Coluche

Coluche

I chose Coluche for myhero.com project. He was a French comic, born in 1944 in Paris, and died th 19 June 1985. His real name was Michel Colucci. He also was an actor in various films but essentially in comedy, like the famous "L'aile ou la cuisse", and the author of several books. He contested the contemporary society or taboo subjects in his sketches, films or book. He came across really well in the media.

To begin, he had created in 1969 the " Café de la gare" with several young artists, among them Gerard Depardieu or Gerard Jugnot for example. He achieved a great success with his humour, "always coarse, never rude". But he had to quit the company because of alcohol troubles. So, he decided to create another company, the "Vrai chic parisien" but he was forced to leave his new company for the same troubles. So he started his solo career, and he was in television and radio for the first time in 1974. With his success, and his wish to change something in the French political system and improve the life of the poorest people, he announced that he would be candidate to the presidential election in 1981. He managed to have 16% of vote interest, but abandoned this because of the murder of René Gorlin, his stage manager.

He received in 1981 the cesar of the best actor in the film "Tchao Pantin". But his biggest success is the creation of "Les restos du coeur", a charity in 1985. This association allows poor people to eat for free. He gave more than 8.5 million meals the first winter. Again today,this charity continues to distribute several million meals, though it was a temporary charity.

But a few times after this other success, he died in a tragic motor bike crash and some people didn't hesitate to say this accident was a murder. Although that is what really happened, Coluche will stay for a long time yet in memories, with his striped overalls.

I think Coluche was a great person because he brought several important ideas and launched major public debates. Coluche helped the society to advance. With the creation of "Les Restos du Coeur", he managed to improve the life of the poorest people, and offer them a big help. If there were more people like Coluche, the world would probably be better.