Michel Blanc, a French actor who is best known for his role in Les Bronzés (French Fried Vacation) and its sequels, has passed away following a heart attack that was a result of anaphylactic shock. He was 72 years old.
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According to Agence France-Presse, Blanc died on Friday, Oct. 4. France’s president Emmanuel Macron, took to X to mourn the actor’s unexpected death.
“He made us cry with laughter and moved us to tears,” President Macron stated. “A monument of French cinema, Michel Blanc is gone. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and his acting accomplices.”
The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, also released in a statement on the social media platform.
“This morning the sorrow is immense, as great as his talent,” Dati wrote. “In front of the camera of Bertrand Blier, Robert Altman or Pierre Schoeller, Michel Blanc amazed us with the variety of his acting, but also with his talents as a director with films like Marche à l’ombre or Grosse fatigue Cinema, the world of culture and all French people will not forget him.”
Other films he appeared in were Tenue de soirée, Prêt-à-Porter, The Minister, andThe Day I Saw Your Heart. He directed five films, Marche à l’ombre, Grosse fatigue, The Escort, Summer Things, and Voyez comme on danse.
Two of his latest films, Le Routard and La Cache, are expected to be released in 2025.
Michel Blanc Previously Opened Up About His Acting Roles
During a 2023 interview with FilmTalk, Michel Blanc opened up about the roles he goes for.
“Very often, I like to play characters that touch me one way or the other,” he explained. “I am fortunate that people have asked me to play interesting characters and that I had the possibility—or the talent, whatever that may be—to portray them. So it’s a mixture.’
Michel Blanc then shared, “It gets you nowhere if you’re very lucky but don’t know how to play your character. And if you’re an incredible actor who only gets small or insignificant roles, you’re also stuck. In the end, it’s a combination of circumstances—and luck.”
Speaking about Tenue de soirée, Blanc spoke about why he believed the film was significant to his career. “I like it a lot—there are a few others I also really like—but Tenue de soirée has changed my career.”
He added, “The film was selected at the Cannes Film Festival, and I was the recipient of the Best Actor award at the Festival. All at once, I had become an actor who was interesting enough for film directors known for their cinéma d’auteur.”