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An amateur filmmaker, Molinaro began working on industrial films and documentaries in the '50s, and in 1958 helmed his first feature. His flair for comedy began surfacing in the '60s with Une Ravissante Idiote (aka A Ravishing Idiot) and La Chasse A L'Homme (aka Male Hunt). In the late '70s Molinaro had a huge international hit (and scored two Oscar nominations, including one for Best Director) with his transvestite farce La Cage Aux Folles; he also helmed its first sequel in 1981. His later films include the English-language romantic comedy Just the Way You Are. In the latter part of his career, Molinaro mostly stuck to French television and TV movies, before passing away in 2013 at age 85.