As Tattoo, he would loyally stand by as Mr. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. A year later he was arrested for allegedly kicking and threatening a 6-foot-3 man who tried to serve him with legal papers in a civil action brought by his ex-wife. He agreed to move out in exchange for not having to pay the back rent.
I was delighted to be part of his life. Carla Hall is an editorial board member who writes about homelessness, reproductive rights, popular culture, animal welfare, and human rights in Asia and Africa, among other topics. All Sections. About Us. B2B Publishing. By the time he reached three, Herve was diagnosed with an acute thyroid condition. The malfunctioning organ would leave Herve at a full-grown height of just under 4 ft tall.
Several surgeries and specialized medical procedures at Minnesota's Mayo clinic in America would prove extremely painful and unfortunately unsuccessful at correcting his condition. Earning him much respect and a certain amount of fame in France, Herve studied painting and photography at the famed 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.
Herve's road to further fame and success would take its first hairpin turn when, after a night of heavy boozing, he attacked a painting with a knife. In a morbidly prophetic twist, the painting was a self-portrait!
At the age of 21 Herve sailed to New York City to ply his artistic craft. After teaching himself English by watching American television and upon immersing himself in the New York City art scene, he would eventually land roles in several off-Broadway plays in the big city.
He wouldn't experience his big break into show biz until however, when he landed the role of a tiny villain named Nick-Nack in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. Fantasy Island. Hoping to capitalize on the momentum he experienced with the success of his role in the James Bond thriller, Herve would move to California, where he worked sporadically until he eventually hooked up with Aaron Spelling.
The pilot proved to be so successful that a sequel in called Return to Fantasy Island was taped. ABC would eventually order a series of the show. Before it was finished, Fantasy Island would run for six seasons, from , making a household name out of his character known as 'Tattoo' and injecting his heavily accented "de plane, de plane" into American pop culture. The Villachaize marriage would quickly go south however, leading Donna to file for divorce in December of It was reported that the divorce severely devastated Herve.
He began to sense he was not being treated as fairly as other Fantasy Island cast members. He responded by demanding the same money as front man Montalban, prompting ABC to drop Herve from the show. Herve would tape his last episode of Fantasy Island in April of The Beginning of the End. Leaving Fantasy Island would prove to be the push of the first domino in his teetering career.
Herve, having blown through his Fantasy Island cash faster than a mouse through cheese, would find himself short of money and big on assets. He would eventually sell his Power Ranch in the Valley and move into a less than reputable rent-house in North Hollywood. His collapsing career and deteriorating health would eventually force Herve to explore a life with the bottle.
It was reported that he would often consume two bottles of wine in a single night. While not that unusual for average sized humans, one must remember that Herve tipped the scales at a scant 90 pounds. A series of phone calls in would lead to another act of violence by Herve. Assuming the caller to be a rival suitor for the affection of his girlfriend, Herve would eventually purchase a handgun.
On one particular night, following another two-bottle bender, Herve became enraged, brandished his shiny new piece, and threatened to shoot it.
It would take several friends and family members to eventually calm him down. In increasing pain from internal organs that were too large for his body, Herve was taking upwards of 20 pills a day to alleviate the symptoms.
He realized that his body was beginning to shut down, and found himself fending off frequent bouts of depression. In Herve's luck would turn a bit towards the better. He found work in several TV commercials including a Dunkin Donuts spot that, despite his wishes to distance himself from his Tattoo days, would find him asking for "de plain" "de plain" donut.
They would later enjoy a dinner at a restaurant near their home at Killion Drive. In the early morning hours of September 4, his common-law wife even though she didn't live in the same house would find his body.
It seems Herve had written a suicide note, grabbed his tape recorder and proceeded to his cluttered backyard. Tattoo was replaced by Mr.
Belvedere in the final season. Late in the series, Villechaize grew demanding behind the scenes, asking for more money, and displayed improper behavior on the set. Though he is heavily associated with the show, the actor was kicked off Fantasy Island for the final year. To make the boat come alive, the production shot on two real cruise ships: The Pacific Princess and Island Princess.
Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis April 24, What happened to the actor who played Tattoo on Fantasy Island? Why was tattoo fired Fantasy Island? Who is tattoo in the new Fantasy Island? Was Mr Roarke a God? Did Mr Roarke have a first name? Is there a real fantasy island?
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