Michel Blanc Dead: French Actor Was 72

Michel Blanc, the legendary French actor best known for his roles in the Les Bronzés films and Monsieur Hire, has died. He was 72.

He died early Friday morning at a Parisian hospital after suffering a heart attack the previous night, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

France’s President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute to Blanc on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “He made us cry with laughter and moved us to tears. A monument of French cinema, Michel Blanc has gone. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and his acting accomplices.”

Born on April 16, 1952, in Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine), France, Blanc had a passion for classical music from a young age. But he later changed direction and co-founded the Le Splendid troupe, a café-théâtre company, in the 1970s with his friends, Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Claire Magnin.

As for his film projects, Blanc was known for his role as Jean-Claude Dusse in the 1978 Patrice Leconte-directed French comedy Les Bronzés (French Fried Vacation). He later reprised his roles in the 1979 and 2006 follow-up films.

He was also praised for his role as the titular character in Leconte’s 1989 crime thriller Monsieur Hire. His performance earned him a best actor César Award nomination. He later won the César for best supporting actor for L’Exercice de l’État (The Minister) in 2012.

Blanc also directed, co-wrote and starred in 1984’s Marche à l’ombre, 2002’s Embrassez qui vous voudrez (Summer Things) and 1994’s Grosse fatigue (Dead Tired), the latter of which he received the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won best actor at the festival for 1986’s Tenue de soirée (Evening Dress).

His other acting credits included 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, among others.