French actor Michel Serrault died 29 July 2007 of cancer at his home in Honfleur, France. Born 24 January 1928 in Brunoy, France, he appeared in more than 125 movies, most of them comedies, and came to international fame as Albin Mougeotte, also known as Zaza Napoli, in the original film and stage versions of La Cage aux Folles. That role won him his first of three César Awards (the French equivalent of the Oscar). He also appeared in its two sequels.
His genre appearances include: Ne quittez pas! (aka Local Call, 2004), Belphégor—Le fantôme du Louvre (aka Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre, 2001), Malevil (1981), Chinese in Paris (1974), and The Down-in-the-Hole Gang (1974).
He is survived by his wife, Juanita, and daughter, Nathalie, and at least one granddaughter. His other daughter, Caroline, died in a car crash in 1977.