Jacques Villeret

When his career was at its height, with the success of Le Dîner de Cons, everything collapsed in a tragedy mirroring the plot of the film. Villeret separated from his wife and suffered an enormous financial downfall due to tax issues, plunging him into depression. Villeret turned to alcohol for comfort, and became an alcoholic. He isolated himself and hid away for long periods. He later said: "Alcohol is a friend, but a friend who means you harm."^[3]

Villeret's love of his profession helped to bring his career back from the brink. In an interview in 2001 he spoke of his admiration for performers like Johnny Hallyday and Jacques Brel for their level of commitment, and quoted the author Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "When I write, I put my balls on the table."^[4]

In 1979 Villeret married Irina Tarassov, an actress and writer. They separated in 1998. Tarassov wrote about their life together in her book Un jour, tout ira bien. (One day, everything will go well).^[5]

In 2002 Villeret met Seny, a Senegalese-French widow descended through her grandfather, Mor Diarra N'Dao, from a long line of Sérès nobles of the ancient Kingdom of Saloum, and they fell instantly and deeply in love.

Filmography

Theatre

• 1990 : La Contrebasse
• 1993 : Le Dîner de cons
• 2000 : Jeffrey Bernard est souffrant

Awards

• 1979 :
  César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  for Robert et Robert
• 1999 : César Award for Best Actor for Le Dîner de cons
• 1999 : Lumières Award for Best Actor for Le Dîner de cons
• Chevalier des Arts et Lettres
• Légion d'honneur

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jacques Villeret.

• Jacques Villeret at
  IMDb
• Jacques Villeret at AllMovie
• Visit Jacques's grave in Perrusson near Loches, France