Olivier Todd, renowned journalist, author and biographer, died on the night of December 27-28 at the age of 95. His son, historian and demographer Emmanuel Todd, confirmed the news to Agence France-Presse.
Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1929, Olivier Todd left his mark on the French media scene with a rich and varied career. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked with the BBC and The New Observerwhich included the Vietnam War in particular, before joining Express in 1977. He served as deputy editor-in-chief, thus strengthening his role as a key figure in the writing press.
In addition to his journalistic career, Olivier Todd has established himself as a talented biographer. His work on Albert Camus, published in 1996, was critically acclaimed and won several awards, including the France Télévision Literary Prize and the Ajaccio Grand Prize for Literature. He is also the author of biographies of other iconic figures such as the singer Jacques Brel (1984) and the writer André Malraux (2001).
The disappearance of Olivier Todd causes great emotions in the world of media and writing. “Olivier Todd was a model for me, almost an uncle. But above all, the press mourns,” Bernard Guetta, a member of the European Parliament, a trained journalist and close to the family, announced on the X platform (formerly Twitter). He praised his colleague's “intellectual honesty, courage and talent” , recalling that Olivier Todd, assuming his commitment and subjectivity, embodied rare journalistic integrity.
With the death of Olivier Todd, a page is turned in French journalism, leaving behind a legacy characterized by rigor, passion and humanity.
France
