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Pierre Tchernia: the death of his wife following 50 years of love, the tragedy of his life
Died in 2016, Pierre Tchernia would have blown his 94 candles, this Saturday, January 29. A television star for more than 50 years, the host experienced a painful ordeal in 1997: the disappearance of his wife, Françoise. The father of the family never really got over it.
The pioneer of French television would have turned 94 today. Born on January 29, 1928, Pierre Tchernia left his mark on the small screen for more than 50 years. Died October 8, 2016, “Monsieur Cinema” was buried in Névez alongside his loving wife, Françoise, disappeared in 1997. For 19 years, the host was forced to get used to loneliness. Despite the care and support provided by his four children, he never really mourned. A few months before his disappearance, the producer had given a last interview to our colleagues from France Sunday. He then came back with a lot of emotions on the death of his wife.
When reporters asked him what was the worst moment of his life, Pierre Tchernia has only one answer: “The death of my wife, of course. After fifty years of happy union, everything we had built together suddenly crumbled. It was really, really painful.”, he confided. Despite the years that have passed, the grief over the loss of this loved one has never dissipated. Since 1963, the couple had lived in Névez, a town located in Finistère. The small screen star would have had immediately a “love at first sight for the region and the house” according to one of his relatives who spoke in the columns of West France.
A touch of humor despite the pain
These long years spent in Finistère explain why the couple wished to be buried in Névez, which currently has nearly 3,000 inhabitants. Consumed by loneliness and the lack left by his wife for almost 20 years, Pierre Tchernia still kept a good dose of humor in front of the media. In 2013, the multi-talented man told the magazine Paris here : “I am a star pursued by my friends and fans. Fans who include many women: Lucienne, Monique, Raymonde, Marguerite, they all line up in front of my door and they assail me…” Before adding, more seriously: “No, just kidding: I’m all alone.“
Article written with the collaboration of 6Medias.
