PARIS — French actor, director and producer Claude Berri, an institution in French cinema for more than half a century, died Monday at age 74. Agent Dominique Segall said he died of a “cerebral-vascular” problem — language often used for a stroke.
Berri, whom President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed as “legendary,” produced Roman Polanski’s “Tess” in 1979 and directed movies including “Jean de Florette” in 1986 and “Manon des Sources” (“Manon of the Spring”), also in 1986, both adapted from Marcel Pagnol’s vision of the French countryside. Berri’s short film “Le Poulet” won an Oscar in 1965.
He was in the midst of directing “Tresor” (“Treasure”) — his 20th directing project — when he died, Segall said.
Berri was involved in every aspect of cinema over more than a half-century as an actor, writer, director and producer.
