PHILIPPE NOIRET - STARS AND POLITICIANS MOURN FRENCH ACTOR NOIRET

LATEST: French stars of the screen and stage joined leading politicians to mourn actor PHILIPPE NOIRET yesterday (27NOV06). The CINEMA PARADISO star died on Thursday (23NOV06) after a long battle with cancer. He was 76. One thousand mourners including CATHERINE DENEUVE, BERTRAND TAVERNIER, JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO and French Prime Minster DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN paid tribute to the star of more than 125 films at Paris' Sainte-Clotilde Basilica. Noiret's widow MONIQUE CHAUMETTE ensured the funeral was open to anyone who wanted to attend. Noiret started his career in 1956 in AGNES VARDA's film LA POINTE COURTE. He won two Cesar Awards (the French Oscars) for Best Actor for his roles in ROBERT ENRICO's 1976 film LE VIEUX FUSIL and Tavernier's 1990 production LA VIE ET RIEN D'AUTRE.