Symbolic figure of the French entertainment world, Isabelle Mergault passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026, following lung cancer, leaving a huge void in the artistic and cultural landscape of our country.
It was through the voice of her faithful friend Laurent Ruquier that the sad news was announced to the public. A statement sent to AFP on the day of her death revealed that the comedian had passed away “in Neuilly-sur-Seine, as a result of cancer she had been bravely fighting for several months”. She was 67 years old.
A talented woman
Isabelle Mergault was much more than just a comedian. Actress, screenwriter, director, and humorist, she left a mark on generations of viewers with her uniqueness and intelligence. Impossible to pigeonhole her, as Roselyne Bachelot shared in an interview with Gala: “She was an actress, author of plays and films, director…”
The former minister described a woman with deceptive appearances: “She had the image of a comedian, with that distinctive way of speaking. But in fact, she was very deep and intelligent. With a certain anxiety too.” A complexity that Roselyne Bachelot summed up with a beautiful phrase: “Laurent’s group is like good cocktails, a mix of salty, sweet, bitter. Isabelle had all three ingredients. And that’s probably why he adored her.”
A true group of friends
Beyond the stage and studios, Isabelle Mergault had strong bonds with her colleagues from the iconic RTL show. “We are a real group. We have dinners, parties at each other’s houses,” shared Roselyne Bachelot, highlighting that Laurent Ruquier “values a lot that his ‘sociétaires’ from Les Grosses Têtes see each other outside of the show.”
This closeness was particularly evident during the Covid period, when Roselyne Bachelot helped Isabelle Mergault bring Maya’s sister, her adopted daughter. “We really bonded during that time,” she said, before adding emotionally: “The entire team of Les Grosses Têtes is devastated. She was a beautiful person.” And she concluded with tenderness: “When she teased you, it was something special!” To honor her memory, a special episode of Les Grosses Têtes will be broadcast on RTL on Monday, March 23, 2026, allowing her friends and admirers to bid her a final farewell.
