Michel Blanc
Michel Blanc | |
|---|---|
 Blanc in 2009 | |
| Born | Michel Jean François Blanc 16 April 1952 Courbevoie, France |
| Died | 3 October 2024 (aged 72) Paris, France |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1974–2024 |
Michel Blanc (16 April 1952 – 3 October 2024) was a French actor, writer and director.[1] He is noted for his roles of losers and hypochondriacs. He is frequently associated with Le Splendid, which he co-founded, along with Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko, Christian Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel and Gérard Jugnot. He also appeared in more serious roles, such as the title role in the Patrice Leconte film Monsieur Hire.
Life and career
[edit]Michel Blanc came from a modest family background; being the only son of Marcel, a removals man and Jeanine Blanc, a typist.[2] His parents cosseted him when it was discovered shortly after birth that he had a heart murmur.[3] He attended the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where he met Gérard Jugnot[4] and the two became friends and later professional colleagues.[5] He also met Marie-Anne Chazel, Christian Clavier, Thierry Lhermitte and Josiane Balasko in those school years, the group later becoming the Le splendid troupe.[6]
Blanc's breakthrough role was in Les Bronzés, a 1978 comedy about French holidaymakers seeking romance at a resort in Cote d'Ivoire. Blanc’s character, Jean-Claude Dusse, an awkward bachelor who just cannot manage to seduce women. Blanc feared, after two Les Bronzés sequels, that he might become typecast as "a lovable deadbeat".[7] Blanc extended his range with serious film roles (such as in the films of André Téchiné), theatre work, screen-writing (from Les Bronzés to Un petit boulot in 2016) and film direction (Grosse Fatigue in 1994, Mauvaise Passe filmed in London in 1999, Embrassez qui vous voudrez in 2002 and Voyez comme on danse in 2018).[7] He declined to direct Une petite zone de turbulences in 2009 while nonetheless preparing the screenplay and starring.[8] Blanc began his directing career with the comedy Marche à l'ombre, starring alongside Gérard Lanvin in 1984. The sharp dialogue and the contrast between the main duo assured the film a great success that year with over 6 million cinema entries.[9]
Blanc commented in 2010 "I’m very wary about forming habits when it comes to film-making, and art in general". In terms of his working methods as a writer, in adaptating a novel or text for a screen play he was wary of losing the original style, and he hated snipping scenes he liked. "So I always work the same way. I write. Then I leave it alone three weeks before reworking it. At that point, it’s no longer the book I’m adapting, but my script. For A Spot of Bother I wrote five different versions, then Alfred worked on my final version to make his shooting script."[8]
Michel Blanc translated and adapted several English-language plays for the French stage, such as Je veux faire du cinéma in 1992 (I ought to be in pictures) by Neil Simon, Temps variable en soirée in 1996 (Communicating Doors) after Alan Ayckbourn, Espèces menacées in 1997 (Funny money) by Ray Cooney, La Chambre bleue in 1999 (The Blue Room, after La Ronde) by David Hare, La Valse à Manhattan in 2001 (The West Side Waltz) by Ernest Thompson, L'amour est enfant de salaud in 2003 (Things we do for love) by Alan Ayckbourn, Frankie et Johnny au clair de lune in 2004 (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune) after Terrence McNally and Tantine et moi in 2005 (Vigil, aka Auntie and Me) after Morris Panych.[10]
A devotee of classical music since childhood, in 2004 he gave the premiere of the monodrama for speaker and orchestra by Eric Tanguy, Sénèque, dernier jour in Paris with the Orchestre National de Bretagne. Blanc also wrote the text for Tanguy's theatrical work, Photo d’un enfant avec une trompette, for the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, which had its premiere during the theatre’s 2013-2014 season.[11]
As an actor he was sometimes dubbed a "sad clown" in the press, but he said this missed the mark. He told the French media and culture periodical Télérama "I'm not a sad clown at all, I'm a worried clown".[7]
Blanc is one of a few people to have won awards at the Cannes Film Festival in both a creative and performing role, winning the Male Acting Prize in 1986 for Antoine in Tenue de Soirée, and the Best Screenplay Prize for Grosse Fatigue in 1994.[12]
Blanc died of cardiac arrest, during a medical examination, at Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, on 3 October 2024, at the age of 72.[13][14][15]
On stage
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2024) |
As an actor
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Foot-ball | Michel Fagadau | |
| Je vais craquer | Le Splendid | Théâtre du Splendid | |
| Ma tête est malade | Le Splendid | Théâtre du Splendid | |
| 1977 | Le Pot de terre contre le pot de vin | Le Splendid | Théâtre du Splendid |
| 1978 | Amour, coquillages et crustacés | Le Splendid | Théâtre du Splendid |
| 1982 | Bunny's bar | Josiane Balasko | Théâtre du Splendid |
| 1985–88 | Nuit d'ivresse | Josiane Balasko | Théâtre du Splendid |
| 1992 | Je veux faire du cinéma | Michel Blanc | Théâtre de la Michodière |
| 'Art' | Patrice Kerbrat | Théâtre des Champs-Élysées | |
| 1995 | The Merchant of Venice | Jean-Luc Tardieu | Maison de la culture de Loire-Atlantique Nantes |
As a director
[edit]| Year | Title | Comedian | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | L'Excès contraire | Dominique Lavanant | Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens written by Françoise Sagan |
| 1992 | Je veux faire du cinéma | Michel Blanc | Théâtre de la Michodière written by Neil Simon |
Filmography
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2024) |
As an actor
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Les filles de Malemort | Daniel Daërt | ||
| Bonne présentation exigée | The man who arrived | Charles Nemes | Short | |
| 1975 | Let Joy Reign Supreme | Louis XV's valet | Bertrand Tavernier | |
| Le bol d'air | Michel | Charles Nemes | Short | |
| 1976 | Attention les yeux! | A Cop | Gérard Pirès | |
| The Best Way to Walk | Deloux | Claude Miller | ||
| Je t'aime moi non plus | A worker | Serge Gainsbourg | ||
| L'ordinateur des pompes funèbres | Gérard Pirès | |||
| The Tenant | Scope's Neighbor | Roman Polanski | ||
| On aura tout vu | A theatre's friend | Georges Lautner | ||
| Cours après moi ... que je t'attrape | Robert Pouret | |||
| 1977 | Le diable dans la boîte | Pierre Lary | ||
| Spoiled Children | The young man | Bertrand Tavernier | ||
| Au théâtre ce soir | Sandy Remington | Pierre Sabbagh | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| Vous n'aurez pas l'Alsace et la Lorraine | Antremont | Coluche | ||
| Le point de mire | The Cop | Jean-Claude Tramont | ||
| 1978 | Madame le juge | Colomar | Philippe Condroyer | TV series (1 Episode) |
| Le beaujolais nouveau est arrivé | The Captain's son | Jean-Luc Voulfow | ||
| Surprise Sock | The intern | Jean-François Davy | ||
| Les héritiers | Ivan | Pierre Lary | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| La tortue sur le dos | The Reveller | Luc Béraud | ||
| Le temps d'une République | The second officer | Michel Wyn | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| Les Bronzés | Jean-Claude Dusse | Patrice Leconte | ||
| 1979 | Heroes Are Not Wet Behind the Ears | A passerby | Charles Nemes | |
| The Adolescent | M. Bertin | Jeanne Moreau | ||
| Pierrot mon ami | François Leterrier | TV movie | ||
| Cause toujours... tu m'intéresses! | The Cop | Édouard Molinaro | ||
| Histoires insolites | The Inspector | Maurice Ronet | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| Les Bronzés font du ski | Jean-Claude Dusse | Patrice Leconte | ||
| Rien ne va plus | Marcel Dupin | Jean-Michel Ribes | ||
| La Gueule de l'autre | Taboureau | Pierre Tchernia | ||
| Les 400 coups de Virginie | The antiquarian | Bernard Queysanne | TV Mini-Series (1 Episode) | |
| Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret | Crotton | Yves Allégret | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| 1980 | The Horse of Pride | Corentin Calvez | Claude Chabrol | |
| 1981 | Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine | Guy | Patrice Leconte | |
| Histoire contemporaine | Ernest de Bonmont | Michel Boisrond | TV Mini-Series | |
| Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret | Belloir | Yves Allégret | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| 1982 | Ma femme s'appelle reviens | Bernard | Patrice Leconte | |
| Le Père Noël est une ordure | Telephone's voice | Jean-Marie Poiré | ||
| Le mystère du gala maudit | Bernard Lion | TV movie | ||
| Après tout ce qu'on a fait pour toi | Pierre | Jacques Fansten | TV movie | |
| 1983 | Circulez y a rien à voir! | Leroux | Patrice Leconte | |
| Merci Bernard | Jean-Michel Ribes | TV series (3 Episodes) | ||
| Papy fait de la résistance | Father Leboeuf | Jean-Marie Poiré | ||
| 1984 | Retenez Moi...Ou Je Fais Un Malheur | Laurent Martin | Michel Gérard | |
| Marche à l'ombre | Denis | Michel Blanc | ||
| Nemo | Boris | Arnaud Sélignac | ||
| 1985 | Drôle de samedi | The pupil | Bay Okan | |
| 1986 | Tenue de soirée | Antoine | Bertrand Blier | Cannes Film Festival – Best Actor Nominated – César Award for Best Actor |
| Je hais les acteurs | Monsieur Albert | Gérard Krawczyk | ||
| Les Fugitifs | Doctor Bourdarias | Francis Veber | ||
| 1988 | Nuit d'ivresse | Jacques Belin | Alain Dhénaut | TV movie |
| Piazza Navona | Gilbert | Roger Guillot | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| Médecins des hommes | Philippe | Alain Corneau | TV series (1 Episode) | |
| Une nuit à l'Assemblée Nationale | Walter Arbeit | Jean-Pierre Mocky | ||
| Sans peur et sans reproche | Verdiglione | Gérard Jugnot | ||
| 1989 | Palace | The Inspector | Jean-Michel Ribes | TV series (1 Episode) |
| Monsieur Hire | Monsieur Hire | Patrice Leconte | Nominated – César Award for Best Actor | |
| Chambre à part | Martin | Jacky Cukier | ||
| 1990 | Strike It Rich | Hotel Manager | James Scott | |
| Uranus | René Gaigneux | Claude Berri | ||
| 1991 | Merci la vie | Raymond Pelleveau | Bertrand Blier | |
| Les secrets professionnels du Dr Apfelglück | The Hindu | Alessandro Capone | ||
| The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish | Norbert | Ben Lewin | ||
| Prospero's Books | Alonso | Peter Greenaway | ||
| 1993 | Toxic Affair | The suicidal | Philomène Esposito | |
| 1994 | Grosse Fatigue | Himself / Patrick Olivier | Michel Blanc | |
| The Monster | Paride Taccone | Roberto Benigni | ||
| Prêt-à-Porter | Inspector Forget | Robert Altman | National Board of Review Award for Best Cast | |
| 1996 | Les Grands Ducs | Shapiron | Patrice Leconte | |
| 1999 | C'est plus fort que moi | Gilles Marchand | Short | |
| 2002 | Summer Things | Jean-Pierre | Michel Blanc | Director and co-wrote the scenario |
| 2003 | L'affaire Dominici | The Commissioner Sébeille | Pierre Boutron | TV movie |
| 2004 | Madame Édouard | Commissioner Léon | Nadine Monfils | |
| 93, rue Lauriston | Inspector Blot | Denys Granier-Deferre | TV movie | |
| 2006 | Je vous trouve très beau | Aymé Pigrenet | Isabelle Mergault | Love is Folly International Film Festival – Best Actor Nominated – César Award for Best Actor Nominated – Lumière Film Festival – Best Actor |
| Les Bronzés 3: Amis pour la vie | Jean-Claude Dusse | Patrice Leconte | ||
| 2007 | The Witnesses | Adrien | André Téchiné | Nominated – César Award for Best Actor |
| Le Deuxième souffle | Commissioner Blot | Alain Corneau | ||
| 2008 | Nos 18 ans | Professor Martineau | Frédéric Berthe | |
| Musée haut, musée bas | Mosk | Jean-Michel Ribes | ||
| 2009 | The Girl on the Train | Samuel Bleistein | André Téchiné | |
| Une petite zone de turbulences | Jean-Paul Muret | Alfred Lot | Also co-wrote the script | |
| 2011 | The Minister | Gilles | Pierre Schoeller | César Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| The Day I Saw Your Heart | Eli Dhrey | Jennifer Devoldère | ||
| 2013 | Demi-soeur | Paul Bérard | Josiane Balasko | |
| 2014 | The Hundred-Foot Journey | Mayor | Lasse Hallström | |
| 2015 | Memories | Michel | Jean-Paul Rouve | |
| The New Adventures of Aladdin | Sultan | Arthur Benzaquen | ||
| 2016 | Odd Job | Gardot | Pascal Chaumeil | Also writer |
| 2017 | Raid dingue | Jacques Pasquali | Dany Boon |
As a director
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Marche à l'ombre | Also Writer and Actor Nominated – César Award for Best Debut |
| 1994 | Grosse fatigue | Also Writer and Actor Cannes Film Festival – Best Screenplay Nominated – Palme d'Or Nominated – César Award for Best Writing |
| 1999 | The Escort | Also Writer |
| 2002 | Summer Things | Also Writer and Actor Nominated – César Award for Best Writing |
| 2018 | Voyez comme on danse |
References
[edit]- ^ "Michel Blanc". Unifrance. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "Haltères de contraste". Libération (in French). 14 January 2006.
- ^ "Michel Blanc: L'heure de devenir père". Paris Match (in French). 25 October 2015.
- ^ RTL (4 October 2024). "Gérard Jugnot : « J'ai rencontré Michel Blanc en 4ème, on ne s'est plus lâchés »" (vid) (in French) – via YouTube.
- ^ "Mort de Michel Blanc: le lycée Pasteur de Neuilly-sur-Seine, point de départ de l'histoire du Splendid". BFM TV (in French). 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Mort de Michel Blanc: comment avait-il rencontré les autres membres de la troupe du Splendid?". Version Femina (in French). 4 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Michel Blanc, star of Monsieur Hire, dies aged 72". The Guardian. 6 October 2024.
- ^ a b Dossier de presse (press file) for Une petite zone de turbulences, 2009, UGY YM, TF1 Films Production.
- ^ Jean-Michel Frodon (1995). L'âge moderne du cinéma français. Flammarion. p. 465.
- ^ "Michel Blanc bibliography". Les Archives du Spectacle. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ Eric Tanguy page. Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2013 accessed 9 October 2024.
- ^ "Michel Blanc". Festival de Cannes (in French).
- ^ "L'acteur Michel Blanc est mort à l'âge de 72 ans". Le Figaro (in French). 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Michel Blanc Dies: César-Winning Actor & 'Les Bronzés' Star Was 72". Deadline. 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Michel Blanc, « clown angoissé » du cinéma français, est mort à l'âge de 72 ans". Le Télégramme (in French). 4 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Michel Blanc at IMDb
- 1952 births
- 2024 deaths
- French male film actors
- French film directors
- French male screenwriters
- French screenwriters
- Male actors from Île-de-France
- Lycée Pasteur (Neuilly-sur-Seine) alumni
- 20th-century French male actors
- 21st-century French male actors
- French male television actors
- Best Supporting Actor César Award winners
- Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor winners
- Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay winners
- People from Courbevoie
- Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery