Coluche

Born

October 28, 1944

Died

June 19, 1986 (41 years old)

Known For

Acting

Place of Birth

Paris, France

Michel Gérard Joseph Colucci (28 October 1944 – 19 June 1986), better known under his stage name Coluche, was a French stage comedian and cinema actor. He adopted Coluche as a stage name at age 26, when he began his entertainment career. He became known for his irreverent attitude towards politics and the establishment, and he incorporated this into much of his material. He was one of the first major comedians to regularly use profanities as a source of humor on French television. He also founded the charity "Les Restaurants du Coeur" which still provides free meals and other products to people in need.

Colucci was born on 28 October 1944, just weeks after the Liberation of Paris, in a hospital in the 14th arrondissement of the city. His mother, Simone Bouyer (called "Monette"), worked as a florist in the Boulevard du Montparnasse. His father, Honorio Colucci, from Casalvieri in Lazio, Italy, was a painter and decorator. His father died in 1947 at age 31 from poliomyelitis; his wife struggled thereafter to raise the young Michel and his sister (Danièle, 18 months older than Michel) on a meagre salary.

Coluche showed little promise at school, and left after completing his primary studies (June 1958). He tried various temporary jobs, and had several run-ins with authorities. During this time his mother bought him a guitar, which he taught himself to play. In 1964 he joined the 60th Infantry Regiment de Lons-le-Saunier, but was imprisoned for insubordination. On his return to civilian life, he worked in his mother's florist shop which she had been able to open on rue d'Aligre, and later in a larger shop which she opened near la Gare de Lyon. He found this work dull, and suddenly quit, which caused a long-lasting breach with his mother.

At the end of the 1960s he tried his luck as a singer in cafes, then turned to comedy.

In 1969, with Romain Bouteille he was present at the start of the Café de la Gare, meeting place of a group of young comedic actors practically all of whom were to become famous: Patrick Dewaere, Henri Guybet, Miou-Miou, Martin Lamotte, etc. Among the patrons of the Café de la Gare were Georges Moustaki, Raymond Devos, Jean Ferrat, Jacques Brel, Leni Escudero, Pierre Perret and Jean Yanne. Later they were joined by Gérard Lanvin, Renaud, Rufus, Diane Kurys, Coline Serreau, Anémone, Gérard Depardieu, Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko and Gérard Jugnot.

Coluche's first sketch C'est l'histoire d'un mec (It's the story of a guy) was about the difficulties of telling a funny story. He quickly found success, but alcohol problems forced him to leave the group.

He went on to found another group, Le vrai chic parisien (The true Parisian chic) and it was then that he met his future wife, Véronique Kantor. They married in 1975 and had two sons, Marius and Romain Colucci. His behaviour and addictions forced him to leave the new group and launch his solo career.

It was at this point that he began to dress in his well-known outfit of white tennis shoes, blue striped overalls, a bright yellow T-shirt and round glasses. He became famous with his parody of a TV game (Le Schmilblick). He was sacked by the radio stations Europe 1 and Radio Monte Carlo for vulgarity. ...

Source: Article "Coluche" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Restos du Cœur, 40 ans de solidarité en France

Restos du Cœur, 40 ans de solidarité en France

Himself

6.0

2024

L'Âge d'or de la pub

L'Âge d'or de la pub

Self (archive footage)

6.5

2023

Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)

6.6

2022

Drôles de familles

Drôles de familles

Self

0.0

2022

Les Pieds dans la mayonnaise : Les Irrévérencieux des années 70

Les Pieds dans la mayonnaise : Les Irrévérencieux des années 70

Self - actor (archive footage)

6.0

2022

Fous rires sur les ondes

Fous rires sur les ondes

Self - actor (archive footage)

6.0

2022

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

Self (archive footage)

7.2

2022

Coluche, les plus grands sketchs

Coluche, les plus grands sketchs

Self (archive footage)

6.0

2021

Coluche, une époque formidable

Coluche, une époque formidable

Self (archive footage)

8.0

2021

10 mai 1981 : Changer la vie ?

10 mai 1981 : Changer la vie ?

Self (archive footage)

8.0

2021

Les 60 ans du one-man-show

Les 60 ans du one-man-show

Self (archive footage)

5.0

2020

Coluche : le bouffon devenu roi

Coluche : le bouffon devenu roi

Self (archive footage)

7.0

2016

Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

Self (archive footage)

0.0

2016

Cavanna, jusqu'à l'ultime seconde j'écrirai

Cavanna, jusqu'à l'ultime seconde j'écrirai

Self (archive footage)

6.2

2015

Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui

Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui

8.0

2014

Du Schmilblick aux Restos du Cœur, la folle histoire de Coluche

Du Schmilblick aux Restos du Cœur, la folle histoire de Coluche

Self (archive footage)

6.0

2014

Coluche - Quand je serai grand je serai con - Vol 1 & 2

Coluche - Quand je serai grand je serai con - Vol 1 & 2

Self (archive footage)

5.5

2013

Coluche - Quand je serai grand je serai con - Vol 1

Coluche - Quand je serai grand je serai con - Vol 1

Self (archive footage)

8.0

2013

Coluche - Quand je serai grand je serai con - Vol 2

Coluche - Quand je serai grand je serai con - Vol 2

Self (archive footage)

8.0

2013

Coluche, l'ami public numéro un

Coluche, l'ami public numéro un

Self (archive footage)

6.0

2012

Coluche : Un Clown ennemi d'État

Coluche : Un Clown ennemi d'État

Self (archive footage)

7.0

2011

Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)

Comiques de toujours (Vol. 1 à 4)

Self (archive footage)

0.0

2009

Comiques de toujours (Vol. 3 & 4)

Comiques de toujours (Vol. 3 & 4)

Self (archive footage)

0.0

2008

Le mieux du mieux de Coluche

Le mieux du mieux de Coluche

Self (archive footage)

4.0

2007

Coluche, la France a besoin de toi

Coluche, la France a besoin de toi

Self (archive footage)

7.0

2006

Coluche - Ses plus grands sketches

Coluche - Ses plus grands sketches

Self (archive footage)

7.3

2002

Renaud, le Rouge et le Noir

Renaud, le Rouge et le Noir

Self (archive footage)

6.6

2002

Coluche - Le jeu de la vérité

Coluche - Le jeu de la vérité

Self (archive footage)

7.0

2001

Vivement dimanche

Vivement dimanche

Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)

3.0

1998

Stars 90

Stars 90

Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)

6.2

1990

Victoires de la musique

Victoires de la musique

Self · (1 episode)

2.0

1985

Coluche 1 faux

Coluche 1 faux

Self - Host · (3 episodes)

0.0

1985

Madman at War

Madman at War

Oscar Pilli

5.7

1985

All Mixed Up

All Mixed Up

Coyotte

5.2

1985

Les Rois du gag

Les Rois du gag

Georges

5.7

1985

The Vengeance of the Winged Serpent

The Vengeance of the Winged Serpent

Loulou Dupin

4.7

1984

Good King Dagobert

Good King Dagobert

Dagobert 1er

4.1

1984

Journal Bête Et Méchant Presente: Hara-Kiri N°1

Self

0.0

1984

So Long, Stooge

So Long, Stooge

Lambert

7.4

1983

My Best Friend's Girl

My Best Friend's Girl

Micky

5.7

1983

Banzaï

Banzaï

Michel Bernardin

6.2

1983

Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ

Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ

Ben-Hur Marcel / Aminemephet

6.1

1982

Elle voit des nains partout !

Elle voit des nains partout !

Un hallebardier

4.6

1982

Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées

Self · (6 episodes)

6.3

1982

Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées

Self (archive footage) · (3 episodes)

6.3

1982

Droit de Réponse

Droit de Réponse

Self

10.0

1981

Le Maître d'école

Le Maître d'école

Gérard Barbier

6.0

1981

Signé Furax

Signé Furax

L'agent double 098 / 099

4.8

1981

Inspector Blunder

Inspector Blunder

Trainee inspector Michel Clément / Commissioner Jules Clément

6.3

1980

You Won't Have Alsace-Lorraine

You Won't Have Alsace-Lorraine

Le roi Gros Pif Ier

4.7

1977

Drôles de zèbres

Drôles de zèbres

Chef

3.1

1977

Mosaïque

Mosaïque

Self

9.0

1976

The Wing or the Thigh?

The Wing or the Thigh?

Gérard Duchemin

7.2

1976

The Toilets Were Closed from the Inside

The Toilets Were Closed from the Inside

L'inspecteur Charbonnier

5.3

1976

Coluche : C'est pour rire

Coluche : C'est pour rire

Self

6.0

1976

Numéro un

Numéro un

Self · (9 episodes)

6.0

1975

Numéro un

Numéro un

Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)

6.0

1975

Système 2

Self · (4 episodes)

0.0

1975

Système 2

Self - Co-Host · (1 episode)

0.0

1975

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Self · (4 episodes)

6.0

1975

Midi Première

Midi Première

Self · (8 episodes)

10.0

1975

La Cloche tibétaine

La Cloche tibétaine

André Cécillon · (7 episodes)

6.5

1974

Spécial cinéma

Spécial cinéma

Self · (1 episode)

0.0

1974

La Ligne de démarcation

La Ligne de démarcation

L'évadé

6.0

1973

The Big Store

The Big Store

L'homme du couple visitant l'appartement

6.2

1973

The Year 01

The Year 01

The office manager

6.5

1973

Themroc

Themroc

The young neighbor / A worker / A cop

6.5

1973

Midi trente

Self · (1 episode)

6.0

1972

Le Grand Échiquier

Le Grand Échiquier

Self · (1 episode)

8.0

1972

Cadet Rousselle

Cadet Rousselle

Self · (1 episode)

0.0

1971

Troubleshooters

Troubleshooters

le barman

6.3

1971

Samedi soir

Self · (1 episode)

6.0

1971

Donkey Skin

Donkey Skin

Chanteur

7.2

1970

The Man with Connections

The Man with Connections

Marquand

5.8

1970

À bout portant

À bout portant

Self · (1 episode)

8.0

1968