1. Coluche adopted Coluche as a stage name at age 26, when he began his entertainment career.
17 Facts About Coluche
1. 2.
Coluche became known for his irreverent attitude towards politics and the establishment, and he incorporated this into much of his material.
3.
Coluche was one of the first major comedians to regularly use profanities as a source of humor on French television.
4.
Coluche's father, Honorio Colucci, from Casalvieri in Lazio, Italy, was a painter and decorator.
5.
Coluche's father died in 1947 at age 31 from poliomyelitis; his wife struggled thereafter to raise the young Michel and his sister on a meagre salary.
6.
Coluche showed little promise at school, and left after completing his primary studies.
7.
Coluche tried various temporary jobs, and had several run-ins with authorities.
8.
Coluche found this work dull, and suddenly quit, which caused a long-lasting breach with his mother.
9.
Coluche quickly found success, but alcohol problems forced him to leave the group.
10.
Coluche went on to found another group, Le vrai chic parisien and it was then that he met his future wife, Veronique Kantor.
11.
Coluche became famous with his parody of a TV game.
12.
Coluche was sacked by the radio stations Europe 1 and Radio Monte Carlo for vulgarity.
13.
In 1984 Coluche was awarded the Cesar Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Tchao Pantin directed by Claude Berri, a film that mirrored his chaotic personal life.
14.
In March 1985 Coluche had set a world speed record on a one-km track in Italy with a 750cc motorcycle.
15.
In March 2011, a bronze statue of Coluche, dressed in his trademark striped dungarees, was unveiled in his hometown of Montrouge.
16.
Coluche won the Cesar Award for "Best Actor" for his role in Tchao Pantin, one of his few dramatic roles.
17.
The main-belt asteroid 170906 Coluche, discovered by Swiss astronomer Michel Ory in 2004, was named after Coluche.