Au Revoir, Albin

Michel Serrault, the French actor who created the role of Albin in the original film version of La Cage aux Folles, has died.

Serrault's outrageous performance of Albin and his flamboyant drag diva alter ego Zaza won him his first César Award (France's Oscar). He reprised the role in two sequels as well. La Cage (based on the play by Jean Poiret, which Serrault also starred in) was recreated on Broadway as a splashy Jerry Herman musical and was remade in America as The Birdcage.

In addition to the La Cage trilogy, Serrault appeared in more then 130 films, including two more César Award-winning roles in Garde à Vue and Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud (co-starring Emmanuelle Béart).

Links via Imdb.com and Advocate.com.