France's Mylene Demongeot Dies after 70 Years of Screen Stardom

Mylene Demongeot starred in big-grossing comedies from the 1960s right up to 2022. AFP/File
Mylene Demongeot starred in big-grossing comedies from the 1960s right up to 2022. AFP/File
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France's Mylene Demongeot Dies after 70 Years of Screen Stardom

Mylene Demongeot starred in big-grossing comedies from the 1960s right up to 2022. AFP/File
Mylene Demongeot starred in big-grossing comedies from the 1960s right up to 2022. AFP/File

French actress Mylene Demongeot, a box office star from the 1950s right up to the present day, who also appeared in several British productions, died on Thursday at the age of 87.

Her 70-year career included turns as Milady de Winter in the 1961 version of "The Three Musketeers" and alongside David Niven in Otto Preminger's "Bonjour Tristesse" in 1958, AFP said.

In France, she was best known for comedies, especially two trilogies that appeared half a century apart -- the "Fantomas" films in the 1960s and "Camping" franchise in recent years.

She also appeared in more serious fare, and was nominated for a BAFTA for best newcomer for her part in 1957's "The Crucible", adapted by Jean-Paul Sartre from the famous play by Arthur Miller.

She stayed popular to the end, starring in "Retirement Home" alongside Gerard Depardieu, one of the biggest box office hits of 2022 in France.

Demongeot was often compared to her contemporary Brigitte Bardot in her early years, and was similarly a passionate advocate of environmental and animal charities.

She died in a Paris hospital, with no cause of death immediately given.



Comedian Conan O'Brien to Host Oscars

(FILES) US television host and comedian Conan O'Brien visits the briefing room of the White House December 15, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
(FILES) US television host and comedian Conan O'Brien visits the briefing room of the White House December 15, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
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Comedian Conan O'Brien to Host Oscars

(FILES) US television host and comedian Conan O'Brien visits the briefing room of the White House December 15, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
(FILES) US television host and comedian Conan O'Brien visits the briefing room of the White House December 15, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

Comedian Conan O'Brien, a former late-night television host, will be the emcee for the Oscars for the first time, taking over from fellow funnyman Jimmy Kimmel, organizers said Friday.
O'Brien, 61, will preside over Hollywood's biggest night next March, hoping to maintain -- and even perhaps improve -- on an uptick in ratings seen earlier this year, AFP reported.
"America demanded it and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars," O'Brien quipped in a statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang called O'Brien "the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies and his live TV expertise."
"His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best -- honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year," they said in the statement.
Executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan hailed O'Brien as "incredibly witty, charismatic and funny."
O'Brien, a five-time Emmy winner, hosted several late-night talk shows, including "The Tonight Show," and currently hosts the podcast "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend." He previously served as a writer for "Saturday Night Live."
Kimmel first hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018. He was then brought back in 2023 after the previous year's ceremony featured actor Will Smith's infamous on-stage slap of Chris Rock. Kimmel also hosted the gala this past March.
Almost 20 million tuned in for the last Oscars -- a welcome upward trend for organizers of live awards shows, which have been shedding viewers as they compete for viewers with streamers and social media highlight clips.
The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.