A lawyer in the chambers of Maître Isorni, she changed careers at thirty-five for the Cours Simon, Mireille's Petit Conservatoire and a one-woman show. The cinema took her for what she was, from Blier to Mocky. In 2010 she announced her Parkinson's disease herself.
The story
Born in Paris on 18 October 1934, daughter of Lucien Joly, a naval officer and mayor of Arromanches-les-Bains, Sylvie Joly began her working life as a barrister, in the chambers of Maître Isorni.
At thirty-five she changed trades: the Cours Simon, Tania Balachova, Mireille's Petit Conservatoire. Then a one-woman show, written with Marika Hodjis.
The cinema took her for what she was: Les Valseuses (1974) and Préparez vos mouchoirs (1978) by Blier, Le Miraculé by Mocky (1986), which earned her a César nomination for best supporting actress, Lelouch's Les Misérables (1995), Les Visiteurs 2 (1998).
In October 2010 she announced in her autobiography that she had Parkinson's disease — a rare decision, at a time when such things were still hidden.
She died of cardiac arrest on 4 September 2015; her funeral was held at Saint-Sulpice on the 9th. She rests in Division 25, on Transverse Avenue No. 1, beneath a stone that calls her “épouse Vitry, comédienne” — Madame Vitry, actress.
The grave
A simple grave, whose inscription fits on one line and raises a question: “Sylvie JOLY, épouse VITRY, comédienne, officier des arts et des lettres, 1934-2015.” — Sylvie Joly, wife of Vitry, actress, Officer of Arts and Letters. She was a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, appointed on 7 June 2006 — the stone carves one rank higher. Posthumous promotion, or engraver's error: the discrepancy is shown as it stands. She rests in the Division of Molière and La Fontaine.
On site, do not miss
Read the rank: the stone calls her “officier des arts et des lettres” — Officer of Arts and Letters — where she was a Knight. And she is buried under both her names — “Sylvie JOLY, épouse VITRY”.
Visitors' questions
Where is Sylvie Joly's grave?
In Division 25, Avenue Transversale No. 1, first row — the Division of Molière and La Fontaine. Her stone reads: “Sylvie JOLY, épouse VITRY, comédienne, officier des arts et des lettres, 1934-2015”.
MolièreWas Sylvie Joly a lawyer?
She was, in the chambers of Maître Isorni, before giving it all up at thirty-five for the stage: the Cours Simon drama school, Tania Balachova, Mireille's Petit Conservatoire, then a one-woman show written with Marika Hodjis.
Gisèle HalimiWhich films did Sylvie Joly appear in?
Blier's Les Valseuses (1974) and Préparez vos mouchoirs (1978), Mocky's Le Miraculé (1986) — which brought a César nomination for best supporting actress — then Lelouch's Les Misérables (1995) and Les Visiteurs 2 (1998).
Frank AlamoWhat does her stone say?
A rank she never held: the inscription calls her “officier des arts et des lettres”, an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, when it was as a chevalier, a Knight, that she was decorated, on 7 June 2006, at the Ministry of Culture. The grave promoted her.
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