in Paris, the crowd says goodbye to Michel Blanc

See my news
Follow Paris News

“There have never been so many people entering a church! » On the square in front of the Saint-Eustache church in Paris (1st), Thursday October 10, 2024 in the middle of the afternoon, the crowd is jostling. Everyone wants to enter the religious building where the funeral of Michel Blanc.

Friends, family members or admirers… Several hundred people gathered to pay a final tribute to the actor who died suddenly at the age of 72 following a anaphylactic shock on October 3.

A ceremony punctuated with references

The Splendid troupe, Carole Bouquet, Clotilde Coureau, Jean-Paul Rouve and Dany Boon… Several film and theater personalities came to attend the ceremony celebrated by Father Yves Trocheris. The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, was also on site as well as the First Lady, Brigitte Macron. A sound broadcast was put in place for the public who were unable to enter the church. “I am disappointed that there was no giant screen,” regrets Sophie, one of the actor’s admirers who still stayed in the rain to attend the last tribute paid to the eternal Jean-Claude Dusse.

During the ceremony, punctuated with references to this character of Tannedthe crowd in the church even sang a song. “When will I see you again…” timidly intoned the people installed under the vaults.

Music was indeed at the heart of this afternoon where Jean-Paul Rouve and Josiane Balasko took turns to speak at the lectern. “You who almost became a pianist, fortunately you have become an actor, you will be able to spend your evenings playing with everyone. We wish you a paradise with gourmet meals and fine wines that don’t give you a headache,” said the actress.

“Damn Michel, what did you do to us? » questioned, moved, Jean-Paul Rouve who also chose humor and derision to pay tribute to his friend.

“I had tears”

Actor, director, dialogue writer and screenwriter, Michel Blanc was a figure of French cinema revealed in The Bronzed. Nominated nine times for the César, he won in 2012 as best supporting actor for the film The exercise of the State. Michel Blanc died on the night of Thursday October 3 to Friday October 4, 2024 of a heart attack. He had suffered anaphylactic shock, an allergy to a medication after a routine medical examination.

“It was such a shock to me when I heard of his death. He wasn’t sick either… I had tears,” recalls Christine, who came from Aix-en-Provence to pay tribute to one of his favorite actors. “He was a simple, cultured, refined person,” adds his neighbor.

For Françoise and Martine too, Michel Blanc was an accessible actor, with whom it was easy to identify. “We met him at the Bon Marché, just a year ago,” recalls this Breton woman who came to see her long-time friend from Versailles. “And then we come back for the funeral. It’s sad. »

A little further on, a tall man with glasses stands out with his boubou dress that he had made in homage to Dominique Lavanant’s character. “I made an effortthe family had asked for it to be joyful,” he smiles in his blue coat stamped with the head of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.