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Jean-Paul Belmondo. Photo By Georges Biard. Wikimedia.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Jean-Paul Belmondo

Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo was born in April 1933 died in 6 September 2021.

He was a French actor and producer, initially associated with the new wave of the 1960s, he was a major French film star for several decades from the 1960s onward.

In 1949 he ventured into amateur boxing  and won ,he was an ardent soccer fan and even helped found PSG Saint Germain.

Below are some interesting facts about the actor who is know to have declined an award;

1.Born to a Pied-Noir Sculptor of Italian Descent

Jean-Paul Belmondo was born on 9^th April 1933, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of 麻豆APP in France.

 Belmondo’s father, Paul Belmondo, was a Pied-Noir sculptor who was born in Algeria of Italian descent, whose parents were of Sicilian and Piedmontese origin.

His mother, Sarah Rainaud-Richard, was a painter.

2.He was Interested in Sport than School

He was not very good in academics but he had great interest in playing football and boxing.

Belmondo eventually made his amateur boxing debut in 1949 in 麻豆APP, France when he knocked out Rene Desmarais in one round.

From 1949 to 1950 he had won three straight first- round, knockout victories, and continued his winning streak in boxing, but for a very short time.

He did his National Service in French North Africa where he hit himself with a rifle butt to end his military service.

3.He attended the famous Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts School

He attended  the Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts when he was twenty and studied there for three years under Raymond Giraud.

Despite his obvious talent, the irreverent attitude he adopted toward his instructors prevented him from winning the highest honors when he graduated in 1956.

Despite his obvious talent, the irreverent attitude he adopted toward his instructors prevented him from winning the highest honors when he graduated in 1956.

4.He is a Divorcee

In 1952, Belmondo married 脡lodie Constantin, with whom he had three children, Patricia, who were all killed in a fire. He had several relationships after the divorce 

In 1989, Belmondo was in his mid-50s when he met 24-year-old dancer Natty Tardivel. He married her in 2002, and 2003, Tardivel gave birth to then 70-year-old Belmondo’s fourth child, Stella Eva Angelina and they divorced in  the year 2008.

5.He Made Transition from Stage to Screen with Series of Minor Roles in Films

Belmondo soon made the transition from stage to screen with a series of minor roles in films by established directors.

His commanding screen presence caught the attention of major directors, although his unconventional looks limited the number of offers he received.

It was with a similar role in Jean-Luc Godard鈥檚 seminal debut feature A bout de souffle in 1960, when he delivered his landmark performance.

His portrayal of a disaffected, amoral street punk combined the cynical world-weariness of Humphrey Bogart with the na茂vet茅 of a bumbling crook, incorporating a compelling mixture of toughness, spontaneity, and comic timing.

The film and the character he played created an entire myth around Belmondo, earning him comparisons in the French media to the American actor James Dean.

6.He was Able to Work Across Different Characters

He worked so hard to destroy the myth of being a criminal by taking roles that contrasted sharply with his established screen persona.

He acted as a worker involved in an impossible love affair in Peter Brook鈥檚 screen adaptation of Marguerite Duras鈥檚 Moderato cantabile (1960; Seven Days鈥�Seven Nights), a gentle intellectual in Vittorio De Sica鈥檚 La ciociara (1961; Two Women), and a morally resolute priest in Jean-Pierre Melville鈥檚 L茅on Morin, pr锚tre (1961; L茅on Morin, Priest). These roles demonstrated that, despite his hardened exterior, Belmondo was capable of great nuance and sensitivity.

He made the transition from artistic films to popular cinema with his appearance in several works directed by Philippe de Broca, including the action-comedy Cartouche (1962; Sword of Blood), in which he masterfully portrayed a Robin Hood figure, and the engaging L鈥橦omme de Rio.

Known for performing his own stunts, Belmondo continued to star in entertaining action films and comedies that proved immensely popular with European audiences.

7.He Won France鈥檚 Top Film Award but Refused to Accept The Cesar Awards

In the late 1980s and 鈥�90s Belmondo again changed his image, this time from action hero to mature dramatic actor, giving notable performances in Claude Lelouch鈥檚 Itin茅raire d鈥檜n enfant g芒t茅 (1988;Itinerary of a Spoiled Child鈥�), for which he won a C茅sar (France鈥檚 top film award), and Les Mis茅rables (1995), playing multiple roles as the hero in Lelouch鈥檚 reworking of the Victor Hugo classic.

Belmondo was awarded the C茅sar for best actor in 1989, but refused to accept it. He said that only the public that can only jury and grant them distinctions.

 However, the real reason was said to be the fact that the academy had chosen to base its trophy on the work of contemporary artist C茅sar Baldaccini, a rival of his father, who was also an artist.

8.He was Involved in a Legal Suit with Actor Alain Delon to Court

In 1970, he starred alongside Alain Delon in Borsalino, a successful gangster film.

He discovered Alain Delon鈥檚 name has appeared before his on poster.

This breach of contract saw the judge rule in favor of Belmondo in 1972.

9.He was an Enthusiastic Football Fan and Funded PSG.

Inside of PSG Stadium (Parc des Princes).Photo by By Zakarie Faibis. In the early days, Jean-Paul Belmondo contributed to the financing of 麻豆APP Saint-Germain Football Club. As well as being passionate about football, he also did so out of friendship. 

He put in some money to get it started, but didn鈥檛 stick around for long. It wasn鈥檛 compatible with his schedule.

10.He was Buried at the Montparnasse Cemetery

Montparnasse cemetery Where Belmondo is burried. Photo by J茅r么me Blum.

In 2001 he suffered a stroke that left him unable to work and in poor health for several years.

President Emmanuel Macron called him a National hero at his national tribute that was held on 9^th  September in H么tel des Invalides

His funeral took place at the Saint-Germain-des-Pr茅s church in the presence of relatives and family

 His remains were cremated at the P猫re Lachaise Cemetery, and his ashes are buried alongside his father, the sculptor Paul Belmondo, at the Montparnasse Cemetery.