Michel Blanc, often described as France’s Woody Allen, dies aged 72
The actor became a household name for his performances in the Les Bronzés films
Michel Blanc won several major awards including the Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2012 (pictured) for L'Exercice de l'État
Credit: Imago / Alamy Stock Photo
Michel Blanc, one of France’s favourite actors and often described as France’s Woody Allen, died yesterday (October 3) at the age of 72.
The actor became a household name after starring in the extremely popular film Les Bronzés in 1978, which he co-wrote alongside other members of the Le Splendide theatre troupe.
Michel Blanc’s career is inextricably linked to the Le Splendide troupe, who were a group of school friends that went on to form a theatre group, write plays, and perform in and direct films.
All of them became household names in France: Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Christian Clavier, Josiane Balasko, Bruno Moynot and Marie-Anne Chazel.
The troupe’s first major breakthrough was the 1978 comedy Les Bronzés, which they had adapted from a play.
It follows an ensemble of at once grotesque and sad but also charming and relatable characters on their package holiday.
Michel Blanc played Jean-Claude Dusse, an overbearing and hopeless womaniser, bringing his own humanity to the role.
“Jean-Claude Dusse is a very awkward guy, a bit desperate, who says to himself: ‘I can't please a girl, but we're going to try anyway’,” he told Le Monde in a 2018 interview “It was when I discovered Woody Allen's films that I got the idea.”
The diminutive and slight Michel Blanc was widely considered to be the finest actor of the Le Splendide troupe, with four César awards for best actor and one Cannes Film Festival award for best actor (Tenue de soirée, 1986).
Born in 1952, son of a customs agent father and a typist mother, Michel Blanc had a modest upbringing in Puteaux (Hauts-de-Seine).
He met his future costars at the age of 14 while attending Lycée Pasteur de Neuilly-sur-Seine.
“In sixth grade, our French teacher had us perform Molière's Les Précieuses ridicules,” he told Le Monde.
“I was very shy at the time (I still am, but this job has taught me to play the guy who isn't), and yet, when the teacher asked who wanted to come up on stage, I felt my hand rise in spite of myself.”
He is survived by his wife of 15 years Ramatoulaye Diop.
On the announcement of his sudden death from anaphylactic shock, his friends and co-stars were quick to pay homage.
“This is a massive shock,” wrote Gérard Jugnot on Instagram. “He was the French Woody Allen. He had such a sense of dialogue. I met him in 4th grade during a German class and I never let him go after that.”
Josiane Balasko and Bruno Moynot posted a simple photo in homage to their friend.
