Michel Blanc, French Star of ‘Les Bronzés’ and ‘Monsieur Hire,’ Dies at 72

Michel Blanc, the French actor known for the “Les Bronzés” films and crime drama “Monsieur Hire,” has died. He was 72.

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

Blanc was known for his role as the awkward bachelor Jean-Claude Dusse in the 1978 film “Les Bronzés” (“French Fried Vacation”), directed by Patrice Leconte. He starred in the 1979 and 2006 follow-up films to the cult French comedy.

Blanc was also revered for his dramatic performances in film, including in Leconte’s 1989 crime thriller “Monsieur Hire,” where he played the titular character. In 2012, Blanc received the César for best supporting actor for “L’Exercice de l’État” (“The Minister”), written and directed by Pierre Schoeller.

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Blanc directed, co-wrote and starred in the 1984 film “Marche à l’ombre” and 2002’s “Summer Things.” Additional film credits include “Les Filles de Malemort” (1974), “Let Joy Reign Supreme” (1975), “The Best Way to Walk” (1976), “Gramps Is in the Resistance” (1983), “Strike It Rich” (1990), “Uranus” (1990), “Merci La Vie” (1991), “The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish” (1991), “Toxic Affair” (1993), “The Monster” (1994), “You Are So Beautiful” (2005), “The Witnesses” (2007), “The Escort” (2009), “The Girl on the Train” (2009), “The Hundred-Foot Journey” (2014), “Odd Job” (2016), “A Good Doctor” (2019), “Les Petites Victoires” (2023), “Take a Chance on Me” (2023) and more.

Blanc was recognized for both his acting and creative roles by the Cannes Film Festival throughout his career. In 1986, he was awarded the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Betrand Blier’s 1986 dramedy “Tenue de soirée” (“Evening Dress”). Eight years later, he received the Best Screenplay Award at the festival for 1994’s “Grosse fatigue” (“Dead Tired”), a comedy film he also directed and starred in.

In 2004, he received the Molière, France’s equivalent of a Tony Award, for best adaptation of a foreign play for “L’amour est enfant de basaud” (“Things We Do for Love”).

In the 1970s, Blanc co-founded Le Splendid, a café-théâtre company, along with Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Josiane Balasko, Marie-Anne Chazel, Bruno Moynot and Claire Magnin. The Splendid troupe received the anniversary César in 2021.

“He made us cry with laughter and moved us to tears. A monument of French cinema, Michel Blanc has gone,” France’s President Emmanuel Macron said of Blanc in a statement posted on X Friday. “Our thoughts go out to his loved ones and his acting accomplices.”