Depardieu Under the Knife
French movie star Gerard Depardieu underwent successful coronary bypass surgery and is recovering in a Paris hospital.
That's according to his film agency, ArtMedia.
ArtMedia said the 51-year-old actor, producer and director underwent surgery Monday at the Foch hospital in Suresnes, outside Paris. The agency said doctors decided to perform the operation following tests, but that there was no emergency. It said Depardieu was expected to recover fully.
Doctor Gilles Dreyfus, who conducted the six-hour operation, said the actor was admitted last week after suffering from chest pains.
"There was no alternative treatment," Dreyfus said, adding that the patient was doing very well but would have to stay in hospital another eight or nine days.
Depardieu is France's most prolific actor, with more than 100 movies to his credit. His reputation has long exceeded the borders of his homeland. Some of his best known movies include Cyrano de Bergerac; Get Out Your Handkerchiefs; The Return of Martin Guerre; Jean de Florette; My Father, the Hero; and the English-language comedy Green Card.
Depardieu is also known for his 1998 French-language television miniseries "Le Comte de Monte Cristo," which was broadcast in the U.S. and other foreign countries, in addition to France.
In May, he attended the Cannes Film Festival in southern France to promote the lavish period drama "Vatel" and was filming a comedy when he fell ill. He is expected to return to the set soon, his film agency said.
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