France pays emotional tribute to New Wave actor Belmondo

France paid tribute Thursday to screen legend Jean-Paul Belmondo whom the French president portrayed as the nation’s Everyman in a solemn, touching national homage that drew applause and tears from fans, stars and the actor’s family

France Belmondo Tribute (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

France paid tribute on Thursday to screen legend Jean-Paul Belmondo whom the French president portrayed as the nation's Everyman in a solemn, touching national homage that drew applause and tears from fans, stars and the actor's family.

The ceremony at the site of Napoleon s final resting place combined military pomp and precision and the emotion of adoring fans. Some 1,000 were allowed inside the immense courtyard of the gold-domed monument, while others watched on a big screen from a lawn outside. Fans would also be able to see the coffin in a special viewing in the evening.

“Jean-Paul Belmondo was part of the family, brother, cousin, uncle, seductive friend, outstanding father ... in whom we all find a bit of our own” families, Macron said in a eulogy.

The star of the iconic French New Wave film “Breathless” died Monday at 88 years old. His death jolted the country into mourning for the man whose crooked boxer's nose and rakish grin made him one of the country's most recognizable leading men.

The outpouring of grief reflected Belmondo's prominent role in France’s cultural world and in its living rooms, where families gathered around his old films.

“We loved Jean-Paul Belmondo because he resembled us,” Macron said. “Jean-Paul Belmondo was a bit each of us but better.” He was the “friend everyone wanted to have," Macron said.

Recounting memorable scenes, the president reviewed Belmondo's long career — more than 80 films over six decades. The star worked with a variety of major French directors. Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 movie “Breathless” (“A Bout de Souffle” in its original French title) brought both men lasting acclaim.

Belmondo, affectionately known as Bebel, played roles from thug to police officer, thief to priest, Cyrano de Bergerac to an unshakable secret agent. He was also a gifted athlete who often did his own stunts.

For the family of Belmondo, the celebrity was still more. With his constant smile and positive outlook, “He is an eternal sun,” said grandson, Victor, in a tribute. When the sun sets, “it rises elsewhere,” he said in a sometimes trembling voice. “Have fun with your buddies,” he concluded in a reference to Belmondo's band of friends who have passed away.

To drum rolls, members of the Republican Guard brought the actor's coffin draped in a French flag into the immense courtyard of Les Invalides. A portrait of the actor, wearing a cap, a grin and grisly beard, watched over the ceremony, accompanied by military troops in full dress, some with swords and pompons.

Long minutes of applause broke out at the end of Macron's moving speech, and as the coffin was taken out with the Republican Guard orchestra playing the well-known score “Chi Mai,” from Belmondo's 1981 film “Le Professionnel” (The Professional).

“Adieu, Bebel,” Macron said.

Internationally=acclaimed singer Charles Aznavour was also honored at Les Invalides after his death in October 2018. Belmondo was among those attending that ceremony.

A private funeral for Belmondo is planned Friday.