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He was born in Bailesti, Oltenia, and attended the Carol I High School. He later played at the Craiova Theatre, then at the Small Theatre, Nottara Theatre, Comedy Theatre and the National Theatre Bucharest, being also a professor at the Academy of Theatre and Film in Bucharest.

Pellea played numerous comic and serious roles. In the cinema was most noted for his roles as historical leaders. His earliest leading roles were as Romanian national heroes, beginning with Decebalus in Dacii (1967) and Columna (1968). He also portrayed Michael the Brave in Mihai Viteazul (1971).

His most famous comic role was as "Nea Marin" (Uncle Marin), a character representing the archetypal Oltenian peasant. Marin first appeared in TV comedy sketches. The character graduated to the cinema in Nea Marin miliardar (Uncle Marin, the Billionaire), in which Pellea played the dual role of the naive Marin and the American billionaire he is mistaken for. Nea Marin miliardar is ranked 1 in the top most viewed Romanian films of all time.

He played other historical figures such as Vladica Hariton in Tudor din Vladimiri and Voivode Basarab in Croitorii cei mari din Valahia. He also appeared in Rascoala and Haiducii. In 1977 he won the award for Best Actor at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival for his role in The Doom.

He is buried at Bellu Cemetery.

In a 2006 poll conducted by Romanian Television to identify the "greatest Romanians of all time", Pellea came in 58th.

Dumitru Furdui was a Romanian film and theater actor and screenwriter.He was born on October 27, 1936 in Bailesti, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1957.In 1958, he plays first role in the movie Doi vecini. Other notable roles in Brigada Diverse intra în actiune (1970), Portile albastre ale orasului (1974), Roselyne and the Lions (1989). In 1982 ,he emigrate in France.He has a son Tudor Furdui.He died on April 13 1998 in Paris, France.