The month of March 2026 has definitely been one of the deadliest for the people on the planet. A few days after Bruno Salomone’s disappearance and shortly before Loana’s, France learned of the death of Isabelle Mergault, deceased on March 20 at the age of 67. The actress and director, an iconic figure of the “Grosses Têtes,” succumbed to liver metastatic lung cancer. A disease she had not publicly revealed, simply because she thought she would overcome it, according to her loyal friend Laurent Ruquier.
Isabelle Mergault leaves behind a community of grieving fans but most importantly two daughters, Maya and Iris, whom she had adopted. And as tributes continue to pour in since the announcement of her passing, Gérard Jugnot, who had collaborated with her on numerous occasions, emotionally opened up about her illness on the show “1 hour with…” hosted by Bernard Montiel on RFM.
Gérard Jugnot revealed that Isabelle Mergault was already ill during the time of “Meilleur espoir féminin.”
In an exclusive excerpt revealed by “Voici,” Gérard Jugnot reflected on the early days of Isabelle Mergault, to whom he had given a chance after recognizing her talent. “I met her as an actress at the beginning, she was playing small roles. And then I saw that she had written quite interesting scripts, and I got her involved in ‘Voyage à Rome’ and then I asked her to write ‘Meilleur espoir féminin’ with me (released in 2000),” explained the former member of the Splendid troupe. It was during this collaboration that the colleague of Thierry Lhermitte and Christian Clavier perceived the first signs of her suffering. “I knew she was sick at the time of ‘Meilleur espoir féminin’,” said Gérard Jugnot. “Already at that time?” replied Bernard Montiel, surprised by this information.
Indeed, because she had handed me the script with tears on it, it had marked me. Although it was 25 years ago, I don’t know if it’s the same thing,” continued the 74-year-old actor. This memory, etched in his memory, demonstrates the silent pain she was carrying within her during that period, long before the public realized the extent of her battle.
Isabelle Mergault’s funeral details were announced by her agent to AFP on Monday, March 23, 2026. The burial of the actress and director will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Paris. A secular ceremony will be held at 10:30 under the Dome of Père-Lachaise, offering a final space for reflection for her loved ones and the public, who are explicitly invited to join this tribute. The deceased will then rest at Montmartre Cemetery, where Lionel Jospin was buried a few days earlier. For those who wish, flowers can be sent on the morning of March 30 to the Funerarium de Ménilmontant.
Find the show “1 hour with…” every Sunday at 11 am on RFM.
