Death of Michel Blanc: “Why did Michel take…”, Gérard Jugnot still can't believe it

In an interview with Paris Match on Thursday, January 2, 2025, Gérard Jugnot once again returned to the circumstances that led to the death of his friend Michel Blanc. The actor, it seems, still has trouble realize what happened.

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IN BRIEF

• Michel Blanc, actor of Splendid, died in October 2024 at the age of 72 following a drug allergy.
• His funeral took place at the Saint-Eustache Church in Paris, with tributes from his former colleagues, including Josiane Balasko.
• Gérard Jugnot expressed his sadness, emphasizing the strong bond of the troupe and the impact of the loss on the audience.

Former historical figure of the troupe of the Splendid. Michel Blanc tragically died at the age of 72 in October 2024. The famous actor suffered an allergic reaction to a medication just before a routine medical examination. Rushed to the hospital, he ultimately succumbed to six heart attacks. The announcement of his death was followed by many posthumous tributes.

Michel Blanc's funeral took place a few days later in the Saint-Eustache church in Paris. As an anecdote, the actor regularly visited this place of worship. Many personalities thus made the trip to attend this ceremony. Among these, we can notably mention the former members of the Splendid troupe. Josiane Balasko was also chosen to say a few words on behalf of the group during the funeral of their former sidekick.

Gérard Jugnot on the death of Michel Blanc: “It happens once in a million. And it happened to him”

&At the end of the ceremony, Michel Blanc's remains were buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Here again, Gérard Jugnot and the other members of the Splendid troupe were present. Questioned on the death of his friend on Thursday, January 2, 2025 by Paris Match, the actor notably mentioned the causes of the death of his former playing partner.

“A scary allergy to an antibiotic, that happens once in a million. And it happened to him. It's like Coluche when he left, why that truck ? Why he didn't wear a helmet to drive his motorbike ? Why Michel Blanc took that medication ? We don't know. Life is wonderful, very strange and terrible all at once. In fact, I think we shouldn't die“, declared Gérard Jugnot. The actor also confided in the very special bond uniting the troupe of Le Splendid.

Gérard Jugnot: “How many times in the street have people introduced me their condolences…”

“It's a bond strong enough to have lasted over time. We don't see each other often, each has their own life, their own projects, and our paths have logically diverged. But when we meet again, we pick up the friendship where we left off. Getting together for your newspaper was extremely joyful, a wonderful memory. Then Michel Blanc disappeared. There is a big gap, because there was absolute connivance between us in the joke“, Gérard Jugnot first pointed out.

“We laughed less when we all found ourselves at the church for his funeral. Even if we tried to laugh about it a little anyway. But what surprised me was, once again, the reaction of the public: we felt like an immeasurable pain in France. How many times in the street people offered me their condolences…“, Michel Blanc's friend finally concluded.