Patrice Laffont

Patrice Laffont (21 August 1939 – 7 August 2024) was a French television presenter and actor.

Life and career During the 1960s Laffont had a passion for acting, where he became a star on stage and screen with his friends Michel Fugain and Michel Sardou. During the 1970s he joined Europe 1 where most of his programmes were produced by Armand Jammot.

His television career includes hosting Des chiffres et des lettres (French original of the UK's Countdown) which he did between 1972 and 1989. Laffont hosted the French version of Fort Boyard from its creation in 1990 until 1999 and Pyramid between 1990 and 1997, he also hosted Les Bons Génies (French version of Match Game) and a short-lived remake of Le Juste Prix called Le Juste Euro (French versions of The Price Is Right) in 2001. Laffont hosted the 2005 edition of Intervilles and presented poker tournaments for Direct 8.

Laffont was the father of Axelle Laffont and Mathilde Laffont. He died at his home in Oppède, in Vaucluse, on 7 August 2024, at the age of 84, due to a heart attack.

France Télévisions paid tribute to him by airing the special 35th-anniversary episode of Fort Boyard, in which he was a contestant, on August 14, ahead of schedule. In September, France 3 planned a program dedicated to his career, and a special episode of Les Enfants de la télé was also scheduled.

Filmography