Herve Villechaize Biography

Herve Villechaize was best known for "Tattoo" in the television series, "Fantasy Island" as well as "Nick Nack" in the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". Herve Jean-Pierre Villechaize was born on April 23, 1943 in Paris, France. Villechaize was born with proportionate dwarfism as a result of a thyroid dysfunction. Villechaize's full height would be 3'11. His father was a surgeon who had tried to pursue a treatment for his son's condition. Villechaize studied photography along with painting, at Beau-Arts Museum in Paris, France where his paintings would be featured at the young age of 18. When he turned 21 years old, Villechaize left France for New York to pursue work as a photographer and artist. He learned English from television shows. Villechaize eventually caught the acting bug.

Villechaize's first role was in the 1966 film, "Chappaqua". His next role wouldn't come until four years later playing the lead in "Item 72-D: The Adventures of Spa and Fon". The next films that Villechaize appeared in were, "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" with Robert De Niro, "The Last Stop", "Greaser's Palace" which was directed by Robert Downey Sr. and the horror film, "Malatesta's Carnival of Blood". In 1970, Villechaize would marry and it would last eight years. In 1974, Villechaize starred in "Seizure", "Crazy Joe" and Ian Fleming's "The Man with the Golden Gun" with Roger Moore and Christopher Lee. In 1977, Villechaize starred in the television movie, "Fantasy Island" and the follow up in 1978, "Return to Fantasy Island". The television movies did so well that a series was created from it. Villechaize would stay with the show for five years. In 1982, he would be nominated for a Golden Globe. Villechaize was fired in 1983, due to a request for a pay increase. The series would go on for one more year and then it would be eventually canceled due to lack of interest after Villechaize left. He met his second wife, Camille Hagen, on the set of "Fantasy Island" but it would only last a year. While on the series, Villechaize appeared in the films, "The One and Only" with Henry Winkler as well as "Forbidden Zone". After "Fantasy Island", Villechaize appeared in the films, "Airplane II: The Sequel" with Lloyd Bridges and William Shatner as well as "Two Moon Junction" in 1988. Villechaize's last known appearance was on "The Carol Burnett Show" in 1991.

The next year proved to be a difficult one for Villechaize. His diminutive size caused problems for him health wise including pneumonia, a spastic colon and ulcers. On September 4, 1993 his common law wife, Kathy Self awoke to gunshots in the backyard. Upon entering the yard, Self found Villechaize had shot himself but was still alive. Paramedics were called and Villechaize was immediately taken to the Medical Center of North Hollywood where he passed away a short time later. Herve Villechaize was 50 years old. Villechaize was cremated and his ashes were scattered off Point Fermin, California.