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Original
'Cage Aux Folles'
Actor
Serrault Dies
by AP
from 365Gay.com, July 30, 2007
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Paris -- French actor Michel
Serrault, whose hit performance as a drag queen in the film and stage versions
of "La cage aux folles" (The Birdcage) catapulted him to international stardom,
has died, his priest said Monday. He was 79.
Serrault died Sunday of cancer in his home in the northwestern city of Honfleur,
Rev. Alain Maillard de La Morandais said.
Serrault appeared in more than 130 films during a career that spanned half a
century. After debuting as a comic actor, Serrault became one of France's
most versatile stars, playing a serial killer, a grizzled farmer, a crooked
banker and accused rapist.
"I'm against those who only want to entertain," Serrault said in 2002. "I
am very happy with all the roles I've played, and I take responsibility for them
all."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid homage to Serrault's "impressive
filmography," calling the actor a "monument of the world of the theater, the
cinema and the television."
Born on Jan. 24, 1928, in Brunoy, south of Paris, Serrault initially set his
sights on the priesthood, briefly entering a seminary. He dropped out, he
later explained, because of the vow of chastity.
After studying acting in Paris, Serrault began as his stage career playing in
cabarets.
He made his silver screen debut in 1954 in Jean Loubignac's "Ah! les belles
bacchantes" (Oh, the lovely bacchantes), which was released as "Peek-a-boo" in
the United States. His first big break came in 1972, with a leading role
in Pierre Tchernia's "Le Viager" (The Life Annuity.)
Speaking Monday on LCI television, Tchernia called Serrault "perhaps the
greatest French actor," saying he gave to his profession "all his talent, all
his strength, all his humor, all his affection."
It was his role as flamboyant gay nightclub owner Albin Mougeotte, also known as
Zaza Napoli, in the theater and film versions of the mega-hit "La cage aux
folles" (The Birdcage) that catapulted him to fame worldwide. His
performance in director Edouard Molinaro's 1978 movie won him the first of three
Cesar awards -- the French version of the Oscar.
Serrault remained active, featuring in films through his late seventies.
Among his final films was Pierre Javaux's 2006 "Les enfants du pays" (Hometown
Boys), about the role of African soldiers in WWII.
Serrault is survived by his wife, Juanita, and daughter, Nathalie.
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