For the first time since the death of his friend, Thierry Lhermitte speaks about Michel Blanc. A moving interview.
On October 3, 2024, the legendary actor of Tanned Michel Blanc left us at the Saint-Antoine hospital in the 12th arrondissement of Paris after a heart attack, which followed an anaphylactic shock. He was 72 years old and leaves behind his partner Ramatoulaye Diop as well as his comrades from Splendid.
During his funeral, admirers dressed as Jean-Claude Dusse, his cult character, and some sang his famous ski lift song When will I see you again. But the artist was also a great director, notably with films like Walk in the shade, Very tired or Kiss whoever you want. The actress Clotilde Courau paid tribute to her talents as a director. And after the shock, his lifelong companions express themselves little by little about their difficult mourning.
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Death of Michel Blanc: a new tribute
Most of them had met in high school. Michel Blanc, Gérard Jugnot, Christian Clavier, Thierry Lhermitte, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Josiane Balasko formed the Splendid troupe for years and offered iconic works of French cinema such as Santa Claus is trash. All very busy with their respective careers, they saw each other less but kept this unwavering bond.
Gathered to say goodbye to their friend at his funeral, they immortalized this solemn moment with a photo of them surrounding the wreath of flowers with a very personal humorous message. Josiane Balasko had found photos of them kissing. Gérard Jugnot recounted the moment he learned of the disappearance of his friend on the set of C to you. It's today Thierry Lhermitte’s turn to speak on the subject. In an interview with Parisian on November 17, 2024, he spoke about the death of Michel Blanc and about a project that is close to his heart.
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Thierry Lhermitte: this regret that he confides
On November 21, the book The Splendid by the Splendid – We had so much fun will be published by Le Cherche-Midi. Fifty years after the birth of the troupe, the artists themselves tell the saga: from high school friends to “French comedy superstars”. With photos, including “many come from their personal collections”, they look back with humor on their unique journeys. And it’s Thierry Lhermitte who is behind this project. For the newspaper, he agreed to return to the disappearance of one of them and explained their discretion: “We didn't want to. We don't have to share our pain. I don't feel any obligation of any kind, especially when hot”.
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He then talks about the book: “At first I only read what I had written to check for bullshit. The day Michel died, I didn't sleep, I read everything he had written, it shocked me”. He continues: “And then I read what everyone had done and it was so cool. (…) I found the texts so warm. (…) These are love letters that we write to each other”. Then the actor reveals: “What I said to Michel in it was recorded a month before his death, I was happy at the idea of him discovering it, but he must not have had time to read it. The confirmation was three days before his disappearance. Has he read everything? I don't know anything about it”.
Editor for Aufeminin since 2022, Charlotte is passionate about cinema, French and international, and a fortune reader. Curious about everything, she talks as much about personalities as…
