Victor Lanoux (18 June 1936 – 4 May 2017) was a French actor best known to English speaking audiences for his role as Ludovic in Cousin, Cousine.

Biography

Victor Lanoux, born Victor Robert Nataf is the son a Tunisian Jew from Sfax and a Catholic mother from Normandy. He was evacuated from Paris for the war; Lanoux refers to the name used during his stay in La Chapelle-Taillefert during French occupation where he lived until the age of 11, when he returned to Paris. He left school at age 14 to become an apprentice varnisher. He worked a variety of jobs, including the Simca assembly line, until he served in the army during the Algerian War. He was wounded. His father got him a job at the Studio de Billancourt. He learned acting by correspondence course, then a real course.

Career

In 1961 he met Pierre Richard who was looking for someone to partner his cabaret act. They worked together for a number of years, including a season at the Bobino and a tour of Le Gorille.

The act was seen by Rene Allio who cast Lanoux in La Vielle Dame Indigne (1965). This led to a starring role in La Vie Normale (1967).

Georges Wilson of the TNP cast Lanoux as Laertes in 'Hamlet'; he followed this with 'La Folle de Chaillot' at the TNP, then a three year run as star of Illusion Comique.

He made one of his earliest film appearances in The Shameless Old Lady. He received two nominations at the 1st César Awards in 1976, for his roles in Cousin Cousine and Adieu poulet. His best known role outside of Europe is perhaps that of The Thief in the 1985 comedy classic National Lampoon's European Vacation.