A woman who was prominent in the French artistic landscape has passed away. On Friday, March 20th, the death of Isabelle Mergault was announced in a statement. The famous director and screenwriter of “Grosses Têtes” passed away at the age of 67 after battling cancer. Many people took to social media to pay tribute to her, including celebrities who had crossed paths with her, starting with Laurent Ruquier, her friend for decades.
In an interview with RTL, the host of “Grosses Têtes” explained that they were not aware of her health condition. “We were very unaware. She didn’t want it to be known. First because she hoped to recover, and so did we. She even came back to ‘Grosses Têtes’ after she had been operated on,” the host emphasized, feeling inconsolable.
Among the few people aware of Isabelle Mergault’s cancer was her agent, Patrick Goavec, who had known her for thirty years. Speaking to Le Parisien on Saturday, March 21st, this close friend of the late comedian found it difficult to realize at the moment “that she is gone.” He mentioned that in the last few days, she had lost the desire to work. Last week, “I was worried, it had been three days since she hadn’t responded to me,” he revealed, later discovering she was hospitalized at Ambroise-Paré Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
“I walked into the room, I was shocked… She had changed so much. I said goodbye, I loved her so much… She gave me a big smile even though she was completely out of it. I left the room completely shaken, I knew it was the last time I would see her. I’m happy I said goodbye. I keep that memory of her. It’s always important to see people one last time,” Patrick Goavec declared, cherishing the unforgettable years he spent working with Isabelle Mergault.
The passing of Isabelle Mergault also deeply affected Antoine Duléry, who admitted to Gala that he was caught off guard by her death. “Her death saddened me because I wasn’t expecting it at all, I didn’t know she was ill,” he shared. The actor reminisced about their past together, recalling a “very beautiful, charming and captivating” woman he was “crazy” about.
Despite the years that have passed, some memories remain intact, like an unexpected gift: “The gift was for you,” she told him as she gave him books by Proust that he still keeps. Beyond her humor, Antoine Duléry also highlighted her depth, calling her a “very cultured” woman. Today, he still holds on to “amazing” memories of her, a “bon vivant” who introduced him to Proust and Barbara.
