Louis de Funès was one of the most popular and prolific French actors of all time. Fantômas, L'aile ou la cuisse, Oscar, Les Grandes Vacances, Le Gendarme de St. Tropez are just some of the films that became cult classics in France. With over 100 French movies to his credit, he distinguished himself as a versatile performer who excelled in comedies. Let's take a look at Louis de Funes career and personal life.

Where can I stream Louis de Funès movies?

The places to be for French movies is TV5MONDE.The French network offers the largest selection of French-language movies and TV shows with English subtitles in America. Cult classics from Godard and Varda, festival favorites and recent releases, it's all on TV5MONDE and its streaming platform TV5MONDEplus. In November, TV5MONDE Cinema on Demand will stream 10 French movies with Louis de Funès including must-see comedies like "Le Grand restaurant", "La folie des grandeurs", "Oscar", "Les grandes vacances" and "Hibernatus".

Want to know more about Louis de Funès' rise to fame and special place in French cinema? Watch the documentary available on the French streaming platformTV5MONDEPlus, "Louis de Funès, champion du box office".

Louis de Funès, before being a movie star

Born on July 31, 1914, in Courbevoie, France, Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza, didn't grow up in an artistic family. His mother was a seamstress, while his father was a lawyer, both of Spanish origins. Louis de Funes said that his mom was his first teacher comedic teacher. She had a very strong temper - like many of the Louis de Funès characters - but also an unbelievable comedic timing according to him. De Funes' mother, a talented pianist, started teaching the young Louis piano lesson at age 5. A bit of a dreamer at school, Louis de Funes was a very quiet child, small for his age and ofter mocked for his long nose. It's while at boarding school that he joined his first theater club and realised that he had a talent to make people laugh.

Following his brother's steps, he found his first jobs after school in the fur industry. But Louis was a troublemaker at work and wasn't motivated at all by this career. He then convinced his parents to sign him up for a movie and photography school where he specialise in cinema studies.

After WWII - he didn't fight due to his very small stature -, he started a career as a pianist in bars, which led to him meeting lots of influantial people on the movie business. At 28, he decided he wanted to be a comedian and took acting classes. In the early years of his career, de Funès struggled to land film roles, and it was not until the 1950s that he started to gain some attention in French cinema.

De Funes' first big break came in 1953, in "Ah ! Les belles bacchantes". But it's not until 1956 and "La Traversée de Paris" (Pigs Across Paris), alongside the French actors Jean Gabin and Bourvil, that he received wide acclaim from critics. He then landed first roles in many comedies.

From side roles to France's biggest film star

De Funès' unique style of comedy and knack for physical humor soon made him a household name in France, and he became known for his role as a cranky, impatient character who often found himself in absurd situations. 1964 marked a turn in his career. In that same year, he had the main role in the box-office hit "Pouic-Pouic", followed by his breakthrough role, Ludovic Cruchot, in the 1964 film "Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez". Directed by Jean Girault, the movie which was a massive hit in France and led to the creation of a successful film franchise. 1964 is also the year of the first of many Fantômas films with French actor Jean marais, another movie franchise that defines Louis de Funès career.

De Funès' other notable films in the 1960s include "La Grande Vadrouille" (1966), which was not only a commercial success but also the highest grossing French-language film worldwide for several years, and "Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob" (The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob", 1973), a satirical comedy about cultural misunderstandings.

The top 15 French movies with Louis de Funès

Louis de Funès, the man behind the star

Despite his tremendous success, de Funès' personal life was not without its challenges. He married Germaine Louise Elodie Carroyer in 1936. Together, they had a son Daniel, but they separated after only three years of marriage. He then remarried Jeanne Augustine Barthélemy (born Nau de Maupassant). They had two sons, Patrick and Olivier, both of whom also pursued acting careers and played in many De Funès films as kids. However, de Funès' workaholic nature often put a strain on his family, as well as his perfectionist tendencies. Outside of the movie set, Louis de Funès was a much more reserved man who liked taking care of his garden more than partying with his fellow actors in Paris.

In addition to his work as an actor, de Funès was also an accomplished painter, sculptor, and composer. He famously owned a castle, Le Château de Clermont in Loire-Atlantique, where he resided with his family.

Sadly, de Funès' life was cut short when he passed away on January 27, 1983, in Nantes, France, at the age of 68. He had suffered a heart attack, which resulted in his untimely death. De Funès' films remain popular to this day and are widely recognized as landmarks in French cinema.

Who was Louis de Funès married to?

Louis de Funès was married to Germaine Louise Elodie Carroyer, with whom he had one son Daniel. He then divorced and married Jeanne Barthélémy in 1943. They remained together until de Funès' death in 1983. The couple had two sons, Patrick and Olivier, both of whom also went on to become actors.

Where did Louis de Funès live?

Louis de Funès lived in various parts of France throughout his life, but he is most commonly associated with Paris and the region of Nantes. He lived in Paris during the first part of his career then moved to his very own castle - Château de Clermont - near nantes.

Where did Louis de Funès die?

Louis de Funès passed away on January 27, 1983, in Nantes, France. He had been in the city to undergo treatment for a heart condition when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 68 years old at the time of his death.

Did Louis de Funès have children?

Yes, Louis de Funès had three children, Daniel with his first wife, Germaine. Then two with his second wife Jeanne: Patrick, born in 1944, and their second son, Olivier, born in 1949.

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