A very sad birthday. A year ago today, Michel Cordesunforgettable in his role as Roland Marci, owner of the bar “The Mistral” in a more beautiful life, committed suicide at the age of 77. A drama for all the actors and fans of the series which has experienced its share of misfortunes, with the disappearance of Marwan Berreni, also a key actor in the program.
On his Instagram account, Laurent Kerusoré, who played his son, Thomas, in the series, gave him a touching tribute in a message commenting on a photo of the deceased actor.
Nobody has forgotten Michel Cordes
Michel Cordes, playing the essential character of Roland Marci in the cult series More beautiful life, died by gunfire on May 5, 2023. The letters addressed by the 77-year-old actor to his daughter, and left at his home in Grabels, in Hérault, led the authorities to consider suicide. A dramatic event which touched the actors, but also the fans of the series.
Even if Michel Cordes was not delighted with the idea of leaving the series, he accepted the production’s decision. Those close to him therefore seem to think that his motivations for taking his life were personal. Stéphane Hénon, Boher in the series, spoke on the subject. “I know he wanted to leave the show so I don’t think it’s because of that. There are other reasons, surely personal. It happened after the series, so people must have extrapolated things, but I don’t believe that. Michel was completely willing to leave. He calmed things down by saying he wanted to tour a lot less, so they killed him off the show. He agreed and he played his death.”
The actors of Plus belle la vie pay tribute to the deceased actor
Following the tragic disappearances that affected the actors of the series, TF1 paid tribute to them in a documentary last January. Viewers were able to see Laurent Kerusoré with tears in his eyes, in a moving scene, in which he paid tribute to the man who was his father on screen. “Ah, great! It’s the Mistral counter! […] I absolutely didn’t expect that we would have taken over the Mistral counter, and it’s a gesture that means a lot to me. […] It’s a beautiful tribute that you are paying to the series, to the public, and to someone I loved very much”.
In an interview given in December, a few days before the series returned to the air, Laurent Kérusoré was unable to hide his emotion: “These are two personal stories. But they haven’t decided to leave us. Fortunately we have new decors. I would have been unable to return to the Place du Mistral”. A comment recalling the message he published in October and in which he indicated that he still “with a heavy heart”.
Laurent Kerusoré pays tribute to Michel Cordes
Even if twelve months have passed since the disappearance of Michel Cordes, the emotion is still intact. This Sunday, May 5, 2024, Laurent Kerusoré published a heartbreaking message on his Instagram account. “One year and yet present in my life. Terrible is the lack and yet so wonderful are the memories”.
