Romanian arts stage was in mourning on Tuesday evening as veteran Romanian actor Colea Rautu died at the age of 95 today. He passed away at a Bucharest hospital where Rautu, suffering of cyrosis, spent the past week, according to Romanian news channel Antena 3. Colea Rautu played in over 70 films, both Romanian and international.

Born Colea Rutkovschi, Rautu was born in what is now the Republic of Moldova in 1912. He studied acting at a specialized school in Bucharest. He started playing on stage in satirical sketches.

He is better known worldwide for his part in the "Apachen" film (1973) and for his role in famous Romanian series "Toate panzele sus".