Although the actor played his greatest roles after the age of 50, he entered the history of French cinematography as one of the greatest acting talents.
De Funès was born in 1914 in the French Courbevoie. His family came from the Spanish aristocracy, but the actor’s parents emigrated to France when the father of Carlos Luis de Funès de Galarza refused to agree to his son’s wedding with the actor’s future mother. She was a nervous woman, a choleric, whose moods often changed rapidly and uncontrollably. In later years, along with Charlie Chaplin, she became one of the greatest inspirations for Louis de Funès’ acting.
As a child, he attended primary school. Jules Ferry in Coulommiers, where he was considered rather a boy with his head forever in the clouds. He also often parodied his teachers and showed a lack of discipline. He made his acting debut at a young age, specifically at the age of 14. At that time, he appeared in the city theater as a gendarme, in the comic opera Le Royal Dindon.
From his first performance, he attracted attention with his lively gestures and expressive facial expressions. As his career developed, it became his trademark. Many cinema fans criticized him for his acting skills, accusing him of monotony in the roles. In turn, fans of De Funès consider it his greatest asset.
In later years, he continued his acting studies at the prestigious René Simon theater school. Although he performed more and more plays in Parisian theaters, he struggled with significant financial problems. He undertook various jobs, such as giving piano lessons, or performing alone in venues in the evenings.
He made his big screen debut in 1946, playing the role of the doorman in the comedy The Temptation of Barbizon. His television career breakthrough came in 1956 when he appeared in the movie The trip across Paris as Jambier’s shopkeeper. Ultimately, the film turned out to be a huge success for him. His acting talent was praised not only by his colleagues, but also by film critics. About 5 million French saw it on the screen at that time, and the film became a cult film.
he played his first major role in the comedy Crazy in the Noodle, which was also positively assessed by the audience. In 1957 he was awarded the Grand Prix of Laughter. He also played in Neither Seen Nor Recognized, and then Taxi, Trailer and Corrida. Soon Louis de Funès was finally described as the funniest actor in France. in 1963 he starred in the comedy Koko, which was based on the play Sans cérémonie. Shortly thereafter, he was involved in 5 films in one year. Each of them, without exception, turned out to be a success of French cinematography. Among them there are, among others, productions such as Salad by the Roots or Rob the Bank. De Funès has also starred in comedies that draw on science-fiction and fantasy genres. In 1969, he starred in the film Hibernatus , which told the story of a man who was found after many years in a state of deep hibernation. The man is finally brought back to life, which makes him a real national sensation. A few years later, he also starred in the film Kapuśniaczek, depicting the adventures of two farmers who meet real aliens one night.
In 1980, the actor was awarded the Honorary Caesar for lifetime achievement. During his life, he was given many nicknames, including French Charlie Chaplin (who was a great inspiration for De Funès), as well as the King of Comedy, and a real comedian. So it is safe to say that this actor has become a permanent part of the culture of French cinema and has become an inspiration for many next generations.