Pierre Bénichou

Pierre Bénichou Commandeur
Born	(1938-03-01)1 March 1938 Oran, French Algeria
Died	31 March 2020(2020-03-31) (aged 82) Paris, France
Other names	Beau Pedro, roi du tango Tonton Merguez La Béniche Bob du grand huit[1] Le Président[2] Le Rossignol d'Oran La Josephine Baker du Maghreb
Occupation(s)	Journalist, Columnist
Spouse	Alix Dufaure
Parent	André Bénichou
Relatives	Paul Bénichou (paternal uncle) Vincent Lindon (stepson)

Pierre Bénichou, Commandeur, (1 March 1938 – 31 March 2020) was a French journalist.[3]

Early life

Pierre Bénichou was born on 1 March 1938 in Oran, French Algeria.[4] His father, André Bénichou, a philosophy professor, opened a private school after he was dismissed from his job for being Jewish in 1941, in the midst of World War II.[5] One of his father's pupils was author Albert Camus.[5] His paternal uncle, Paul Bénichou, was a historian.[5] His paternal grandparents were practising Jews.[5] He moved to Paris, France, in 1949.[5]

Career

Bénichou was a journalist.[6] He started his career as an intern for France Soir.[4] He joined France Dimanche in 1956.[5] He became a reporter for Jours de France in 1961.[4] He became the editor-in-chief of Le Nouvel Observateur, another magazine, in 1966, at a time when it was the most sold weekly newspaper in Europe[4] He subsequently joined Les Grosses Têtes, a cult radio programme on RTL that made him a staple name in France for decades.[4] He was also a contributor to Vivement Dimanche, a television programme hosted by Michel Drucker. A much loved figure, he was widely considered as a "monument historique" of French Media.[4][3][7][8]

Bénichou became a Commander of the Legion of Honour on 25 March 2016.[9]

Personal life

Bénichou was married to Alix Dufaure, journalist for Marie Claire; she died May 2, 2012.[10] They had one son together, Antoine. Actor Vincent Lindon and his brother Sylvain are his stepson; Dufaure divorced Laurent Lindon in 1964.[4]

References

1. Émission On va s'gêner, 30.
2. Il était surnommé ainsi par l'humoriste Coluche. « Émission On n'est pas couché», 20.
3. Giesbert, Franz-Olivier (1 April 2020). "FOG – Pierre Bénichou, un monument historique". Le Point.
4. "Pierre Bénichou". Gala. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
5. Lacub, Marcela (30 August 2016). "Pierre Bénichou, après la fête". Libération. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
6. "Pierre Bénichou". Bibliothèque nationale de France. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
7. ""Les Grosses Têtes" : Pierre Bénichou est décédé". RTL.fr.
8. "Mort de Pierre Bénichou, ancien dirigeant de " L'Obs " et chroniqueur des " Grosses Têtes "". Le Monde.fr. 31 March 2020 – via Le Monde.
9. "ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LÉGION D'HONNEUR : Décret du 25 mars 2016 portant élévation aux dignités de grand'croix et de grand officier" (PDF). Journal officiel de la République française. Présidence de la République. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
10. url=https://www.gala.fr/stars_et_gotha/alix_dufaure