NANTES, France -- Louis de Funes, known as France's most popular film comedian for his roles as ordinary but funny people, died late Thursday of a heart attack, a family announcement said today. He was 68.
De Funes, stricken with heart attacks since 1975, suffered his last in his 18th century country chateau on the Loire river near Nantes and died in the Nantes hospital, the family said.
The short, long-faced comedian was one of the biggest box office draws in France for his portrayal of Mr. French Everyman, an excitable fellow with bright blue eyes, always agitated with rapid speech and Latin grimaces like a human Donald Duck.
His quick-tempered characters usually exploded with complaints and cries, reminding the French audience of themselves, Paris critics have said.
Of Portuguese ancestry, Louis de Funes de Galarza was born July 31, 1914 in Courbevoie, France, son of a diamond dealer. He worked as a bookkeeper, welder and piano player in a bar until he met actor Daniel Gelin who hired him for a role in a play.
De Funes broke into films in 1945 and played in more than 100 comedies. He at last hit stardom in 1963 in 'Pouic-Pouic.' Then came 'Le Gendarme de Saint Tropez' in which he played a policeman, a person in society whom the French often spoof and dislike.
'Fufu' and other triumphs followed rapidly. In a 1968 public opinion poll the French voted him their favorite actor.
His greatest box office success was 'La Grande Vadrouille' ('The Big Gadabout'), seen by 15 million people in France alone.
He also was known for 'La Folie des Grandeurs' ('The Folly of Greatness') with Yves Montand in 1971 and 'Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob' ('The Adventures of Rabbi Jacob') in 1973.
He parlayed the policeman character into a series of films: 'Le Gendarme a New York', 'Le Gendarme Se Marie' ('The Policeman Gets Married') and 'Le Gendarme et Les Gendarmettes' ('The Policeman And Policewomen') his final film which is expected to be released this fall.
De Funes is survived by his wife, Jeanne, second cousin of writer Guy de Maupassant, and two sons.
