He was dead two hours before: Michel Denisot emotionally returns on the day he announced Coluches death on television.

On June 19, 1986, on Canal+, Michel Denisot announced to viewers the death of Coluche, who died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 41. This was a very difficult moment for the host, who at that time couldn’t hold back his tears despite the support of Maryse and Philippe Gildas, who were also deeply affected by the tragedy. On Thursday, May 14, the 85-year-old television man was a guest on the show “C à Vous” to present his documentary “Mon Coluche à moi”, which will be aired on May 26 on TMC.

He revisited this still vivid trauma, forty years later, saying, “This is the first and last time you cried on television, Michel?” asked the host Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine after the clip was shown. “Yes. It’s always emotional to see that… It’s very moving… we may have had things in common that were more related to childhood than to the present,” replied Michel Denisot.

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This article discusses Michel Denisot’s emotional recollection of the death of Coluche and his subsequent tribute to the late comedian.

Fact Check

The piece mentions that Michel Denisot was a guest on the show “C à Vous” and reflected on a traumatic experience related to Coluche’s death.

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Michel Denisot pays tribute to Coluche: “He was a free man, sincere”

He revealed that he had only learned of Coluche’s death two minutes before going on air. He disclosed, “Yes, he died two hours before and that evening, we did the show with a lot of emotion as you can see; In our job, we are not supposed to show our emotions but it was not possible in that situation,” confessed the former host of the “Grand Journal.”

He also honored Michel Colucci, stating, “He was a free man, independent, and was associated with no one and nothing except his own feelings and emotions. He was extremely sincere in most things, especially in creating the Restos du Coeur. He made everyone react, the left, the right, the center, he was nowhere but he was everywhere,” he analyzed.

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This part of the article highlights Michel Denisot’s memories of Coluche and his admiration for the late comedian’s character and principles.

Fact Check

Michel Denisot shares his views on Coluche’s unique personality and the impact he had on society.

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For Michel Denisot, Coluche “still has an influence today”

The documentary “Mon Coluche à moi” is part of the Cannes Classics 2026 selection. “It’s satisfying to be there. What interested me was also Coluche’s vision today. It’s a documentary about the present with the participation of many comedians (…) and we realize that Coluche still has an influence today,” he rejoiced, while Anne Elisabeth Lemoine added, “It’s a treasure trove of archives, anecdotes, and memories to tell the story of this extraordinary man who, as we remember, died suddenly on June 19, 1986 in a road accident,” she concluded. An homage that the provocative and committed actor would surely have appreciated.