Bun Hay Mean, the “funny Chinese guy” of French comedy, dies at 43 in a tragic accident

Bun Hay Mean, a beloved French comedian and actor affectionately nicknamed “the funny Chinese guy,” died on July 10, 2025, in Paris at the age of 43. His death followed a tragic fall from the eighth floor of his building in the 17th arrondissement, where he reportedly slipped while trying to retrieve his phone from the balcony gutter.

Born in Lormont, France, to a Chinese mother and a Cambodian father who fled Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime, Bun Hay Mean has made a name for himself with his sharp humor and keen sense of cultural differences

Discovered by the Jamel Comedy Club, he quickly became a distinctive voice in French comedy, using his mixed heritage to explore themes of identity, race, and belonging with humor and candor. His first show, Chinois Marrant dans la légende de Bun Hay Mean, performed from 2014 to 2015, brought him to the attention of a wider audience.

He then expanded his career to film, with notable roles in Éric Judor's “Problemos” and Guillaume Canet's “Astérix et Obélix: L'Empire des Cieux” (2023), where he played the villain Deng Tsin Qin.

At the time of his death, Bun Hay Mean was in the middle of a tour with his latest show, Kill Bun, a highly personal performance combining humor and reflections on mental health, particularly his own struggle with bipolar disorder. The tour had been very well received and was scheduled to continue until 2026, with a performance planned soon at the Olympia in Montreal.

Bun Hay Mean's Cambodian and Chinese heritage deeply influenced his artistic expression, providing him with a rich cultural background that he skillfully incorporated into his sketches and shows. His stage name, “Le Chinois marrant” (The Funny Chinese), is a direct reference to his Chinese roots, which he embraced with humor and pride. This self-identification has allowed him to explore and challenge stereotypes about Asian identities in France, using humor as a tool to navigate and critique cultural misunderstandings and racial prejudices. His dual cultural heritage has enabled him to reach a diverse audience by addressing the complexities of belonging and identity in a globalized world. Furthermore, Bun Hay Mean's art resonated with broader experiences of the South Asian diaspora, where traditional narratives meet contemporary realities. Cambodian art itself, historically influenced by Chinese and Indian aesthetics, often embodies a dialogue between tradition and modernity, a dynamic that is reflected in Bun Hay Mean's mix of cultural references and modern comic forms.

His sudden death has shocked the French cultural community and his fans around the world. Numerous tributes have been paid, celebrating his unique talent, his courage in tackling difficult subjects, and his ability to touch audiences with laughter, even in the face of personal hardship.

The Paris public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death, although initial reports suggest it was an accidental fall. Bun Hay Mean leaves behind a legacy as an innovative artist who navigated the complexities of cultural identity and mental health with humor and emotion.

His passing leaves a huge void in the world of comedy and beyond, reminding us of the fragile balance between the lightness of laughter and the shadows that sometimes lurk behind it.