Louis Dega
Louis Dega | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1890 |
| Died | unknown |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Criminal |
Louis Dega (born 1890, Marseille, France - died unknown, unknown) was a prisoner in the French Guiana penitentiary as of 1932 (convicted on fraud for fifteen years) and companion of Henri Charrière, AKA Papillon for thirteen years. He had a younger brother named Joseph who tried to help Charriere escape from Barranquilla prison in Columbia. Dega and Papillon had previously met before embarking to South America, and made a deal where Dega paid Papillon for protection. The two became best friends during their sentence.
Over thirty years after his escape, Charrière included Dega in his autobiography. Director Franklin J. Schaffner adapted the book to a movie in 1973, with Steve McQueen playing Papillon, and Dustin Hoffman playing Dega. Their exploits together were greatly dramatized in the film.