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Hervé Villechaize

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Hervé Villechaize Famous memorial

Birth
Paris, City of Paris, Île-de-France, France
Death
4 Sep 1993 (aged 50)
North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Cremated, Ashes scattered. Specifically: Scattered off Point Fermin, California Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Actor, Artist. Born Hervé Jean-Pierre Villechaize in Paris, France, the son of a French doctor and an English born mother. By the age of three, Herve was diagnosed with an acute thyroid condition which would stunt his growth to 3'11". He studied painting and photography at the Beaux-Arts Museum in Paris. At the age of 18, he became the youngest artist to ever have his work displayed in the prestigious Museum of Paris. At age 21, Hervé traveled to New York City for the art scene and became caught up with acting. His first credited movie role was that of Beppo in the 1971's 'The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight'. In 1974, he landed the role of Nick-Nack in the James Bond film 'The Man with the Golden Gun'. He is best remembered, however, for the role of Tattoo in the hit ABC TV show, 'Fantasy Island'. He played Tattoo in two TV movies in 1977 and 1978 and in the resultant series for five years. ABC dropped Hervé from the show over a salary dispute; his last episode of Fantasy Island was shot in April 1983. He entered into a short lived marriage with show stand-in Donna Camille that did not last even a year. Health problems due to his condition worsened, he nearly died of pneumonia in 1992. Apparently, he lived in almost constant pain, taking innumerable pills daily to alleviate his multiple symptoms and drinking heavily. In the early morning of September 4, 1993, he wrote a note, went out to his back yard and sat down. He made a tape recording saying he was despondent over health problems. He then shot himself in the chest in his backyard at his home in North Hollywood, California. He was pronounced dead just after 3 A.M. Hervé's body was cremated and the ashes were scattered at sea off Point Fermin, San Pedro, California.
Actor, Artist. Born Hervé Jean-Pierre Villechaize in Paris, France, the son of a French doctor and an English born mother. By the age of three, Herve was diagnosed with an acute thyroid condition which would stunt his growth to 3'11". He studied painting and photography at the Beaux-Arts Museum in Paris. At the age of 18, he became the youngest artist to ever have his work displayed in the prestigious Museum of Paris. At age 21, Hervé traveled to New York City for the art scene and became caught up with acting. His first credited movie role was that of Beppo in the 1971's 'The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight'. In 1974, he landed the role of Nick-Nack in the James Bond film 'The Man with the Golden Gun'. He is best remembered, however, for the role of Tattoo in the hit ABC TV show, 'Fantasy Island'. He played Tattoo in two TV movies in 1977 and 1978 and in the resultant series for five years. ABC dropped Hervé from the show over a salary dispute; his last episode of Fantasy Island was shot in April 1983. He entered into a short lived marriage with show stand-in Donna Camille that did not last even a year. Health problems due to his condition worsened, he nearly died of pneumonia in 1992. Apparently, he lived in almost constant pain, taking innumerable pills daily to alleviate his multiple symptoms and drinking heavily. In the early morning of September 4, 1993, he wrote a note, went out to his back yard and sat down. He made a tape recording saying he was despondent over health problems. He then shot himself in the chest in his backyard at his home in North Hollywood, California. He was pronounced dead just after 3 A.M. Hervé's body was cremated and the ashes were scattered at sea off Point Fermin, San Pedro, California.

Bio by: Iola


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Jun 1, 1999
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5585/herv%C3%A9-villechaize: accessed ), memorial page for Hervé Villechaize (23 Apr 1943–4 Sep 1993), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5585; Cremated, Ashes scattered; Maintained by Find a Grave.