French Actor Gerard Depardieu Fined $1270 For Assaulting A Photographer

April 17, 2008 12:25 a.m. EST

Florence, Italy (CNS) - French actor Gerard Depardieu has been ordered to pay 800 euro, or $1,270, by an Italian court for head-butting a photographer.

The Golden Globe award-winning actor was not present at the court hearing. He was ordered to pay the fine to journalist Dario Orlandi for "injuries and threats" against him regarding an incident that occurred in 2005.

Depardieu, 59, has been found guilty of assaulting the paparazzo after he was photographed shopping in a southern city in Italy with a young woman.

Orlandi said the actor had told him to come closer and then smacked him forehead on Orlandi's nose without warning. He was unable to work for four days.

Depardieu had starred in numerous French and American films including "The Last Holiday" in 2006, which starred Queen Latifah.