Michel Blanc is died at the age of 72 on the night of Thursday October 3 to Friday October 4. The French actor, director and screenwriter was one of the founding members of the Splendid troupe. He began his career in the 1970s with actors like Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot and Thierry Lhermitte, with whom he notably created comedy shows. It was especially with his role as Jean-Claude Dusse that he became known in The Bronzed. Following his death, there were many tributes including those of the members of Splendid. “Fuck Michel… What did you do to us…”, Gérard Jugnot wrote in an Instagram story when he learned the terrible news. At the microphone of RTL, he also declared on October 4: “It’s a massive blow. He was the French Woody Allen, he had an absolutely brilliant sense of dialogue.”. Josiane Balasko also wrote on the social network: “Michel, my friend, my brother, my partner”. The day before the actor's death, his friends at Splendid finished the book they were working on.
Jean-Pierre Lavoignat, the coordinator of the work, returned to this project, among other things. with our colleagues atHere Paris. He notably spoke about the genesis of this book project in which the troupe tells its story. “Thierry Lhermitte had the idea of asking everyone to find personal photos and comment on them. Getting started took a bit of time.because there are still seven of them, but they got into the game and gave themselves up without tongue in cheek”first explained Jean-Pierre Lavoignat. And to specify: “At each meeting, they brought new archives. It was endless. My role was to help them synthesize. Josiane Balasko insisted that the book be written for a good cause. They chose the Foundation for Medical Research, in which Thierry is very involved.”. The coordinator of this beautiful project recounted his last memory with the late Michel Blanc. “Our telephone conversation, two days before his death. (…) I can still hear him say to me: 'That's really Thierry's idea!' As always, Michel took a while to get there. And finally, he provided us with magnificent photos”he finished remembering.
The Splendid troupe, puzzle pieces that complement each other
Our colleagues atHere Paris asked Jean-Pierre Lavoignat in what state the members of the troupe were in as they were counting on the release of the book to see each other together. “Everyone is sad. The band's history will never be the same again. What's truly incredible is that we finished this book the day before Michel died. And we left it as is. It is dedicated to him.”he explained. Then to return to the key to this friendship which has lasted for 50 years now!
“They are undoubtedly grateful for what the group brought them. Even if they all wanted to free themselves from it… except Thierry Lhermitte”first analyzed Jean-Pierre Lavoignat. Then continue: “I also believe that the success of the films was the cement of this friendship. When they meet again, it's not nostalgic, they pick up the conversation where they left off and they winnow like teenagers“. “The most beautiful definition”, according to him, was indeed Michel Blanc who gave it. “The Splendid is like the pieces of a puzzle, They have nothing to do with each other and yet they complement each other.he confided once upon a time.
