The image is as rare as it is overwhelming: that of a 6-year-old boy facing his father’s coffin… This Thursday, January 27, 2022 in Paris, at the Saint-Eustache church, the funeral of Gaspard Ulliel, just over a week after the terrible skiing accident that cost him his life, at only 37 years old. Family, friends and film buddies were present for a last tribute to the actor, who leaves behind him his son Orso, consoled by his mother Gaelle Pietri. The latter had met Gaspard Ulliel in 2013. The Corsican model and the actor had separated in the greatest discretion two years ago, but they had remained close to raise their son together.
Started at 11 a.m. Thursday, the blessing was deliberately short since it only lasted an hour. Three friends of the actor still spoke and several words were addressed to Orso. “Like you, dad is a dreamer and an adventurer“, told him a certain Stéphane, as reported The Parisian. Mallaury, another friend, added: “We always wondered, us his friends, if your dad was not a superhero. He knew how to attract butterflies by day and by night. He was Peter Pan and we were his lost childrenBenjamin, Orso’s godfather, also spoke up and said: “I know this effort will be superhuman. He wanted everything, except your misfortune. It’s sad to see us sad, I’m sure.”
At the end of the ceremony, Father Yves Trocherie also consoled the little boy sitting in the front row: “Your dad’s life came to an end when no one expected it. You never expect an accident. That is why everyone is upset, and even revolted, because each and every one of us loved him, starting with you dear Orso, he said in particular. We are here to share your grief, that of your mom, that of your grandparents Serge and Christyne, and of your whole family.“
The cleric then added:When you grow up, you will ask your mom, your grandparents, to show you pictures of your dad, to tell you about everything he did with them when he too was a child. You can also ask everyone who worked with your dad. You know your daddy was a great movie actor. So your daddy will always be alive in your heart, and in everyone’s heart.”
A film and series to come…
Orso will have many cinema figures to turn to to get to know this dad he knew so little better: Catherine Deneuve, Mélanie Thierry, Louis Garrel, Léa Seydoux, Niels Schneider, Alice Taglioni, Thierry Frémaux (general delegate of the Cannes), Alex Lutz, Ramzy, Nathalie Baye, Vincent Cassel, Amira Casar, Manu Payet… All were present on Thursday for a final farewell to Gaspard Ulliel. Usually discreet, Audrey Tautou has also reappeared, not far from Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Lindon or even Anna Mouglalis.
As a reminder, Gaspard Ulliel died following a skiing accident which occurred on January 18, while he was on the Rosière ski area, in the Haute Tarentaise massif. Transported by helicopter to the Grenoble University Hospital, the actor finally died a few hours later. The announcement of his death the next day, January 19, caused great emotion that went far beyond his family of the cinema.
The movie star A long engagement Sunday (2004), Saint Laurent (2014) and Just the end of the world (2016), which won him the César for best actor, had a career in France but also internationally and will be featured in the Marvel series Moon Knight, airing from March 30 on Disney+. He was recently filming for a series of Xavier Giannoli expected on Canal +, reported his agent to AFP, and had finished filming More than ever, alongside Vicky Krieps and Liv Ullmann.