This Friday, October 4, the world of French cinema is in mourning. According to information from Paris Match, Michel Blanc, an essential figure on the big screen and founding member of the Splendid troupe, died last night in hospital at the age of 72. The famous actor, director and screenwriter leaves behind an immense legacy that has marked generations of spectators.
Born on April 16, 1952 in Courbevoie, Michel Blanc came from a modest background. He attended the Pasteur high school in Neuilly-sur-Seine where he met his future comedy partners: Thierry Lhermitte, Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot. Together, they gave birth to essential classics of French comedy cinema, including Les Bronzés and Les Bronzés sont du ski, which are today considered cult works.
If Michel Blanc is initially known for his comedic roles, his talent is not limited to comedy. He has brilliantly navigated between different registers during his career, regularly surprising audiences with nuanced performances in dramatic roles. In 1986, he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Evening Dress by Bertrand Blier, a film in which he played a complex character, far from his first comedic roles.
Michel Blanc also left his mark on French cinema as a screenwriter and director. He has directed several noted films, notably Marche à l’ombre (1984), where he also plays alongside Gérard Lanvin.
The public will remember his unforgettable characters, from the famous Jean-Claude Dusse of Les Bronzés, to darker and deeper roles, all of which have in common the fact that they revealed the actor’s great sensitivity. Michel Blanc knew how to captivate with his ability to make people laugh and move people, often in the same scene.
With his disappearance, French cinema loses one of its most popular figures.
