Saint-Eustache, a church with which the actor was familiar

«Michel Blanc loved coming to Saint-Eustache“. The parish priest of the Les Halles district, Father Yves Trocheris, spoke to France Info on Thursday October 10, a few hours before the start of the funeral of the legendary actor from the Splendid troupe. “He came regularly to take photos. He sent little messages to say: “How are we going to solve the pigeon problem?”», recalls Father Trocheris. The interpreter of Jean-Claude Dusse and Monsieur Hire “went completely unnoticed“, he still remembers, even if “people, faithful people came to tell me: ”We think we saw Michel Blanc”.»

The actor, who became famous for his comic roles with the Splendid troupe, before moving on to a more dramatic register, was “ much more than its public representationconfides the priest of Saint-Eustache. The testimonies I received from Rama (Ramatoulaye Diop, the late actor’s partner, Editor’s note), from his loved ones, were truly benevolent. He was a loving being. »

The funeral mass of the actor who died suddenly on October 3, at the age of 72, which was to be preached by Father Jérôme Pringent, of the Oratory congregation, was organized without visual broadcasting. Only a sound system in the square allowed the crowd, gathered outside, to follow the ceremony. This is to preserve “ meditation, and also out of respect for loved ones ». Car « any celebration of a requiem must bring peace, serenity in the ordeal that loved ones are undergoing. » « The meaning of Christian funerals is requiemrest, Yves Trocheris further explained to France Info. We pray for the rest of the deceased person, but also the rest of those affected by the death of the deceased. I am thinking particularly of Rama and Michel Blanc’s friends, because I discovered that they were extremely numerous. Michel Blanc had a very pronounced sense of friendship. »

A church where the funerals of Rameau and Molière were celebrated

The parish priest of the Oratorians explained what led to the choice of the musical program for the funeral mass of this actor whose “ presence was very pronounced, an actor in the sense of Molière, who had laughter, but also something of the sadness that human beings can go through ». « You know, Michel Blanc was a musician, he loved music. he told France Info a few hours before the start of the celebration. This afternoon, music will be very present. He had great admiration for Rameau. However, Rameau’s funeral took place in Saint-Eustache. » And it was to music by Lully that the celebration of his funeral opened this Thursday in the church built which also hosted the baptism and funeral of Molière.