French comedian Bun Hay Mean, 43, jumped or fell from his 8th-floor apartment balcony in Paris on July 10. Born in France to Chinese and Cambodian parents, he moved to Paris after college and broke into the stand-up scene. He soon became known as “Chinois marrant” (“funny Chinese”)—his act skewered racism, cultural prejudice, social criticism, and was full of self-mockery. Sortir Paris noted Mean’s “unique style and ability to tackle sensitive subjects with humor and intelligence . . . He was a singular voice on the humor scene, wielding both laughter and reflection.” He also acted in such films and TV shows as The Chef, Reboot, Golden Moustache, Migraine, Carrément Craignos, Somin Gazé, Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, and last year’s Les Chèvres. At the time of his death, Mean was scheduled to perform his show Kill Bun across France and Canada.
