French actor Louis de Funès, is shot from behind on the set of the comedy movie L’homme orchestre, by French director Serge Korber. Bassano Romano (VT), Italy, March 1970. (Photo by Marisa Rastellini- Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Louis de Funès


 

Louis de Funès (pronounced “lois de fins”) was well-known for his high-energy performances in thousands of theatre productions and films.

In the 1960s, he established himself as France’s prominent comedian, and for nearly 20 years, he was ranked 1st in the country’s box office numerous times. Indeed, Louis de Funès, along with Fernandel, Bourvil, and Jean Gabin, is one of the French actors who has drawn the greatest number of moviegoers.

He also appeared in a number of films directed by Gérard Oury, who was fond of putting Paris and France in context.

1.Louis’early life and his family background

He was born in the French Republic near Paris on July 31, 1914. His birthday is now recognized as a national holiday in France.

The successful movie actor’s parents were aristocratic natives of Spanish regions. Papa Funes was a lawyer by profession, and he worked in diamond processing in the French Republic.

His mom had Portuguese ancestors in addition to Spanish. In 1904 the couple relocated to France. They formalized their partnership here. At home, their neighbors and relatives were opposed to their union.

Louis was artistic and delightful when he was younger. The child spoke three languages: English, French, and Spanish. He  enjoyed drawing and took piano lessons. There is nothing strange about him – he grew up as a pianist and once played at jazz concerts. The audience at the music performance noticed Louis grimacing amusingly and articulately. Everyone laughed and laughed.

2.Before he became an iconic actor, he played the piano

Rose ‘Louis de Funès’. Foto made in private garden in Ukraine. Photo by Аимаина хикари- Wikimedia commons

He attended the Condorcet lycée in Paris. He eventually dropped out, and his early life was rather unremarkable; as a youth and young adult, de Funès worked in low level jobs and was constantly got fired. He became a bar pianist, primarily a jazz pianist in Pigalle, Paris, where he made his clients laugh with each pained expression.

He spent a year studying acting at the Simon acting school, where he made some valuable connections, such as with Daniel Gélin, and several others. He married Germaine Louise Elodie Carroyer in 1936, and they had one child, Daniel, before divorcing in late 1942.

De Funès kept playing the piano in clubs throughout the early 1940s, believing that there was little demand for a short, balding, skinny actor. His wife and Daniel Gélin supported him until he overcame his anxiety about being rejected. His wife was there for him in the toughest times and assisted him manage his profession effectively.

3.Louis fell in love with a receptionist

During the Second World War, he proceeded with his piano studies at a music school and fell in love with a receptionist, Jeanne Barthelémy de Maupassant. They married in 1943 and stayed together for forty years until de Funès’ death in 1983.

They had two sons: Patrick (born 27 January 1944), who became a doctor, and Olivier (born 11 August 1949), who became a pilot for Air France Europe as well as an actor, following in his dad’s legacy. Olivier de Funès rose to prominence in some of his dad’s movies, including Les Grandes Vacances, Fantômas se déchaîne, Le Grand Restaurant and Hibernatus.

4.Louis journey to become an incredible actor started at 32

Louis de Funès appeared in a number of minor films beginning in 1945. This ultimately resulted in the successful films Ah! les belles bacchantes and La Traversée de Paris in 1956, starring Jean Gabin and Bourvil.

He established a reputation for himself in the theatre with the performance in Oscar. In 1967, Édouard Molinaro adapted the play into a movie.

The film Pouic-Pouic, in which he performed an angry and authoritarian character, was a watershed moment in his career.  This was to become his signature.

More popular films followed, including the Gendarmes de Saint-Tropez and Fantômas series, in addition to Le Corniaud (1965) and La Grande Vadrouille (1966). (1966).

Both of these films, directed by Gérard Oury, were massive box office stars.

The same director then made La Folie des Grandeurs in 1971 and Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob in 1973.

5.Away from cameras Louis had a different personality

French actor Louis de Funès is seated on a bench and holds a cute newborn baby in his arms on the set of the comedy movie L’homme orchestre, by French director Serge Korber. Bassano Romano (VT), Italy. Photo by Marisa Rastellini- Wikimedia commons

In real life, de Funès was said to be a very reserved person, in contrast to the roles he played. De Funès was dubbed “the man with forty faces per minute” because he was capable of an extremely rich and fast evolving variety of facial expressions. He portrayed a witty enthusiastic, grumpy, middle-aged or mature man with a proclivity for impulsivity, bad faith, and uncontrollable fits of frustration in a number of his movies.

This impulsivity, combined with his short stature (1.64 m (5 ft 4+12 in) and facial contortions, resulted in an extremely sense of irony. This was especially noticeable when he was partnered with Bourvil, who was always cast as cool and collected, ridiculously eccentric, good-natured men. These characteristics are tremendously muffled in de Funès’ impactful starring character in a film adaptation of Molière’s The Miser (L’Avare), trickling just below the surface.

6.Louis eventually became very famous and would not pay for taxis

He frequently avoided paying his cab fare. De Funes took his cheque book and signed the cheque with an extravagant flourish when he arrived at his desired location. The majority of the drivers chose to keep the spontaneous autograph rather than cash the cheque.

7.He was an early proponent of organic farming

Away from the tumultuous atmosphere of the movie shoots, Louis de Funès enjoyed nothing better than to go home, to walk the routes of his castle’s park, and most importantly to dedicate himself to his passion: gardening, which he began at a young age, around 5-6 years. A simple and modest delight in which he revelled in nature’s harmony and serene. His (massive!) vegetable garden was such a source of fulfilment for him that he even recognised – despite his modesty – a journalist’s crew once went to his house to share this passion with the world.

8.In the 1970’s Louis won an accolade

The best award in France in the 1970s was awarded to him.  Louis has always been an iconic and idolized his fan base in the progression of filmmaking endeavors. He put a lot of effort, and in the spring of 1973, he received the country’s prestigious award (the Order of the Legion of Honor).

9.He continued to flourish as an icon mainly in France

French actor Louis de Funès is beside his son Olivier with whom he acts in the comedy movie L’homme orchestre, by French director Serge Korber. Bassano Romano (VT), Italy, March 1970. Photo by Marisa Rastellini- Wikimedia commons

In March 2015, a national poll listed Louis de Funès as the French people’s favorite actor, with 24.8% voting for him.

In addition to France, Louis de Funès’ movies were tremendously popular in other European countries, such as Russia during the USSR. The reason is simple: because the USSR was refused admission to Hollywood movies, it has been open to foreign – particularly French and Italian – cinema since the 1960s.

As a result, his prominence in the English-speaking community was confined, despite the exception of Rabbi Jacob, who was shortlisted for a Golden Globe in 1975.

10.Louis retirement years and his unfortunate death

De Funès attained significant wealth and success in the latter part of his life. In 1973, he was made a Knight of the Légion d’honneur of France. He lived in the Château de Clermont, a 17th-century château in the village of Le Cellier, 27 kilometers (17 miles) west of Nantes. His wife inherited the château, which overlooks the Loire, after her aunt wedded a descendant of Maupassant. De Funès loved roses and cultivated a rose garden on the château grounds; a rose range was named after him: the Louis de Funès rose. In the château rose garden, a statue to him was constructed.

De Funès later suffered from a cardiac disease as a result of two heart attacks triggered by the excessive stress of his stage theatrics. On January 27, 1983, he died of a third heart attack, just months after finishing his latest movie. He was put to rest in the Cimetière du Cellier, a cemetery on the grounds of the Château de Clermont.

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