These famous french stars have left us

28 december 2025 : Brigitte Bardot (91, movie star and animal rights activist)

« Le Figaro » calls her « the most beautiful woman of the 20th century, who has « given the image of a racist woman » at the end of her life. 

One could also say : this icon of french cinema puzzled others as well by her physical attractiveness as by the crudity of her statements.

Born and raised in an upper middle-class milieu, she starts her cinematographic career in 1952. The movie « And god created woman » from 1956 brings her global fame. Under the director Roger Vadim, who was as well her first husband, she is featured in the star role, besides the actors Curd Jürgens and Jean-Louis Trintignant.

For the filmmaker Claude Lelouch this movie was a precursor of the Nouvelle Vague in french cinema. Lelouch would never work with Bardot, but in her 46 films she collaborates in particular with Henri Verneuil (It happened all night, 1960), Louis Malle (Viva Maria, 1965), and Jean-Luc Godard (Masculin-Féminin, 1966).

With Serge Gainsbourg the actress did also register songs, such as « Je t’aime moi non plus » and « Comic strip ».

Her high profile brings her the accolades of the french republic. In 1969 she becomes « la Marianne » (the personification of France), following a decision by the association of the mayors of France. In 1985 François Mitterrand wants to give her the legion of honour, but she refuses it, by explaining that she « dedicates it to the animals that are suffering ».

Her commitment for animal welfare is said to have started in 1973, when she made her last film. Allegedly she saved a goat from being slaughtered back then.

Brigitte Bardot is known for her efforts concerning the protection of young seals. Indeed, the projects of the « Brigitte Bardot Foundation » concern many countries of the world. The artist participates as well in the generalized deployment of a special slaughter pistol in France, and she is interested in many animal rights questions, as for example animal testing for cosmetic products. She militates against the consumption of horse meat too :

« The French should stop eating horse meat, that’s all. Why don’t we eat dogs or cats ? French people only think about eating. They are fat and die from an infarct, and women do diets. They should eat less, and they should start by stopping to eat horse meat. It’s disgusting. « (Brigitte Bardot in 1980 on Antenne 2)

Maybe Miss Bardot has preferred animals to people. The magazine « Femme actuelle » quotes her description of her pregnancy that led to the birth of her son Nicolas in 1960, with the following words :

“I never had a maternal instinct (…) I did not have the time for that. (…) nine months of a nightmare (…) It was like a tumor that nourrished itself from me, that I had carried in my swollen flesh, awaiting the blessed moment when I would finally be freed from it. (I would have) preferred to give birth to a small dog (…) »  (Brigitte Bardot, quoted in « Femme actuelle ») 

According to this magazine, the actresses autobiography from 1996, in which a part of these phrases was published, led to the rupture of the relation between the son and the mother. The movie star also had to pay compensation for damages to her child, because of defamation.

The former Marianne of 1969 collected other condemnations too : among others for insults against french hunters, for excessive criticism of the ritual slaughtering of animals by muslims, or for racial defamation against the population of the island La Réunion (a french overseas department).

Brigitte Bardot did as well good deeds that were not racist at all. In the 1960ies she helped the black artist Josephine Baker, who had financial difficulties during that time.

The city of Saint-Tropez with its 3600 inhabitants, situated at 70 km southwest of Nizza, was already the filming location for « And god created woman ». Shortly after the release of this movie, Brigitte Bardot purchases there her property « La Madrague ».

The actress was married four times – with Roger Vadim, Jacques Charrier, Günter Sachs and Bernard d’Ormale. Her last husband is – according to Paris Match – a businessman and former advisor of Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Still in may 2025, Madame Bardot gave a long interview to BFM TV, in which she seemed to be in good physical and mental health. She died in her house, in the presence of her husband Bernard.

Many celebrities reacted to the announcement of her death. Representatives of the associations Peta and Spa (Société protectrice des animaux) praised her activism for animal protection. Marine Le Pen (member of parliament of the french RN party), Rachida Dati (minister for culture) and president Emmanuel Macron reminded that Brigitte Bardot personated self-confident liberty. The mayor of Nizza, Christian Estrosi, informed that the star’s name will be given to a street or place in the city. Some politicians proposed as well that there should be a national tribute, as there was in 2017 after the death of the singer Johnny Hallyday. The funeral of Brigitte Bardot will probably take place at the « marine cemetery » of Saint-Tropez.

20 january 2025 : Bertrand Blier (85, Film Director)

The Euronews’ article on the passing of the french artist had the title « Celebrated and controversial French Director Bertrand Blier dies aged 85 ». The adjective « controversial » comes of course from the fact that there is sex in his movies.

One of his most notorious works is « Going places » (Les Valseuses) from 1974. Gérard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere interpret two young vagabonds that try to have a good time and to have fun with women. One day they wait for example in front of a prison for women, assuming that the ladies that leave the front door might be open minded for physical communication. This strategy works out well : Jeanne Moreau has finished her prison sentence and is happy to join the two lads for a salacious evening.

Three important things are to be stressed with this movie. First, the sexual encounters shown do partially fulfill the definition of the criminal offense molestation – if not even more. Second, the artistic presentation of certain behaviours – even of criminal ones – is not to be mistaken as a promotion for them. Artistic liberty includes the right to treat difficult and disturbing subjects. And thirdly, the public has the right to criticize a work of art – ideally with good arguments.

Bertrand Blier, who was born in 1939 in a suburb of Paris, is often described as « iconoclast ». His films use elements of eroticism, black humour and absurdity.

For « Get out your handkerchiefs » (Préparez vos mouchoirs) from 1979, he won an Oscar for the best foreign film. « Buffet froid » and « Our story « (Notre histoire) brought him two César Awards in France.

Gérard Depardieu – an outstanding performer who has a controversial  perception by the general public too – did 8 movies with the director and was one of his preferred actors.

Le Figaro informed that Bertrand Blier died peacefully in his home in Paris, surrounded by his wife and his children.

Is it still possible today, to make films like that of Bertrand Blier ? Not sure. Here you can order them, before it’s too late !

17 january 2025 : Didier Guillaume (65, Politician)

Didier Guillaume was a member of two parties : at first of the Socialist Party, and since 2018 of the RDSE Group (Rassemblement Démocratique et Social Européen). He had been as well a politician in two countries. In France, he was in particular minister for agriculture, from 2018 to 2020. And in Monaco, he had been the chief of governement (Ministre d’Etat) since september 2024.

In 2018 there have been several cases of newborn babies without arms in some french regions. The delegate of the EU Parliament Yannick Jadot (Green Party) suspected that the use of pesticides by farmers could be linked to this phenomenon, as the concerned families lived close to crop fields.

The minister Didier Guillaume said back then, that scientists would have to prove if phytosanitary products are dangerous for the health of the population. But, the journal « Le Monde « contradicted the minister with the information that – according to french law – the manufacturer has to prove the inoffensiveness of his chemical product.

In the affair of the handicapped children an investigation by the national agency « Santé Publique France » did neither identify an excessive number of cases, nor the same risk factors with the concerned families.  

Mister Guillaume, who had been hospitalized since one week, died of a « very quick disease » according to french media.  

7 january 2025 : Jean-Marie Le Pen (96, Politician)

Jean-Marie Le Pen was born in 1928 in Brittany. When his father died during WW II, the son became a war orphan. The french term for it – « Pupille de la nation » (orphan of the nation) – had a special meaning for Le Pen :

« This impressed me thoroughly. I was two times a child of France. Thus, I had to care even more for the affairs of my country. » (Jean-Marie Le Pen in his autobiography )

Ever since, the Breton had been fascinated by army life. As a young man, he engaged as a soldier in the armed conflicts of France of that time : in Indochina and in Algeria.

A lawyer by profession, Le Pen run a disc company for a certain period. Since 1956 he had been active as a politician, but the party « Front National (current name : Rassemblement National) » was only founded in 1972.

Le Pen stood for strong nationalistic positions, he was against immigration and for the reintroduction of the death penalty (after its abolition in 1981). His statement, that the gaz chambers of the Nazis had been « a detail of history, which is discussed by historians », brought him a condemnation to a monetary penalty.

As a politician of the Front National, Jean-Marie Le Pen became deputy of several french regional parliaments, of the french national parliament, and of the parliament of the European Union.

In 2002 he reached the second round of France’s presidential elections, but lost against Jacques Chirac, who got 82,21 % of the votes.  

His daughter Marine Le Pen experienced the same situation. In 2017 she lost against Emmanuel Macron, with 33,90%. In 2022, Marine Le Pen lost again against Macron, with 41,45%.

In 2011 Jean-Marie Le Pen was replaced by his daughter as president of the party. Due to his repeated provocative statements he even got excluded from the Front National in 2015. But, after a contestation of this measure, the father finally succeeded in getting the position of a honorary party president.

Jean Marie Le Pen was a true patriarch. The family resided in Paris’ suburb Saint-Cloud, in a sumptuous mansion which it had gotten after the death of a rich sponsor (Hubert Lambert). One of the three daughters, Marine le Pen (*1968), became the successor of the father within the party. The granddaughter Marion Maréchal Le Pen (*1989) became a politician too. She started in the FN party, but is currently a member of the EU parliament for the group «  France Identité Libertés ».

Le Pen’s first spouse, Pierrette Lalanne, triggered a lot of media attention after her separation from Jean-Marie. For an amount of 400 000 Francs she made sexy photos for the Playboy magazine.   

The politician did not only survive his army deployments, but as well a bomb attack on his apartment building in Paris in 1976. The loss of an eye – due to an accident in 1965, according to Le Figaro – was hidden during many years by a blindfold.

Jean-Marie le Pen, who – despite his political positions – possessed a high level of erudition and a strong rhetorical talent, was active until his last years. He died on 7 january 2025 at the age of 96 years, in a medical facility in Garches, close to Paris.

On 30 january 2025, his tomb at the cemetery of the Breton city La-Trinité-sur-Mer was vandalized with a sledge hammer. The cemetery was temporarily closed, the police is leading an investigation. The french minister of the interior wrote on X:

“The damaging of the tomb of the Le Pen family is an absolute infamy. The respect of the dead is what differentiates civilisation from barbary.” (Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior)

9 september 2024 : Caterina Valente (93, Show Star)

Miss Valente’s official homepage features a quote of Bruno Coquatrix, the owner of the Olympia Theatre in Paris :

« Of the three greatest ladies in international music-hall – Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and Caterina Valente – Caterina is without any doubt the most professional one. » (Bruno Coquatrix)

Madame Valente was born in 1931 in Paris, and she was a french citizen (more precisely did she hold both the french and the italian nationality). But when you ask a french citizen in the street if he knows her, he will probably say « Non ». Because in 1979 she stopped giving concerts in France.

The daughter of italian musicians that travelled around Europe with their Vaudeville acts never went to a regular school, but she learnt much more than those who were there. Signora Valente played several instruments, she was a polyglot who spoke six languages fluently, and she was able to walk on several artistics paths – be it music, films or TV Shows.

Valente was at ease in jazz, and proved it already in the early 1950ies, when she recorded a disc with Chet Baker during one of his first european tours. In the 1980ies she toured herself with the Count Basie Orchestra led by Thad Jones.

Her german version of Cole Porter’s ‘ « I love Paris » became a big hit in Germany in 1954. Subsequently, Valente drifted in the « German Schlager Genre » for some years – both as a singer and an actor. Her Schlager movies – in which she played together with popular entertainers such as Peter Alexander – were of limited artistic interest, but they were commercially very successful.

Since the 1960ies Valente participated in big american TV shows of stars like Dean Martin or Bing Crosby. And then she got her own TV shows with american, italian and german broadcasting companies.

The polyvalent singer worked with a long list of international show business stars – be it Louis Armstrong for a TV show, or Michel Legrand for a common concert tour. Her very last artistic performance was in an italian TV show in 2003.

Caterina Valente died of a natural cause in her home in Lugano, Switzerland. Her two sons were with her in her final moments.

Here you can order the artistic work of Caterina Valente.

18 august 2024 : Alain Delon (88, actor)

Delon, born in 1935, passed an unstable childhood in the southern suburbs of Paris. When his parents divorced, he was put in a foster family. The new father was a prison guard, Delon played with the kids of other prison staff in the front court of the jail. His biological father was a cinema owner, Delon  could watch as many cinema movies as he wanted to. The new husband of his mother was a butcher, so Delon got a butcher training too. In 1953 he joined the french army for three years, including a deployment to Vietnam (Indochina).

Back in Paris in 1956, the young man jobbed as a waiter, got discovered for his good looks, and did his first movie role in 1957. Already around 1960, the actor worked with important directors, such as Luchino Visconti (Rocco and his brothers, The Leopard) or Michelangelo Antonioni (The Eclipse). Among his other famous works are « The Swimming Pool », his series of « cop movies », and « Asterix at the Olympic Games ».  In total, he appeared in almost 90 movies as an actor. In addition, he worked as well as producer of films.

Delon had the reputation to be attracted to the criminal milieu. Some imprisoned gangsters enjoyed his visits. His name appeared even in legal affairs :

In 1968 Delon’s bodyguard was killed under strange circumstances (Markovic Affair, see as well the section in this article about Roland Dumas). The main suspect was François Marcantoni, who organised sex parties for high society members. The investigations against Marcantoni, a fried of Delon, were finally abandoned by the authorities.    

In 2024, the french police confiscated 72 guns in the country house of the star, for which he had no authorisation. The prosecutor did not pursue the affair, with regard to Delon’s advanced age.

The movie star was as well known for being a personal friend of the french politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, and for his love affair with the actress Romy Schneider around 1960. He is survived by his three official children. Another alleged son of Alain Delon (Ari Boulogne), who even got adopted by Delon’s own mother, died in 2023 at the age of 60, after a difficult life marked by drug abuse and health problems.  

One of Delon’s remarkable movies is « Two Men in Town » (Deux hommes dans la ville) from 1973.

He interprets a delinquent released from prison, who tries to stay on the right track with the help of a social worker (played by Jean Gabin). Despite his efforts, he becomes criminal again. The movie treats as well in an impressive way the question of the death penalty, which existed in France until 1981, when it was abolished by the minister of justice Robert Badinter. Do not hesitate to read the section of this article about the death of Badinter in february 2024, to learn more about this chapter in France’s legal history.  

Click here to order movies of Alain Delon. 

3 july 2024 : Roland Dumas (101, former french foreign minister)

Roland Dumas was born in 1922 in Limoges. Both he and his father were members of the french Résistance during WW II. The latter was executed by the Gestapo, the son had to identify the body after its exhumation.

Since 1950 Dumas was a defense attorney in Paris, and worked on various high profile cases, such as for example the Markovic Affair (see the section in this article about Alain Delon for closer infos). He was also the lawyer of Abou Daoud, the organiser of the attack against the israeli team during the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. Among Dumas’ clients were as well various artists, like Marc Chagall or Placido Domingo.

The lawyer joined the french government during the mandate of president Mitterrand in the 1980ies. He became minister for european affairs, spokesman of the government, and minister for foreign affairs. Dumas and Mitterrand had been personal friends since 1948.

From 1995 until 1999, Dumas was president of the french constitutional council. In 1999, he withdrew from this position, as the so-called « Dumas Affair » became more dense.

Dumas’ passion for women had brought him repeatedly in delicate situations. When he was minister, he had an affair with the daughter of the head of the syrian secret service. Another maitresse was Christine Deviers-Joncour, an employee of the petrol company Elf Acquitaine, which was state owned until 1994. From Elf, Miss Deviers-Joncour had gotten 9,8 mio EUR for her work. The Dumas Affair concerned the question, if parts of this amount  were given to Mister Dumas against certain political favours.  

In 2001, the Dumas Affair brought Roland Dumas in first instance a sentence of six months in prison, 2 years on probation, and a fine of one million Francs. But the processs in second instance in 2003 led to an acquittal by the Appeal Court in Paris.

Miss Deviers-Joncour was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 12 months on probation in the Dumas Affair. Later she wrote a bestseller book with the title « La putain de la république » (The whore of the republic).

Even at the age of 90, Dumas still worked as a lawyer, just as his friend, the famous french attorney Jacques Vergès (1924 – 2013). With a penchant for  provocative formulations, he commented international questions, as for example the return of France in the military command of the Nato under president Sarkozy : 

“We should never have joined again Nato’s command. Before, the americans were much more attentive to our positions. It’s logical : when a young woman rebuffs you, you double your efforts. » (Roland Dumas, former minister for foreign affairs)

The former president François Hollande remembered Roland Dumas with the following words : 

« What will remain of him, is his diplomatic talent. He had the rare quality to speak several languages, to be always seductive, intelligent and capable to fix a certain number of problems by a negotiation. Roland Dumas used his talents as lawyer and his extraordinary sense for negotiation to serve his country. »  (François Hollande)

18 june 2024 : Anouk Aimée (92, actress)

The artist, whose real name was Nicole Dreyfus, played in several cult films of the 1960ies. With Federico Fellini she did « La dolce vita » in 1960, for Claude Lelouch she starred in « A man and a woman » in 1966. The movie director Jacques Demy made as well two films with her.  Miss Aimée was married 4 times and had one daughter.

12 june 2024 : Françoise Hardy (80, singer)

Françoise Hardy was only 18 years old, when she had her first hit in 1962 (Tous les garçons et les filles/ All boys and girls). In 1963 she got the 5th place at the Eurovision Song Contest with her song « L’amour s’en va » (Love goes).

Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan were fascinated by her, but she chose a french singer, Jacques Dutronc, with whom she has a son, who is also a singer – Thomas Dutronc.

Around 1970 she stopped giving concerts, her later music was registered in the studio. Hardy was as well an actress in a few films. Astrology became a big passion of her.

Hardy’s health had been bad for many years : a first cancer diagnosis in 2004 (Lymphoma), an artificial coma in 2016, a new cancer in 2019, 45 radiotherapies, heavy respiratory problems. In 2019, the singer – who was also in favour of euthanasia – wrote :

« I’m not afraid of dying. But I’m very, very afraid of suffering, even more because I am already suffering. » (Françoise Hardy, french singer)

21 march 2024 : Frédéric Mitterrand (77, politician)

The nephew of the former french president François Mitterrand (1916  – 1996), was minister for culture from 2009 to 2012, under president Sarkozy.

Frédéric Mitterrand, who had a doctorate in history, was passionate about the world of cinema. For about 15 years he ran several cinemas in Paris, but closed this activity due to financial difficulties. In 1982 he started to work for the french television as a presenter, in 2003 he became program director for the french TV station TV5.

Mitterrand described his homosexuality in an autobiographical novel (La mauvaise vie, engl. The bad life). Sections of this book, in which he speaks about experiences with sex workers, were criticized when he became minister.

9 february 2024 : Robert Badinter (95, politician)

When the lawyer and law professor became minister of justice under president François Mitterrand in 1981, he wrote an important chapter of France’s history of law by initiating the law for the abolition of the death penalty in France .

« The french justice will no longer be a justice that kills. » (Robert Badinter, french minister of justice, 1981)

When Badinter proposed the law to the french parliament, 62% of the french population were against the abolition. The french Assemblée Nationale adopted the law with 369 votes against 113. The second chamber of the parliament (the Senate) approved it with 161 votes against 126.

The death penalty in France was realised by the means of the Guillotine. Its last use had been in 1977, its abolition entered into force in 1981, and in 2007 the abolition was integrated in the french constitution (art 66-1). 

Robert Badinter became the president of the french Constitutional Council in 1986. He participated as well in the elaboration of the constitution of Romania from 1991. From 1995 until 2011 he was a member of the french Senate for the socialist party.

Badinter had lost family members, among them his jewish father, in Nazi Concentration Camps. The french philosopher Elisabeth Badinter became his second spouse and mother of his three children.

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