He inspired a movie that gained more than 52 million admissions worldwide: “Intouchables” directors Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache announced on Facebook this June 2 that Philippe Bozo de Borgo has died.
“By accepting that we are adapting his story in Intangibles, he changed our lives and the lives of many vulnerable and weak people. We keep the image of a brave, dignified, humble and fighting man. They include, in particular, photographs with Omar Sy and François Clouzet.
Released in 2011, “The Intouchables” follows Philippe (played by François Clouzet), a rich and famous but quadruped, who hires Driss (Omar Sy) as his live-in assistant after being released from prison. From there, an unexpected companionship is born that has touched millions of viewers around the world.
Filipe Bozo de Borgo has died at the age of 72. He became a quadriplegic after a paragliding accident in 1993.
Portrait
Born in Tunis in 1951 and born into an old Corsican noble family, Philippe Pozzo de Borgo was the manager of the Pommery Champagne house. In 1993, he was injured in a paragliding accident and became a quadriplegic.
In his book “Le Second souffle”, published in 2001, he tells how he came out of depression thanks to his life supporter, Abdel Yasmin Cellu.
The story will be adapted to the screen in “The Untouchables,” a huge hit of 2011 that drew nearly 20 million viewers to theaters. He won the César Award for Best Actor in 2012.
“Always in our hearts,” the “Lupin” actor responded on his Instagram account.
Sold in nearly 50 countries, “Intouchables” recorded 19.49 million admissions in France and was an exceptional success in Europe – particularly in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. It was also adapted in the United States (“The Upside”) with Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart.
“Unshakable Faith”
The film “changed my existence and the course of Oliver because it resonated in France and many other countries. Above all, I see that his life and the way he interacted changed the lives of many people,” Eric Toledano said.
“He helped a lot of people, he answered thousands of messages, he had patience and attention to every suffering people, who needed these words, his comfort, he had a sense of humor and unchanging faith. In pain,” he added.
Director Filipe Pozzo di Borgo recalls that he gave them the rights to transcribe his story to the screen on the condition that it was “comedy”.
The Honorary President of the Simon de Chiren Association, which is building distribution houses for many disabled people in France, Philippe Bosso de Borgo has donated part of his film rights to the association, which has led to the proliferation of these organizations. More than 20 in France.
In 2015, he became a sponsor of the association “Relief But Don’t Kill”, which campaigns against euthanasia.
“He was amazing, dazzling. An absolute hero. Every night, he could die. He dressed well, wrote books, answered mails,” replied businessman Pierre-Emmanuel Dietinger on France 3. Knew him well and went paragliding with him.
“In 30 years, he never complained. He didn’t want to die, he was the leader of a life. He had one key word: take care of the weak. But this word always came back, take care of the fragile”, he concluded. .
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”