Louis Dega

Infobox Person
name = Louis Dega


image_size = 150px
birth_date = 1890
birth_place = Marseille, France
death_date = unknown
death_place = French Guiana
occupation = Criminal
spouse =
religion =
nationality = French

Louis Dega (born 1890, Marseille, France - died unknown, unknown) was a prisoner in the French Guiana penitentiary as of 1932 (convicted on fraud and counterfeiting for fifteen years) and companion of Henri Charrière, AKA "Papillon" for thirteen years. The two were first sent to a prison in Caen, France until they embarked for South America in 1932. He had a younger brother named Joseph who tried to help Charriere escape from Barranquilla prison in Colombia. Dega and Papillon had previously met before embarking to South America, and made a deal where Dega paid Papillon for protection. The two became best friends during their sentence.

Over thirty years after his escape, Charrière included Dega in his autobiography. Director Franklin J. Schaffner adapted the book to a movie in 1973, with Steve McQueen playing Papillon, and Dustin Hoffman playing Dega. Their exploits together were greatly dramatized in the filmFact|date=May 2008.