Wissenswertes

The reason for his suicide was not career woes, as is commonly believed, but because he was in nearly constant pain as his body aged. While small externally, his internal organs were of normal size, and crowded each other over the years. In his last months, he had to sleep in a kneeling position, because lying down made it impossible to breathe.

Committed suicide in North Hollywood, California. Died of self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Became involved with children's charities during his heyday, including opening a halfway house for runaways and troubled youths. He enjoyed helping children, who found it easy to relate to him because of his height.

When 12, Villechaize spent six months in an American clinic where doctors tried everything to encourage his growth. It was while he was in the clinic that he started to draw and his parents enrolled him at La Grande chaumiere in Paris where he started painting, and by 16 had a one-man exhibition in Paris.

Best remembered by the public for his role as "Tattoo" in the TV series Fantasy Island (1977).

Due to his resemblance to Felipe González (former president of Spain between 1984-1996), Herve parodied him in a well-known Spanish TV show called Viaje con nosotros (1988). In Spain he is still known as "Felipe Gonzalez's double".

Was the director's choice for the role of Gurney Halleck in Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Dune".

Famous for the line "The plane! The plane!" that he said in each episode of Fantasy Island (1977) with his French accent.

Adopted at the age of two by his stepfather, Andre Villechaize, according to his common law wife Kathy Self. Hervé's biological father is unknown.

Same height as David Rappaport, who also died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

His brother Patrick has said that Hervé was of English, French, Italian, and German descent.

In the early morning hours of September 4, 1993, at his North Hollywood home, Villechaize, aged 50, is believed to have first fired a shot through the sliding-glass patio door to awaken his longtime girlfriend, Kathy Self, before shooting himself. He also left an audio recording of the suicide that included his last words.

He lived in North Hollywood on W. Killion Street.

Used to share a room with actor/director/writer Matthew Bright.

In 1961, he became the youngest artist ever to have his work displayed in the Museum of Paris.

In the 1970s, Villechaize performed Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street as a pair of legs peeping out from Oscar's trash can, for scenes that required Oscar to be mobile. These appearances began in the third season, and included the 1978 Hawaii episodes.

Villechaize was bullied at school for his condition and found solace in painting. In 1959, at age 16, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts to study art.

Though popular with the public, Villechaize proved a difficult actor on Fantasy Island, where he continually propositioned women and quarreled with the producers. He was eventually fired after demanding a salary on par with that of his co-star Ricardo Montalbán.

He began acting in Off-Broadway productions, including Werner Liepolt's The Young Master Dante and a play by Sam Shepard.

According to Self, Villechaize often slept in a kneeling position so he could breathe more easily.

In the mid-1970s, Villechaize had a two-year relationship with actress Susan Tyrrell and shared a home with her in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles.

In 1964, Villechaize left France for the United States. He settled in a Bohemian section of New York City, and taught himself English by watching television.

In 1980, Cleveland International Records released a single by the Children of the World, featuring Villechaize as vocalist: "Why", with B-side "When a Child Is Born".

Was friends with Mary Woronov.

Villechaize was replaced by Christopher Hewett on Fantasy Island.

Villechaize initially worked as an artist, painter, and photographer. He also modelled for photos for National Lampoon before moving on to film.

His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean off Point Fermin in San Pedro, Los Angeles.

Hervé Villechaize was a French actor and painter.