Catherine Laborde, the iconic face of weather forecasting on TF1 for nearly three decades, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the age of 73. The announcement of her passing, at her home on the Île d’Yeu, has sparked a wave of emotion across France. Catherine Laborde, who had been battling Lewy body dementia since 2014, courageously shared her fight against this rare condition in her final years.
A Remarkable Career: Weather as a Stage
For 28 years, Catherine Laborde was a familiar and comforting figure to millions of viewers. She joined TF1 in 1988, at a time when weather forecasting was still largely descriptive and not yet digitalized. With her gentle voice, mischievous tone, and warm smile, she modernized the role of the weather presenter, establishing a unique connection with her audience.
Her career ended on January 1, 2017, during an emotional weather report. On that day, she bid farewell with a moving message:
"I leave with the cold, with time, but also with all the memories you have given me. Will you forget me? I won’t forget you. I love you."
These simple and sincere words continue to resonate deeply.
Alongside figures like Évelyne Dhéliat, Michel Cardoze, and Louis Bodin, Catherine Laborde left an indelible mark on television history. Yet behind this public career was a woman of rare sensitivity, passionate about art, theater, and writing.
Beginnings in the Spotlight of Theater
Born in Bordeaux on May 8, 1951, Catherine Laborde initially dreamed of a career as an actress. A graduate of her hometown’s Conservatory of Dramatic Art, she began her theatrical career in the 1970s, performing in challenging works such as L’Église by Louis-Ferdinand Céline.
She also ventured into cinema, appearing in several films by Jean-Charles Tacchella, including Cousin, Cousine in 1975. On television, she participated in popular series like Les Enquêtes du commissaire Maigret. However, it was in 1988, almost by chance, that she took her first steps into weather forecasting, a field that would catapult her into the limelight.
A Brave Fight Against Lewy Body Dementia
In 2018, a year after leaving TF1, Catherine Laborde revealed she had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. This complex neurodegenerative disease combines symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, making it difficult to diagnose. As early as 2014, she began experiencing the first signs: tremors, cognitive issues, and mood swings. In her book Trembler, she courageously and candidly shared the challenges imposed by the disease.
Buy Trembler by Catherine Laborde
Her husband, Thomas Stern, was a pillar of support during this challenging time. Together, they co-wrote Amour malade in 2020, a poignant account of their life disrupted by the disease.
"There were two of us: you and me; now there are three: you, me, and this damned disease," she wrote with disarming honesty.
Buy Amour malade by Catherine Laborde and Thomas Stern
Despite medical advances, there is still no cure for Lewy body dementia. Catherine Laborde faced this ordeal with exemplary dignity, choosing to speak publicly about her condition to raise awareness.
A Woman of Many Facets
Catherine Laborde was much more than a weather presenter. A writer, she published several books addressing a variety of themes, such as love, libertinism, and motherhood. She was also a loving mother to her two daughters, Gabrielle and Pia, and a devoted wife.
Her sparkling and unconventional personality made her an endearing figure, both on and off screen. Her appearances on shows like Fort Boyard and Touche pas à mon poste ! demonstrated her ability to reinvent herself, always with a touch of audacity.
A Final Farewell to a Beloved Figure
On this January 28, France bids farewell to a television star. Catherine Laborde leaves behind an unforgettable legacy: that of an authentic woman, close to her audience, and profoundly human. Her farewell on screen in 2017, filled with poetry and emotion, perfectly encapsulates the essence of her career.
Her fight against illness, her elegance, her radiant smile, and her unique way of narrating the weather will continue to inspire those who loved her. As the curtain falls on a rich and accomplished life, her memory shines bright, like a ray of sunshine after the rain.
