Entertainment · Film · 3 hrs ago
French actor Gérard Croce dies at 80
French actor Gérard Croce has died at 80, his family announced over the weekend.
He was born in Marseille and began acting in the 1960s, becoming widely known in the early 1970s.
He appeared in popular comedies including Les Bidasses en folie and Les Charlots font l’Espagne, often playing supporting roles.
His film work also included Claude Berri’s Germinal, where he played the shopkeeper Maigrat.
Croce worked across film and television for about five decades, later appearing in television films and helping to coproduce series including Léa Parker.
His death marks the loss of a familiar face in French popular entertainment, even if many viewers did not know his name.
Sonia Rolland, who worked on Léa Parker, paid tribute to him on Instagram.
French actor Gérard Croce has died at 80, his family announced over the weekend.
He died on Saturday, October 31, according to Gala.
Croce was known for supporting roles in popular French films, including Les Charlots font l’Espagne and Germinal.
He began his career in the 1960s and became widely known in the early 1970s.
He later worked in television and co-produced series including Sydney Fox, l’aventurière and Léa Parker.
- Who
- Gérard Croce, a French actor and production director.
- What
- He died at 80.
- When
- Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Croce got his first small film role in Kriss Romani.
Kriss Romani was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.
Croce became widely known through films including Les Fous du stade and Les Bidasses en folie.
Croce retired from film and television, according to Gala.
Croce died at 80.
Sonia Rolland paid tribute to Croce on Instagram.
- Age at death
- 80
- Date of death
- October 31, 2026
- First film role
- Kriss Romani
- Notable film role
- Maigrat in Germinal
- Television series
- Léa Parker
3 sources
What people are saying
I played small roles, medium-sized roles, supporting roles, and two or three times I played leading roles.
1946-2046. May your soul rest in peace.
Posts on X
#Décès de Gérard #CROCE à 80 ans, second rôle prolifique des années 60/90 notamment dans les films des #Charlots, et sous la direction de Michel Deville, Jean Girault, Claude Chabrol, Christian Fechner ou Claude Berri notamment dans « Germinal ». Nombreuses séries TV (source