What Happened to Philippe Vasseur, Iconic José from ‘Hélène et les Garçons’?

For more than three decades, Philippe Vasseur brought life to the beloved José in the iconic sitcom “Hélène et les garçons” and its spin-offs “Le Miracle de l’amour,” “Les Vacances de l’amour,” and “Les Mystères de l’amour.” In late 2023, Vasseur announced he would no longer play this cherished role.

After ending his journey with AB Productions, what direction did Philippe Vasseur’s career take, especially after admitting he “lied for 30 years” while filming these iconic shows? Did the actor, known for his role as Bénédicte’s (Laure Guibert) partner and synth player in the boys’ band, stay in acting, or did he take a completely different path? We reveal all the details below!

Let’s not keep you in suspense any longer: after leaving AB Productions, Philippe Vasseur completely left the acting scene. His new day-to-day life revolves around his work as a sculptor and visual artist in Cayeux-sur-Mer, in the Somme region of France. This was a passion he had set aside for many years due to his busy schedule as an actor.

“Originally, I am a decorator. I worked with Dorothée for a few years on old production sets. I’ve always loved tinkering, building, painting…”, Philippe Vasseur stated in 2025 in an interview with Actu.fr.

Cinema as Inspiration

Philippe Vasseur, who describes his works as “relief paintings,” draws significant inspiration from cinema. “I love science fiction, submarine movies, naval war films,” he shares, with his work available for viewing on his official website.

“And then, I had an epiphany during a shoot in the Caribbean,” continues Philippe Vasseur, who will turn 60 in July. “We filmed underwater, on shipwrecks. It was my first time diving, and I was mesmerized. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with shipwrecks. I do online research, jot down names, and include them in my artwork. Titanic is my thing. A friend even once told me I must have been on the Titanic in another life…” (laughs)

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