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Jean-Paul Belmondo, one of the most iconic French actors of the 20th century and one of the main faces of the French New Wave, has died at the age of 88.
The actor’s agent confirmed the news to the AFP news agency. The French press reported that he passed away peacefully at his home in Paris.
Belmondo began acting in the 1950s before moving into cinema later in the decade. His first collaboration with Jean-Luc Godard took place in the short film “Charlotte and her boyfriend” from 1958. Soon after, while having success on stage, he began to be offered leading roles in the cinema , appearing in the 1960 gangster film “Consider All Risks” with Lino Venture.
His next lead role was in Godard’s first feature film “Breathless”, which cemented the actor’s position as a leading figure in the French New Wave movement. Starring Belmondo as a wandering criminal named Michel, the film was an instant hit and left a lasting legacy as a major entry into European cinema.
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Jean-Paul Belmondo was one of the biggest movie stars in France and a symbol of the New Wave cinema of the 1960s.
(AFP / AFP via Getty Images)
The 1960s saw Belmondo take on various roles in cinema in a mix of genres, also marking Italian cinema with roles opposite Sophia Loren (1961 “Two Women”) and Claudia Cardinale (1961 “Les Amoureux”).
He reunited with Godard for the romantic musical “Une femme est une femme” in 1961, before teaming up with Jean-Pierre Melville for “Léon Morin”, “Priest”, “The Fingerman” and “Manget of Doom”. Belmondo’s films continued to be regular commercial and artistic hits, with the actor dominating the box office throughout the 1960s, particularly with his action shots such as “This Man from Rio”.
Turning down offers to act in Hollywood, Belmondo began producing in the 1970s, forming his own Cerito Films banner. The credits included “Dr. Popaul” by Claude Chabrol and “Animal” opposite Raquel Welch. He continued to produce action films and was a strong advocate of genre cinema, defending his films from what he perceived to be snobbery.
French actor Jean Paul Belmondo and Italian actress Sophia Loren on the set of “La Ciociara”.
(Photo by Sunset Boulevard / Corbis via Getty Images)
“Success in France is always despised, not by the public, but by intellectuals. If I am naked in a film, it is good for intellectuals. But if I jump out of a helicopter, they think it is. terrible, ”he said. quoted as saying.
Belmondo has been married twice and is survived by three children.
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