Michel Dejeneffe, creator of the puppet Tatayet, dies at 76

Michel Dejeneffe, the Belgian-born comedian and creator of the beloved puppet Tatayet, has died at the age of 76. Dejeneffe passed away Friday in a clinic in northern Loire, where he had been hospitalized for Lewy body disease, a neurodegenerative condition. His wife and daughter confirmed his death to AFP.

Dejeneffe gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s with Tatayet, a castor puppet known for its distinctive high-pitched voice and often cheeky demeanor. The puppet was a regular fixture on Belgian and French television shows, appearing on programs hosted by Michel Drucker and Patrick Sébastien.

Tatayet, recognizable by his overalls and squeaky voice, even conducted an interview with Jacques Chirac, then Prime Minister and Mayor of Paris, in 1987. Patrick Sébastien recalled Tatayet as a "magic word" that brought joy to many, not just children but adults as well.

Dejeneffe, who had lived in France for many years, co-directed a performing arts festival called Les Dauphins magiques with his partner until 2023. He and his partner also recently participated in activities with Père Noël du lundi, an association dedicated to brightening the stays of hospitalized children. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the Church of Andrézieux-Bouthéon.