“Fuck, Michel, what did you do to us?” Gérard Jugnot could not hide his surprise and his emotion on Instagram. Michel Blanc died in hospital, at the age of 72, on the night of October 3 to October 4. “We saw each other recently, we laughed like idiots,” says the actor, looking back on the memories shared with his childhood friend.
He notably mentioned the writing of a book for the benefit of medical research in which each of the authors, including Michel Blanc, had shared their personal experiences. A “quite touching” moment, confides Gérard Jugnot.
For nearly 50 years, Michel Blanc left a mark on French cinema, with more than sixty films to his credit. He was also awarded the César for Best Supporting Actor pour State Exercise in 2011.
Michel Blanc left his mark on the world of cinema with his authenticity. “He was always true to himself, terribly anguished, with this incredible sense of dialogue, this politeness of despair. We were very different, each with different qualities that accumulated,” describes the actor when talking about the Le Splendid troupe.
It’s thanks to Michel that I did theater
Gérard Jugnot
Met at school, in the fourth grade, his friend Gérard Jugnot describes his journey: “I think he was like me, like Christian, we were already old fools. He wanted to make music, and then when he saw that he would not have the level to be a great concert performer, he branched off towards theater and literature“. “It’s thanks to Michel that I did theater,” he says.
From comedy to drama
A passion that started early, and which has evolved. Associated with the character of Jean-Claude Dusse In The Bronzedthe actor gradually sought to get rid of it. This is why he favored more serious roles such as Gilles In The exercise of the State. “I saw him in The exercise of the State, he was absolutely wonderful,” confides Gérard Jugnot.
Despite the fact that he always loved comedy and made his debut in it, Michel Blanc also played more dramatic characters. “The problem with comedy is that it’s a mask,” explains Gérard Jugnot, speaking to RTL. And added: “It is out of friendship” that the actor participated in the film The Bronzed 3 in 2006, released 27 years later Tanned people go skiing in 1979.
It was by joining the Splendid troupe in the 1970s that the real group was created, with Christian Clavier, Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazal, Bruno Moynot, Gérard Jugnot and finally Michel Blanc. They begin with sketches and plays, “we are individualists who have formed a collective,” summarizes Gérard Jugnot. After this success, each actor in the troupe experienced great careers.
Read more
