Marc Mercier
professional wrestler · actor · stunt performer
- April 11, 1958 · Bourg-la-Reine
- September 7, 2026
- 68 years
About Marc Mercier
Marc Mercier, 68, French professional wrestler (FFCP) and stuntman (Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar), oesophageal cancer.
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Full Biography
|Marc Mercier (French: [mˈaʁk mɛʁsjˈe]; 11 April 1958 – 7 September 2026) was a French professional wrestler and actor. He competed in the Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel (FFCP), achieving the title of World Champion from 1985 to 1989.
Life and career
Born in Bourg-la-Reine on 11 April 1958, Mercier was the son of Guy Mercier, also a wrestler. His uncle, also named Marc Mercier, was a member of the French Resistance who was killed in a German ambush on 14 August 1944. His first professional wrestling match was at the Élysée Montmartre in September 1977. He became French champion in 1979, European champion in 1981, and world champion in 1985, As well as several wrestling matches on French TV, Mercier also wrestled on Britain's ITV in 1988, unsuccessfully challenging Marty Jones for the World Mid Heavyweight Championship.
A fractured ankle during a match in Kyiv in March 1989 forced him into early retirement. He returned to the ring in 2002 with the organization Wrestling Stars before joining the International Catch Wrestling Alliance [fr] in 2005. In 2006, he re-created the FFCP, of which he was elected president, and founded the Catch Academy in Wissous. There, he encouraged young wrestlers to avoid dangerous wrestling moves. In 2013, he criticized the Fédération française de lutte et disciplines associées [fr] following the International Olympic Committee's decision to drop wrestling from the Olympic Games. On 16 February 2014, he announced his departure from the FFCP, but returned to the role of president after his successor, Artémis Ortygie, left the country.
In addition to his professional wrestling career, Mercier appeared on the screen as an actor and stuntman. He held minor roles in television series such as Cordier and Son: Judge and Cop [fr] and Une femme d'honneur [fr] before serving as Gérard Depardieu's stunt double in the 1998 film Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar after the actor had suffered a car accident during the time of filming. He befriended Depardieu and his son, Guillaume.
Mercier died of oesophageal cancer on 7 September 2026, at the age of 68.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Mercier
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 26, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Marc Mercier's archived record and the sources above.
1.What is the date of birth of Marc Mercier?
- A.16 February 2014
- B.14 August 1944
- C.11 April 1958correct
- D.7 September 2026
Marc Mercier was born on 11 April 1958 in Bourg-la-Reine.
Source: early life section
2.Where was Marc Mercier born?
- A.Bourg-la-Reinecorrect
- B.Wissous
- C.Kyiv
- D.Paris
Marc Mercier was born in the town of Bourg-la-Reine.
Source: early life section
3.Who was the father of Marc Mercier?
- A.Artémis Ortygie
- B.Guy Merciercorrect
- C.Guillaume Mercier
- D.Marty Jones
Marc Mercier was the son of Guy Mercier, who was also a professional wrestler.
Source: early life section
4.How did Marc Mercier's uncle, also named Marc Mercier, die?
- A.In a car accident
- B.In a wrestling match
- C.From oesophageal cancer
- D.In a German ambushcorrect
Marc Mercier's uncle was killed in a German ambush on 14 August 1944.
Source: early life section
5.In what year did Marc Mercier become the French wrestling champion?
- A.1977
- B.1985
- C.1981
- D.1979correct
Marc Mercier became the French champion in 1979.
Source: career section
6.Against whom did Marc Mercier unsuccessfully challenge for the World Mid Heavyweight Championship in 1988?
- A.Artémis Ortygie
- B.Marty Jonescorrect
- C.Gérard Depardieu
- D.Guy Mercier
Marc Mercier challenged Marty Jones for the World Mid Heavyweight Championship on Britain's ITV in 1988.
Source: career section
7.What injury forced Marc Mercier into early retirement in 1989?
- A.A spinal injury
- B.A fractured anklecorrect
- C.A broken arm
- D.A torn ligament
Marc Mercier suffered a fractured ankle during a match in Kyiv in March 1989.
Source: career section
8.In which city did Marc Mercier suffer the injury that led to his first retirement?
- A.London
- B.Paris
- C.Kyivcorrect
- D.Wissous
Marc Mercier fractured his ankle during a wrestling match in Kyiv in 1989.
Source: career section
9.Which organization did Marc Mercier join in 2005?
- A.FFCP
- B.Wrestling Stars
- C.International Catch Wrestling Alliancecorrect
- D.Catch Academy
Marc Mercier joined the International Catch Wrestling Alliance in 2005.
Source: career section
10.What educational institution did Marc Mercier found in Wissous?
- A.The Catch Academycorrect
- B.The Wrestling University
- C.The FFCP Training Center
- D.The French Wrestling Institute
Marc Mercier founded the Catch Academy in Wissous.
Source: career section
11.What advice did Marc Mercier give to young wrestlers at the Catch Academy?
- A.To focus on heavy weightlifting
- B.To join the Olympic team
- C.To always compete internationally
- D.To avoid dangerous wrestling movescorrect
Marc Mercier encouraged young wrestlers at the Catch Academy to avoid dangerous wrestling moves.
Source: career section
12.Who was the successor of Marc Mercier as president of the FFCP before returning to the role?
- A.Artémis Ortygiecorrect
- B.Marty Jones
- C.Guy Mercier
- D.Guillaume Depardieu
Marc Mercier returned to the role of president after his successor, Artémis Ortygie, left the country.
Source: career section
13.For which film did Marc Mercier serve as Gérard Depardieu's stunt double?
- A.Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesarcorrect
- B.Une femme d'honneur
- C.The French Resistance
- D.Cordier and Son
Marc Mercier served as Gérard Depardieu's stunt double in the 1998 film Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar.
Source: career section
14.What illness caused the death of Marc Mercier?
- A.A stroke
- B.Heart disease
- C.Oesophageal cancercorrect
- D.Lung cancer
Marc Mercier died of oesophageal cancer on 7 September 2026.
Source: death section
15.How old was Marc Mercier at the time of his death?
- A.72
- B.68correct
- C.65
- D.75
Marc Mercier died on 7 September 2026 at the age of 68.
Source: death section
16.In what year did Marc Mercier return to the ring with the organization Wrestling Stars?
- A.2002correct
- B.2006
- C.2013
- D.2005
Marc Mercier returned to the ring in 2002 with the organization Wrestling Stars.
Source: career section
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