
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992                   TAG: 9203150081
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PARIS                                LENGTH: Short

FRENCH ACTOR JEAN POIRET DIES AT 65

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

Poiret acted in about 40 films during his career. He was also a beginning 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 in 1986.

Poiret is best known as a writer for authoring and holding the lead role in the original play, "La Cage Aux Folles," the humorous tale of homosexuality later turned into a hit movie.

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

by CNB