Michel Blanc, French Actor in ‘Les Bronzés’ and ‘Monsieur Hire,’ Dies at 72
Asif Reporter
The actor Michel Blanc – the icon of new Realism in French cinema, best known for the comedies of the Les Bronzés series and the dramatic film Mona and de Mister Hire – passed away. He was 72.
He passed on in a Paris hospital on Friday morning after collapsing with a heart attack on Thursday night as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Other notable personalities, which include France’s President Emmanuel Macron also honored Blanc and wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “He made us cry with laughter and moved us to tears”. Luminary of French cinema, Michel Blanc, is gone. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends and to all his co-stars on screen and stage.
Blanc was born on April 16, 1952, Court, Avenue in Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine, France He has alway has the love for the classical music. But he turned around and in the 70s with his friends, Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Claire Magnin, co-founded the Le Splendid troupe, a café-théâtre company.
Regarding his movie endeavors, the aforementioned mentioned French born Blanc acted Jean-Claude Dusse in the French comedy movie Les Bronzés by and direct by Patrice Leconte in 1978. He then appeared in the sequels in 1979 and 2006 repeating the same roles.
He was also acclaimed of his performance of a titular protagonist in Monsieur Hire, the 1989 film directed by Patrice Leconte. His excellent, convincing portrayal got him a nomination for best actor César Award. He was awarded the César for the best supporting actor of the movie L’Exercice de l’État (The Minister) in 2012.
Blanc also directed, co-wrote and appeared in 1984’s Marche à l’ombre, 2002’s Embrassez qui vous voudrez (Summer Things) and 1994’s Grosse fatigue (Dead Tired) for which he won the best screenplay at the Cannes festival. He also took home the award for best actor at the festival, for his performance in the 1986 film Tenue de soirée (aka Evening Dress).
His other performances were in Les Filles de Malemort, Let Joy Reign Supreme, Gramps Is in the Resistance, The Escort, The Best Way to Walk, Merci La Vie, Take A Chance on Me, Toxic Affair, The Girl on the Train and The Favour the Watch and the Very Big Fish.
