Michel Blanc had joined his friends from Neuilly high school – Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte and Christian Clavier – to found the Splendid troupe and venture into café-theater, laying the foundations for a career marked by laughter and complicity. Together, they embodied a new wave of French humor, enjoying a string of successes on stage and in film, becoming emblematic figures of comedy in the 1970s and 1980s

A unanimous tribute from the troupe
Following the death of Michel Blanc at 11pm on Thursday October 3 from a heart attack, his long-time companions expressed their sadness in a joint statement, speaking of “immense sorrow”. United by decades of work and friendship, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte and Bruno Moynot paid tribute to an artist they considered a brother, and whose talent and humor will remain etched in our memories.

Heartbreaking testimonials
Gérard Jugnot, visibly distraught, was the first to react on social networks with these words: “Fuck, Michel… What have you done to us…”. Calling his friend the “French Woody Allen” on RTL, he recalled how they met in secondary school and the unbreakable bond that has united them ever since: “I met him in 4th grade during a German class, and I haven’t let go of him since.” Josiane Balasko, another key member of Le Splendid, shared her grief on Instagram: “Michel, mon pote, mon frère, mon partenaire.” As for Bruno Moynot, he let his dismay show: “Michel! I don’t believe it! Crushed.”

A career beyond Le Splendid
Although Michel Blanc began his career with the Splendid troupe, he quickly established himself as a solo artist. Revealed to the general public by **Les Bronzés**, he broadened his range with a number of outstanding roles and successfully ventured behind the camera, directing *Marche à l’ombre*, which was a huge public success. Patrice Leconte, director of the Bronzés saga, hailed the memory of an “extremely singular” man, capable of moving from comedy to drama with rare finesse.

An indelible legacy
Michel Blanc has left behind a rich and varied filmography, a blend of comedy, satire and realism. Actor, screenwriter and director, he left his mark on several generations with his unforgettable characters and punchy dialogue. His friends at Le Splendid, as well as audiences, will always remember the mischievous smile and sharp eye of a complete artist, who knew how to marry humor and melancholy like no other.