Credits: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0.
Louis Bozon, known for being the voice of Jeu des 1.000 francs and later Jeu des 1.000 euros on France Inter, has died at the age of 90. France Inter announced his death this Thursday, July 11, confirmed by his family. Bozon, born in 1934 in La Tronche, hosted this popular game show from 1995 to 2008, leaving many listeners with his warm voice and inimitable style.
Before becoming a fixture on radio, Louis Bozon began his career in theater. A graduate of the Conservatory of Grenoble with a First Prize in dramatic arts, he continued his training at the Rue Blanche Center for Dramatic Arts in Paris. In 1957, he joined the RTF, precursor to ORTF, and joined France Inter in 1965. Among his notable contributions was hosting 3-6-9, a radio game show where listeners could win packs of cigarettes, as well as programs such as Bonjour tout le monde and Réveillez-vous, on s’occupe du reste.
In 1995, Bozon succeeded Lucien Jeunesse as host of Jeu des 1.000 francs, the historic program created in 1958. Under his direction, the show was modernized and renamed Jeu des 1.000 euros with the introduction of the single European currency. Bozon also launched a youth version of the show, continuing his commitment to young listeners until his departure in 2008, when Nicolas Stoufflet succeeded him.
Louis Bozon had a special relationship with the great actress Marlène Dietrich, whom he considered “the woman of his life.” They met at a dinner party, and a deep and lasting friendship developed between them. Bozon was her confidant and helped her in everyday life, staying by her side until her death in 1992. He wrote about their relationship in several books, including Allo mon ange, c’est Marlène and Marlène, ma vie avec Dietrich, describing the moments he shared with this absolute legend of cinema. He often said: “There are people you simply can’t let go of. If I had, I would have felt like a traitor.”
After stepping away from regular hosting, Louis Bozon moved out of the spotlight, though he occasionally returned to the media as a guest, notably appearing on Nagui’s La bande originale. Louis Bozon’s passing reminds us of a time when the French media landscape was shaped by strong personalities that were hard to replace.