Carlos

Carlos is the stage name of Yvan-Chrysostome Dolto, a French singer, entertainer and actor born in Paris in 1943 and died in 2008. He is also sometimes called Jean-Christophe Doltovitch. He is the son of the psychoanalyst Françoise Dolto and the physiotherapist Boris Dolto.

Early life and career

He earns a diploma in 1961 at the l’École française d’orthopédie et de masso-kinésithérapie, which is headed by his father. At 14, he meets Johnny Hallyday and later becomes Hallyday’s artistic assistant. In 1958, he is renamed Carlos in homage to the percussionist Carlos “Patato” Valdes.

From 1962 to 1972, he works as Sylvie Vartan’s artistic assistant. During that period, he and Vartan discover Mike Brant and bring him to France in 1969.

Public profile and media work

Carlos develops a recognisable image as an overweight performer with a jovial appearance, adopting a style associated with singer Antoine, including leis and Hawaiian shirts. In 1980, he becomes a spokesman for the Oasis fruit drink brand, with his song “Rosalie” used in television advertising.

In 1988, he is named mascot of the Mirapolis amusement park in the Val-d’Oise. He stands for election in Courdimanche in 1989 but is not elected. He also appears regularly on Philippe Bouvard’s radio programme Grosses Têtes.

He has his own cartoon, Around the World in 80 Dreams (Les aventures de Carlos), in 1992, and he narrates the French version of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (T’as l’bonjour d’Albert). From 2000 to 2007, he directs documentary films for the series Le Gros homme et la Mer on the Odyssée and Voyage channels.

Later life

In January 2008, Carlos dies in Clichy. He is buried in the Bourg-la-Reine cemetery beside his parents.