Margriet Hermans passed away at the age of 72. Her daughter announced this. The Flemish singer, television face and former politician suffered from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Margriet was in the spotlight for more than forty years and became one of the most beloved and recognizable figures in Flemish living rooms.
Last month it was announced that she was suffering from a rare form of cancer. “It concerns a rare and complex neuroendocrine carcinoma (an aggressive and fast-growing form of cancer, ed),” her family said.
Because of the intense pain, the terrible discomfort and the lack of prospects for a quality existence, Margriet eventually took control herself. Her daughter Celine: ‘Mom has made the difficult and courageous decision to take control of her life here too. Or the end of her life.’ The family has spent the past few weeks in complete intimacy with each other.
Despite the bad news, Hermans looked back on her life ‘with a warm feeling’. ‘I have had a fantastic life full of love, friendship and fun. With unique and sometimes tough challenges, wonderful opportunities, fantastic performances, political commitments and so much more. A life to look back on with great gratitude.’
Belgian television icon
In the 1990s, Hermans became a real television icon among our southern neighbors. From 1989 to 1994 she hosted national and international stars in her own popular talk show Margriet. In addition, her burst of laughter was a fixture for many years in panel programs such as Say eh! and The three wise men. In between, she was also politically active for many years.
After a quieter period in the media, Hermans recently experienced an unexpected and spectacular revival. Her participation in the eighth season of Love for musicin which Davina Michelle and Suzan & Freek also participated, brought her back to the fore. She crowned that comeback that same year with the earworm Have a nice stay surprisingly winning the Summer Hit of Belgian Radio 2, a crowning achievement in a career spanning more than four decades.
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