Françoise Hardy, Robert Badinter, Quincy Jones… There were many farewells in 2024. French cinema was particularly affected this year. First we had to say goodbye to Alain Delon. On August 18, the “cheetah” died at the age of 88 in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his beloved dog, Loubo.
Popular cinema also lost one of its main representatives this year: Michel Blanc. The 72-year-old actor leaves behind a filmography made up of around sixty films including Tanned people go skiing et Kiss whoever you want.
Figure in the films of Jacques Audiard, winner of three Césars, Niels Arestrup died at the age of 75. In recent years, he was particularly known for his role in the political series Black Baron.
A farewell to Professor McGonagall
Internationally, cinema has also lost several of its stars. The emblematic actor of Twelve Bastards and Hunger Games, Donald Sutherland died in June at the age of 88. American actress, Shannen Dohertystar of the series Charmed et Beverly Hills 90210also passed away in July following cancer. She was 53 years old.
In September, an entire community became bereaved. Maggie Smiththe much-loved Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter died at the age of 89. She also stood out for her roles in Downtown Abbey et Sister Act.
The mourning world of music
In 2024, Françoise Hardy lost her fight against cancer that she had been battling for years. Icon of the sixties and French song, she died at the age of 80 in June. She leaves behind her a musical legacy that continues to span the decades.
On October 17, One Direction fans woke up to a nightmare. Liam Payneone of five members of the British boy band, died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had struggled with addiction issues for many years.
Quincy Jonesthe man with 28 Grammy Awards, also died this year at age 91. The producer and arranger was behind hits by the greatest American artists such as Louis Armstrong and Michael Jackson.
Pivot, Laffont, Roustan: the disappearance of big names in journalism
French television had to say goodbye to one of its most iconic chefs: Maïté. Known for her show The Kitchen of the Musketeers on France 3, she died in December at the age of 86.
Another artistic figure, but in another field. The artist Benreal name Benjamin Vautier, died in June. He was 88 years old. He was made famous by his writing and his signature. He was one of the major figures of the avant-garde movement Fluxus.
The world of journalism also had to say goodbye to three of its representatives. First of all, Bernard Pivot in May at the age of 89. He was the first journalist to join the Goncourt academy. Then, in August, it is the historic presenter of the show Numbers and letters, Patrice Laffont who disappeared. He died of a heart attack at the age of 84. Finally, Didier Roustansports journalist for TF1, Canal+ and L'Équipe TV and RTL, died at the age of 66.
Goodbye from the “Kaiser”
In the sporting world, the start of the year was marked by the death of the “Kaiser”, Franz Beckenbauer. The German football legend died at the age of 78. World champion in 1974 and double winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1972 and 1976, he played for 18 years for Bayern Munich and was subsequently coach of the German team from 1984 to 1990.
In April, OJ Simpsonthe former American football star died at 76. In addition to his sporting career, he was known for having been tried for a double murder in 1995, that of his ex-wife and her friend. He was ultimately acquitted in the “trial of the century”.
Alexei Navalny is gone
One of the greatest figures in French politics in recent decades, Robert Badinterdied in February at age 95. The abolition of the death penalty, proclaimed in 1981, was the fight of his life. For him, it was an absolute necessity. It is for this reason in particular that François Mitterrand chose him as Minister of Justice.
The Mitterrand family has also been in mourning this year. The nephew of the former president, Frédéric Mitterranddied in March at the age of 76. First a cinema operator, he then became a television presenter then Minister of Culture under Nicolas Sarkozy.
In February, the Russian opponent Alexei Navalny died. He had been in prison since 2021 and was serving a 19-year sentence for “extremism”. The circumstances of his death being opaque, 43 countries have requested an independent investigation to clarify the gray areas.
Read more
