Jean Poiret, 65; French Actor, Playwright Wrote and Starred in ‘La Cage Aux Folles’

Jean Poiret, one of France’s most prolific actors and writers who starred in and wrote the play “La Cage Aux Folles,” died Saturday of a heart attack, film industry officials said. He was 65.

Poiret acted in about 40 films. He was also a first-time director. Filming on the first movie he directed, “The Zebra,” was completed just before his death, officials said.

Among his film credits are Francois Truffaut’s “The Last Metro” in 1980, “Chicken in Vinegar” and “Inspecteur Lavardin” in 1986, both directed by Claude Chabrol, and “The Miracle Cure” by Jean-Pierre Mocky, also in 1986.

Poiret is best known as a writer for authoring and holding the lead role in the stage play “La Cage Aux Folles,” the humorous tale of homosexuality that was turned into a hit movie and a musical.

He is survived by his wife, actress Caroline Cellier, who appears in “The Zebra,” and their son, Nicolas.