Who is Herve Villechaize?

Herve Villechaize was a French-American actor and painter, best known for his role as Nick Nack in the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun." Born on April 23, 1943, in Paris, France, Villechaize suffered from dwarfism, which made him stand at just 3ft 11in. Despite his physical challenges, he went on to have a successful career in Hollywood, appearing in numerous TV shows and films throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Villechaize was born to immigrant parents in Paris, France, but he grew up in Marseilles where he attended a naval academy. He was rejected by the French army due to his dwarfism, but he eventually made his way to New York City where he studied at the National Academy of Art.

Villechaize's big break came in 1974 when he was cast in the TV series "Fantasy Island," where he starred alongside Ricardo Montalban. He played the role of Tattoo, the loyal assistant to Montalban's character, Mr. Roarke. The show was a huge success, airing for seven seasons and making Villechaize a household name.

Aside from "Fantasy Island" and "The Man with the Golden Gun," Villechaize appeared in a number of other TV shows and films, including "The Forbidden Zone," "Airwolf," and "The Fall Guy." He also did a lot of commercial work, appearing in ads for companies such as Brute, Pepsi, and Pioneer Chicken.

Sadly, Villechaize's life was plagued with personal struggles and demons. He struggled with depression and substance abuse, and he was often difficult to work with on set. In 1993, Villechaize died by suicide at the age of 50. Despite his short life and difficult personal struggles, Herve Villechaize will always be remembered as a unique and memorable figure in Hollywood history.