Walter Michiels

'Walter Michiels' (qv) is a Flemish actor, best remembered in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Michiels played the ironically iconic character Pico Coppens in the sitcom _F.C. De Kampioenen (1990)_ (qv), before Michiels himself infamously fell upon hard times due to an alcohol addiction and subsequent mental health problems. As a result, Michiels lost all his local fame and fortune. Considered a promising actor in the early 1990s, he established himself along with contemporaries such as 'Koen De Bouw' (qv), 'Filip Peeters' (qv) and 'Michael Pas' (qv). Michiels starred in F.C. De Kampioenen in the early stages of the show, from 1990 until 1993. Back in Michiels's day, the show quickly reached the peak of its popularity. The titles he appears in generally enjoy iconic status in Flanders. He was fired after the fourth season aired. His portrayal of Pico Coppens - a role given to 'Peter van Asbroeck' (qv) at first, who was unable due to physical problems at the time - would eventually become Michiels's only significant work. As late as 2022, Michiels lived at the bottom of Belgian society.::cnuddearthur