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Ah, Pierre Bénichou… A name that still echoes through the corridors of radio and newsrooms. Born on March 1, 1938, in Oran (Algeria), he was about 1.75 meters tall, a man of modest stature but an imposing presence. He passed away at 82, in 2020, at his Parisian home, far from the turmoil but not without leaving an indelible mark.
You surely know him from the famous “Grosses Têtes” on RTL. This journalist, sometimes grumpy in tone but always brilliant, long held the reins at Nouvel Observateur. A trajectory that doesn’t happen by chance, I assure you. Before this fame, he was a kid carried from Algeria to Paris, with the dreams of a world he would soon set foot in.
What strikes you about Bénichou is his ability to blend literary elegance with biting humor. This free spirit, coupled with a vast culture, never minced his words, even if it annoyed some, like the day he mocked Jacques Chirac (can you imagine?). But alongside that, he had this slightly gruff charm that made people love him nonetheless.
And then the private life, let’s not talk about it. Married to Alix Dufaure, a long-time journalist, he also shared a somewhat special extended family with actor Vincent Lindon. Quite the picture, isn’t it? In short, Pierre Bénichou represents a chapter of French media history that fades away but continues to shine in our memories. You can learn more here.
Who was Pierre Bénichou: journalist, man of the pen and wit
So, who really was this guy who kept the audience hanging? Born into a Sephardic Jewish family in Oran, he moved to Paris very young. His father, a philosophy teacher, pushed him toward serious studies, Lycée Condorcet, then the Sorbonne. Not the type to let his chance slip away!
And this is where it gets interesting: he started as an intern at France Soir, back when the paper was booming, before trying his wings in the magazine Adam, a world far from politics but close to style. Already, the tone was there: lively, direct, sometimes cynical.
We better understand how he could take the helm at Nouvel Observateur in 1968, right when everything was shaking in France. From deputy editor-in-chief to executive director, he experienced the escapades and ideals of this intellectual press standing in the front lines. But beware, he was not just the shadow of the weekly: his pen, often reserved for obituaries, is a delight to read.
He had this famous phrase: “I have a long memory but a short pen”. Which shows well his talent for drawing vivid portraits, in urgency, but with rare elegance. For nostalgics, his obituaries were even compiled in a book published in 2017, Les absents, levez le doigt!, which remains a little gem of writing.
The successes of Pierre Bénichou: from newsrooms to radio waves
Pierre Bénichou was also a voice that made itself heard. Radio, he adopted it late, but never left it again. His stint in “Les Grosses Têtes” on RTL is a bit like his stage. A place where he could unleash his sharp wit without restraint.
I remember a guy who could jump from a joke about politics to a witticism on literature in the blink of an eye. A real treat for listeners. In 2014, when Laurent Ruquier took over the show, he brought Pierre back into the group, and it was as if the chemistry was renewed with even more vigor.
He also carried his talent on Europe 1, on TV, always with the same energy: a little irreverent, very cultured, sometimes mocking, never dull. The perfect mix. It’s no coincidence he managed to carve out a place in the somewhat closed world of French media, where rebellious spirit sometimes comes with isolation.
But he was also a man of spirit, a scholar with reach beyond caricature. A true “great constable,” as Bernard-Henri Lévy called him, mixing journalistic rigor and offbeat humor. All this without ever taking himself too seriously.
Private life and anecdotes: a man of many facets
On the heart side, Pierre was not lacking. Married in 1970 to Alix Dufaure, a journalist like him, they formed a close tandem for forty years, until her death in 2012. Together, they had a son, Antoine. And, by family ties, he became stepfather to Vincent Lindon.
No question of overlooking this facet. Family was sacred, even if he liked to cultivate a certain mystery about his personal life. And then, he had his frankness about his origins and political opinions: fiercely left-wing, hostile to de Gaulle, he nonetheless had his own contradictions, notably about Pieds-Noirs defenders.
A funny detail? He was not religious, quite the opposite: “I believe neither in God nor the Devil,” he said, which did not prevent him from wielding the French language like a poet. And then, the Parisian nights, he frequented them quite a bit, notably at Castel, which sometimes earned him the label of dilettante, which he refuted with humor.
Ah, and I forgot! This journalist with a loud voice earned a bit of a reputation behind the scenes for his somewhat rough mood, his caustic wit. One day, he even drew the anger of Jacques Chirac with a well-aimed joke. You have to dare…
Projects and legacy: the Pierre Bénichou spirit alive today
Before taking his leave in 2020, Pierre Bénichou was still active, mixing writing and radio with an intact appetite for debate. He sometimes regretted that the general public only knew him through “Les Grosses Têtes.” This prolific journalist was much more than an amusing voice.
His legacy is this ever-present curiosity, the taste for the right word and the witty remark. Today, his writings, especially his obituary portraits, remain a reference. The book Les absents, levez le doigt! gathers this very particular work, which gives life to those who leave us.
From his beginnings in Algeria to his place in the Pantheon of radio chroniclers, he embodies this rare blend of seriousness and freedom. In 2025, people still speak of him as a model of commitment in the press.
And if you really want to feel his energy, it’s in the archives of the Grosses Têtes or in the analyses of his career that it happens. Because with Pierre Bénichou, it was solid.
5 surprising anecdotes about Pierre Bénichou 😲
- ✨ Unexpected sponsor of the men’s fashion magazine Adam in 1963.
- 🤐 His famous annoyance at being reduced to his role in “Les Grosses Têtes.”
- 🎭 He improvised as an actor, proving he knew how to play roles other than a journalist.
- 🍷 Veteran of Parisian nights, often at Castel, urban legend or not?
- ⚡ One of the rare journalists to have succeeded in annoying Jacques Chirac without provoking public outrage.
What was Pierre Bénichou’s professional background?
Pierre Bénichou started as an intern at France Soir before becoming editor-in-chief of Nouvel Observateur, then a star columnist on RTL’s Grosses Têtes.
What were the characteristics of his journalistic style?
Known for his sharp humor and rich culture, he mainly signed obituary portraits with a concise but deep style.
How would one describe his personality?
Pierre Bénichou was a man of spirit, sometimes caustic, but always brilliant and endearing, with a frank speaking style.
What was his connection to Vincent Lindon?
He was Vincent Lindon’s stepfather through his marriage to Alix Dufaure, a journalist and the actor’s mother.
Was his death related to Covid-19?
No, his son Antoine clarified that his passing in 2020 was not related to the pandemic.
