The world of media is in mourning since Thursday, May 14, 2026, when the family of presenter Sophie Garel announced her death at the age of 84. The prominent figure at RTL since the late 1960s passed away after an illness. On Tuesday, May 19, AFP journalist Jean-François Guyot relayed information about her funeral on his X account (formerly Twitter) provided by the deceased’s entourage. Her funeral will take place on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 2:30 PM. The religious ceremony will be held at the Sainte-Thérèse de l’Enfant-Jésus church in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine. As of now, no details about her burial location have been released by her family.
Following the announcement of her death last Thursday, tributes poured in. Like the heartfelt tribute from her longtime partner, Fabrice, with whom she formed one of the most memorable radio duos. Laurent Ruquier also shared a touching message on his Instagram account, expressing gratitude for Sophie’s radio career and highlighting her unique sense of humor and joy on the airwaves. To end, he sent his support to Thomas, Sophie Garel’s only son, born in 1970.
Sophie Garel’s funeral details were shared by Jean-François Guyot on Twitter, confirming the date and location of the service.
Sophie Garel left behind her only son, Thomas, a 56-year-old artist living in New York, whom she had with actor Jean Yanne, confirmed in 2003. She had previously discussed her complicated relationship with Jean Yanne, describing the challenges they faced during her pregnancy. Sophie Garel had described Yanne as demanding and castrating towards her career. Despite the difficulties, their relationship had softened over the years.
