1. The full name of the famous comedian was Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (that's a long one), and he was of French and Spanish origin. Born on July 31st 1914, he was from an early age a tallented piano player, liked drawing and painting, and over the years he learned English and Spanish very well. So any time you see him in a movie struggling with an English phrase is just acting. And funny, good acting, we might add. 2. Nobody thought he would one day be a great actor, as in the beginning he struggled with menial jobs, often being fired. He was an accountant, he worked as a decorator, with no success. In fact he earned his keep, mainly during the years of WW2, as a jazz pianist in Paris, poorly payed, but often entertaining his audience with his grimaces. And by all accounts he was a good musician, even though he couldn't read notes.
3. His nickname was "Fufu", long before he became an actor.
4. It was his music that aided him in conquering the attention and later love of his future wife, who was a grandniece of famous French author Guy de Maupassant. The couple would remain married for no less than four decades, until the passing of Louis de Funes.
5. He made his debut in theatre and first played a small role in a film when he was 31 years of age, but it would take a formidable long time for a comedian of his original talent to finally make his breakthrough. So is peculiar today that he had over 80 small, often insignificant parts in movies before finally becoming a household name. For example in his very first film, La Tentation de Barbizon, he appeared for... about 43 seconds. But then he went from being an extra or having just a few seconds or minutes of screentime to being one of the most popular French actors of all times.
6. In the last part of his life he lived with his family in the Chateau de Clermont, a real castle dating from the 17th century and still located in Le Cellier, a small commune not far from Nantes. No, he didn't buy it, it was inherited by his wife. It was there that he had a beautiful rose garden and there even is a variety of rose which bears his name.
7. He often managed not to pay his cab fare. When he arrived at the destination de Funes took his checkbook and signed the check with an elaborate flourish. Most of the drivers preffered to keep the impromptu autograph and never cashed the check.
Photo: the100.ru
8. Behind the scenes and funny movies Louis de Funes wasn't a funny, outgoing individual. According to those who knew him he had a difficult relationship with other actors and especially producers, as he didn't go to parties with them after wrapping after a day of work, didn't really socialize, and being shy and somewhat of a loner he preffered to return home and spend time with his family or take care of his garden. So many were no so fond of him, especially once he became famous and for the public the number one French actor of his time.
