Nathalie Baye has passed away, and France mourns one of its greatest actresses. In a statement, her family announced that the actress died at her home in Paris on Friday, April 17, 2026. She had been suffering from Lewy body disease, the same disease that had taken presenter Catherine Laborde. Longtime friend Michel Drucker paid tribute to the actress, recalling sadly the first signs of the disease that appeared a few years ago: “Four or five years ago, she was supposed to perform in a play at the Théâtre des Nouveautés. It was the first signs of her illness, as she had difficulty reading her lines,” he remembered. Drucker also remembered Laura Smet, the daughter of her close friend Johnny Hallyday. According to him, Baye played a crucial role in transforming the young idol in the early 80s. For him, Nathalie Baye was “someone quite extraordinary” who brought a new dimension to the rocker’s career.
In the columns of Le Parisien on April 19, our colleagues dedicate several pages to the passing of Nathalie Baye and also discuss “the love story of Johnny and Nathalie as seen by their daughter.” In Paris Match, their daughter revealed the unusual details of their meeting and unlikely love story. The meeting happened when the singer was 39 and the actress was 33. Both were single at the time. Professionally, Johnny was facing a low point, with declining album sales and concert attendance. They were asked to participate in a skit together written by Philippe Labro. An incident during their first meeting, where Johnny arrived late, left a lasting impression on Baye, and yet, their bond only deepened from there.
Nathalie Baye once said about her romance with Johnny, “It’s not for the glamour that I went to him, but because I fell in love.” Their relationship not only brought forth their daughter Laura but also led to collaborations that revitalized Johnny’s career, including an album and hit song that featured Baye’s voice. Through Laura and Baye, Johnny and Nathalie will forever be united.
