Annie Fargue was a French actress who rose to fame in the United States in the early 1960s, when she played the title role in the CBS sitcom Angel. She was also a successful theatrical producer and the manager of French singer Michel Polnareff. But what was Annie Fargue’s cause of death and how did she cope with her illness? Here is a brief overview of her life and career, as well as the details of her death.
Early Life and Career
Annie Fargue was born on April 15, 1934, in Belgium as Henriette Goldfarb. She escaped the country with her family before the Nazi occupation and moved to France, where she pursued her dream of becoming an actress. She studied at the Conservatoire National and landed some roles in theater and film.
She traveled to New York in the late 1950s and married dancer Dirk Sanders. The couple had a daughter, Leslie Tabuteau, who was born shortly before Fargue began filming her breakthrough role in Angel in April 1960. Angel was a comedy series about a scatterbrained French wife of an American architect, played by Marshall Thompson. The show was produced by Jess Oppenheimer, who had previously worked on I Love Lucy. Fargue was discovered by Broadway producer Joshua Logan, who had her take English lessons to improve her accent.
Angel ran for 33 episodes from 1960 to 1961 and earned Fargue the title of “most promising new star in a situation comedy” according to Dead or Kicking. However, the show did not attract enough viewers and was canceled after one season. Fargue then appeared as a guest star in a few other series, such as The Rifleman, Adventures in Paradise, and Perry Mason. Her last television appearance was in 1964.
Return to France and Later Career
Fargue divorced her husband and returned to France in the mid-1960s. She switched from acting to producing and became involved in some of the most popular musicals of the time, such as Hair, Godspell, Oh! Calcutta!, and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also worked as an associate producer for the 1981 John Huston film Escape to Victory, which starred Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and Pelé.
In the 1980s, Fargue became the manager of French singer Michel Polnareff, who was one of the most popular pop stars in France. She helped him revive his career and deal with his legal and financial troubles. She also became his partner and lived with him until her death.
Annie Fargue Cause of Death
Annie Fargue died of cancer on March 4, 2011, at the age of 76, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. She had been battling the disease for several years and had undergone chemotherapy treatments. She kept her illness private and did not reveal it to the public or the media.
She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean near Tahiti, where she had spent some happy moments with Polnareff. Polnareff paid tribute to her on his Facebook page, writing: “She was my angel, my guardian angel, my friend, my partner, my manager. She was everything to me.” He also dedicated a song to her called “Lettre à France”, which he performed at his concerts.
Annie Fargue was a talented and versatile woman who left a mark on both sides of the Atlantic. She was loved by many fans and colleagues who admired her charm, humor, and professionalism. She will be remembered as one of the pioneers of French-American comedy and as a loyal and devoted partner of Michel Polnareff.
