Coluche

Coluche, born Michel Gérard Joseph Colucci (28 October 1944 - 19 June 1986), was a French stand-up comedian, film actor, activist and philanthropist. He adopted Coluche as a stage name at age 26 as he began his entertainment career. He became known for his irreverent attitude towards politics and the establishment, which he incorporated into much of his material, and was one of the first major comedians to regularly use profanities as a source of humour on French television.

Born in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, Coluche showed little promise at school and tried various temporary jobs. In 1969, he took part with Romain Bouteille in founding the Café de la Gare, a Parisian café-théâtre that became a meeting place for young comedic actors. His first sketch, C'est l'histoire d'un mec, brought him quick success. In the course of the 1970s he established himself as a very popular stand-up comedian, and in 1976 he co-starred with Louis de Funès in the comedy film The Wing or the Thigh.

Having become a bankable star of comedy films, he also proved himself a capable dramatic performer by winning the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in So Long, Stooge (1983). In 1985 he founded the charity Les Restaurants du Cœur, which still provides free meals and other products to people in need. He remained controversial throughout his career due to his use of profanities, and was sacked from the radio station Europe 1 for vulgarity in 1979.