European Films

French actor Philippe Noiret (here with the small Salvatore Cascio) in a scene from Nuovo Cinema Paradiso. Photo (c): Miramax, 1990.

French acting giant Philippe Noiret, whose two Italian-language roles in Il Postino (The Postman) and Nuovo Cinema Paradiso made him an international star, died in Paris on Thursday at age 76. Equally at ease in comedy and more dramatic roles, Noiret acted in over 125 films, including many by Bertrand Tavernier (Coup de torchon/Clean Up, L'horloger de Saint-Paul/The Watch Maker of Saint Paul), Philippe de Broca and Mario Monicelli. He also starred in the boxoffice hit series Ripoux from Claude Zidi and the magnificent Zazie dans le métro from Louis Malle, which was his breakthrough role in 1960. Noiret had long been battling cancer but continued to work; his last film, Michel Boujenah's 3 amis (3 friends) will be released next summer.