This Thursday, October 10, the Saint-Eustache church in Paris welcomed the relatives of Michel Blanc, who died at the age of 72, for his funeral. His friends from the Splendid troupe, including Christian Clavier, Josiane Balasko and Thierry Lhermitte, were present to pay him a final tribute full of laughter and emotion. As a reminder, Michel Blanc, although still attached to his stage companions, had been the first to leave the famous troupea decision that he only explained in 2021, during an interview with our colleagues at Gala.
Why did Michel Blanc leave the Splendid troupe?
When he felt the need, Michel Blanc did not hesitate to distance himself from the group that had propelled him to stardom. This is notably thanks to his unforgettable role as Jean-Claude Dusse, in The Bronzedthat he had become a recognized actor of the French. This departure, far from being conflictual, was in reality linked to a loss of creative connection with his partners. “I no longer found my place in our writing sessions”he confided three years ago. He explained that his opinion was no longer taken into account in the group’s decisions. “I had to argue my ideas with others, and we ended up keep those that I did not necessarily defend.”
Leaving the Splendid then led him to embark on more personal projects. Since 1981, he achieves great success with Come to my house, I’m staying with a frienddirected by Patrice Leconte. An adventure which allowed him to demonstrate that he could succeed beyond the framework of the collective, with a style of his own. He quickly became a versatile actor, performing in popular comedies and more serious films. His performance in Evening wear also earned him the Best Actor Prize at Cannes. : a confirmation of his talents in more dramatic registers.
Tributes, each more moving than the last
The decision of the one who leaves behind his partner, Ramatoulaye Diop, will in no case have not affected his bond with his former partners at Splendid. They all wanted to pay him a moving tribute this Thursday. Always with a touch of humor, to remain true to their personality, and to the spirit of their group. On a mysterious banner, one could read “Your French colleagues of intensity.”
However, it is the legend written by Marilou Berry, the daughter of Josiane Balasko, which touched Internet users. Bringing together several quotes said during the day, it shows that even in the drama, humor never left the troupe. Among these striking sentences, we could hear: “Michel would have hated this place… there are too many trees.” or even “It’s between Chopin and Delacroix… It’s not bad.” These little words full of tenderness would undoubtedly have amused Michel Blanc, whose caustic humor was legendary. “Wet laughter. The Splendid minus one” concluded Marilou Berry. No doubt, the ceremony will have reflected the joyful and striking spirit of Michel Blanc to perfection.
