Bruno Salomone: Tributes at Funeral for French Actor & Comedian

Joinville-le-Pont, Val-de-Marne – Hundreds of mourners, including prominent figures from French cinema and television, gathered Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Église Sainte-Anne de Polangis to pay their final respects to actor and comedian Bruno Salomone, who died of cancer at the age of 55.

The church, with its distinctive red brick architecture, was filled to capacity, with dozens more standing outside. Salomone, known for his roles in the popular series Fais pas ci, fais pas ça and films like Brice de Nice, was remembered as a humble and exceptionally funny performer.

“He was the kind of man you’d want as a brother, brother-in-law, husband, or friend,” said Anne, a 55-year-aged admirer. “The funniest of his generation. At his shows, I cried with laughter for an hour and a half straight.”

Salomone was a longtime resident of the Île Fanac, a verdant island on the Marne River and a floral tribute from “Residents, Neighbors and Friends of Île Fanac” underscored his connection to the local community. Jérôme Blade, 66, a local resident, noted the town is accustomed to hosting celebrities, mentioning singer Laurent Voulzy as another resident, but added, “Losing Bruno feels like losing a part of ourselves, it’s as if we’ve always known him.”

During the funeral mass, director James Huth, who directed Salomone in Brice de Nice, delivered a eulogy, describing his friend as a “mad poet” who had departed “with elegance.”

The cortege, led by a hearse, included actors Jean Dujardin and Éric Massot, comedians Éric Collado and Manu Joucla, and director Huth, who walked behind the vehicle. The procession then proceeded slowly along Avenue du Général-Gallieni to the municipal cemetery approximately one kilometer away.

Among those in attendance were cast members from Fais pas ci, fais pas ça, including Guillaume de Tonquédec, Valérie Bonneton, and Isabelle Gélinas, who portrayed the Bouley family alongside Salomone. Cyril, a town mayor who traveled 1,200 kilometers from the Drôme region with his son, explained the series had been a constant presence in their lives, prompting their journey to pay their respects.

Corinne, 64, fondly recalled Salomone’s “burlesque” humor, specifically mentioning his popular sketches featuring guinea pigs. Friends and colleagues shared memories of his creative demands, his distinctive burgundy Audi, and his generosity, praising his wife Audrey’s unwavering strength throughout his illness, describing her as a “warrior.” One friend, referencing Salomone’s misophonia, playfully recalled his signature phrase: “Don’t bother, I’m a collector. Yes, my friend, you were a collector, unique.”

At the cemetery, as Joe Dassin’s “Si tu n’existais pas” played, tributes were offered around the marble plaque bearing the inscription “Bruno Salomone 1970-2026.” Stéphane, 54, remembered attending improvisation classes with Salomone at the Olympia in the 1990s, praising his uncanny impression of Louis de Funès. “I loved him. No one ever made me laugh like that.”