French actor and playwright who wrote and starred in the original 1973 Paris production of La Cage aux folles, a farcical play about a homosexual couple that ran for more than 2,000 performances, inspired two successful films, and was adapted into a Tony award-winning Broadway musical.

In the early 1950s Poiret formed a cabaret act and an enduring professional partnership with comic actor Michel Serrault. Poiret wrote or adapted and starred in numerous comedies, including Douce Amère (1970), Joyeuses Pâques (1980), and a French production of Neil Simon's Rumors (1991). Although he did not appear with Serrault in the two films based on La Cage aux folles, Poiret made some 40 motion pictures, notably Le Dernier Métro (1980; The Last Metro), Poulet au vinaigre (1985; Cop au Vin), Inspecteur Lavardin (1986), and Le Miraculé (1987).