Gérard Croce, the French actor, screenwriter and producer known for roles in Les Fous du stade, Les Charlots font l’Espagne and Germinal, has died at the age of 80.
According to a funeral notice, Croce died on October 31, 2026, in Perche-en-Nocé, in France’s Orne department.
The notice identifies Croce as having been born in Marseille in 1946 and confirms that he was 80 when he died.
Table of Contents
Gérard Croce built a career in front of and behind the camera
Gérard Croce began appearing on screen in the late 1960s and developed a career that moved between acting, writing and production.
The Bibliothèque nationale de France lists him as an actor, screenwriter, producer and singer, with a birth date of February 6, 1946.
His acting credits included films and television projects released across more than four decades, according to his recorded filmography.
Croce was frequently cast in supporting roles, where his distinctive appearance and comic timing made him a familiar presence in French popular cinema.
Roles in Les Charlots films and Germinal
Among Croce’s best-known early appearances were the comedies associated with the group Les Charlots.
He played Bouboule in Les Charlots font l’Espagne and Lucien in Claude Zidi’s Les Fous du stade, both released in 1972.
Those films helped establish Croce as a recognizable supporting actor during a period when French comedy was drawing large theatrical audiences.
His work was not limited to comedy, however.
In 1993, Croce appeared in Claude Berri’s Germinal, playing Maigrat in the adaptation of Émile Zola’s novel.
The film starred Renaud, Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou and Jean Carmet, with Croce contributing to the ensemble portraying life in a mining community.
His production work included Léa Parker
Gérard Croce also held important production roles on film and television projects.
His credits included production work on the television series Sydney Fox, l’aventurière and Léa Parker, the French police-action series led by Sonia Rolland.
Léa Parker aired on M6 from 2004 to 2006 and followed an elite officer working for a special-operations division.
Croce’s involvement in the series illustrated the second half of his career, in which he increasingly worked behind the scenes while continuing to accept acting roles.
His production credits also extended to projects such as Mesrine, Relic Hunter and other French and international television productions.
A familiar figure in French screen entertainment
Croce’s filmography includes appearances in Astérix chez les Bretons, Astérix et le coup du menhir, Les Branchés à Saint-Tropez, Maigret and La Crim’.
His career reflected the range of work available to a dependable character actor in French cinema and television, from broad comedy and adventure projects to literary drama and long-running series.
He also worked as a screenwriter on Les Folies d’Élodie, a credit recorded in the BnF catalogue.
The circumstances surrounding Croce’s death have not been publicly detailed in the funeral notice.
He is survived by a body of work that remains available through French film and television archives, including the productions that introduced him to audiences in the 1970s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Gérard Croce?
Gérard Croce was a French actor, screenwriter and producer whose career included film, television and production work.
How old was Gérard Croce when he died?
He was 80 years old.
When did Gérard Croce die?
A funeral notice says he died on October 31, 2026, in Perche-en-Nocé, France.
What movies was Gérard Croce known for?
He was known for Les Fous du stade, Les Charlots font l’Espagne and Germinal, among other films.
What was Gérard Croce’s connection to Léa Parker?
He worked in production on Léa Parker, the M6 series starring Sonia Rolland.
Fact-Checked: Key biographical, career and death details were checked against the funeral notice, Bibliothèque nationale de France records and filmography databases.
Disclaimer: The cause of death was not provided in the publicly available funeral notice reviewed for this report.