Every week, Jordan de Luxe welcomes guests as varied as they are exciting on the set of At Jordan's. After receiving the singer Yanns, it was Laurent de Funès, grandson of the legendary Louis de Funès, who took part in the interview.
During this interview, the sixty-year-old spoke as rarely before, fondly evoking the cult films of his grandfather, The Big Mop to Saint-Tropez police. He also paid a vibrant tribute to Michel Galabru, the actor's unforgettable partner, highlighting the exceptional relationship between the two actors.
During his interview with Jordan de Luxe, Laurent de Funès not only spoke of his grandfather's immense career, but also the impact of the job on one's health.
When passion turns into burden
The grandson of the French cinema icon spoke with emotion of the last years of the actor's life, marked by illness and a radical change in lifestyle.
“When he was ill, I found him very changed, very thin. In 1975 he had a heart attack“, he remembered.
At this time, Louis de Funès was working on The Waltz of the Toreadors by Jean Anouilh, a particularly demanding piece: “He said: ‘this room exhausts me‘”.
Indeed, the actor had to memorize more than 1,500 lines, a colossal load which, according to Laurent, would have ended up “exhaust it“.
Louis de Funès exhausted by his profession as an actor
Laurent de Funès also remembers his grandfather's lifestyle, typical of a time when excesses were common. “He told us he smoked two packs a day. People smoked a lot, drank, ate fatty foods… And he had terrible stress. Sometimes he made three films a year. It was exhausting.“
However, after his heart attack, Louis de Funès adopted a much more ascetic lifestyle. “He had become very religious, he prayed in the evening, only drank water. It seemed to suit him, but he was very tired the last time I saw him.”
Today, Laurent is convinced that the profession ended up getting the better of Louis de Funès. A strong statement which reminds us to what extent the demands of the entertainment world can weigh on the health of artists.
