but became a diamond cutter upon arriving in France. His mother, Leonor Soto Reguera, was of Galician extraction, daughter of a prominent politician from Galicia, senator Teolindo Soto Barro.