By François R – Published on August 2, 2024 at 7:30 a.m.
Louis de Funès, a genius of popular comedy in France, had a brief, passionate romance before his death in 1983. The woman he loved, behind his wife’s back, was a famous presenter.
Louis de Funès leaves no one indifferent. The actor of cult French comedies, like the Saint-Tropez Gendarme or The Adventures of Rabbi Jacobhas always unleashed passions. On the public side as well as among critics. Some saw him as a popular comedian, others as a humorous genius, a public clown or an artist with a dark side.
We already knew that in his private life, De Funès was very far removed from his on-screen characters. On the other hand, we did not imagine that he was an eternal romantic. To the point of having a secret affair with this celebrity from the early 80s shortly before his death. This Friday August 2, 2024on M6you can see or review The Gendarme on the Strollhas 20h40Then The Gendarme is getting marriedhas 22h25. Two films by De Funès, one Chief Warrant Officer Cruchot.
Louis de Funès or the eternal leader of French comedy
The De Funès style is inimitable and recognizable among a thousand. Overflowing energy, all-out facial expressions, an elastic body that stands the test of time. This unstoppable recipeprovoking hilarity among the most demanding spectators, from 7 to 77 years old, the actor applied it for fifteen prosperous years with many films at the top of the box-office.
However, this eternal leader of French comedy did not make it big the first time. Far from it. This one achieved success and recognition from the general public (very) late. In the mid-60s, when he entered the cinema through the back door in the post-war period. From the huge cardboard The Gendarme in Saint-Tropez, first in a long series spanning 20 years, Louis de Funès became bankable as they say nowadays.
Louis de Funès, the brilliant actor hiding a sad clown
Despite his popularity and his successes in the cinema between 1964 and 1979, Louis de Funès always kept a long way from film sets and the small world of the industry once the camera was turned off. The proof? Testimonies, whether it be his biographer, Jean-Jacques Jelot-Blancor some of the playing partners, Michel Galabru et Jean Lefebvrenow deceased, evoke a clown triste behind the brilliant comedian.
In reality, De Funès was someone who was very discreet, even totally shy, in private life. He loved taking care of his flowers above all because he was very fond of gardening in addition to having a real green thumb. He was also said to be very thrifty, on the fringes of the glitz and glamour of cinema. However, in a setting of secrets and discretion, it would seem that, according to Vanity Fair, the star of Gendarme don’t forget the passionate love.
This adulterous affair maintained by De Funès before his death
1970Louis de Funès has 56 anshis career has been at its peak since the success of The big mop. During a cocktail party at the Maison de La Radio, he met Macha Béranger. HAS 29 ansshe is a host on the rise. From then on, a great intimacy binds the two lovesick lovers before the start of an adulterous and secret affair. The two meet regularly at theHôtel Continental to be safe from prying eyes. However, this adulterous romance is more of an open secret than a deathbed confession.
In fact, according to Gala, in 1982, while filming the Gendarme and gendarmettesthe latest installment in the saga, De Funès and Macha Béranger have a studio rented by the production. Bodyguards are tasked with tricking the actor’s wife, Jeanne De FunesThe latter, born Jean-Augustine Barthélémy de Maupassant, descendant of the famous writer, was apparently aware of this affair. If De Funès’ wife pretends not to be in society, in private she remains glued to her husband. As during this shoot which turns out to be the actor’s last.
A year later, Louis de Funès was struck down by a cardiac arrest. It is only at this moment, struck by the seal of death, that his not-so-secret romance with Macha Béranger ends. Philippe Manoeuvrea journalist and music critic, who hosted a show on France Inter at the time, remembers with The Obs : “[…] Louis de Funès, who was in love with her [l’animatrice radio, NDLR], was there every night. He would sit in the booth with the technicians and literally live out what Macha was telling people. […] They were in fusion!“Finally, Louis de Funès was not only discreet in his private life, he was also romanesque et romantic.
