Italian actor, singer, mime and dancer. Known as “The Frank Sinatra of France,” matinee idol Montand was the embodiment of Gallic charm and sex appeal for more than four decades. His films include “The Wages of Fear,” 1953, followed by a string of cult classics in the ’60s and ’70s “La Guerre Est Finie,” “Z,” 1969, “Grand Prix,” 1966 and “The Confession,” 1970. In later years he was regarded as an unofficial ambassador of France.
Montand was the youngest of three children of broom maker Giovanni and homemaker Giuseppina Livi, a couple who were flamboyant Marxists. When Giovanni’s broom factory was burned to the ground one night by Fascist thugs, he left his home immediately, fleeing to France on foot and settling in Marseilles where he found work on the docks. Giuseppina and the children joined him when Ivo was two and despite Giovanni’s labors, the family lived in grinding poverty. After leaving school at age 11 to help support his family, Montand worked a wide variety of jobs as a spaghetti cutter, stevedore and riveter before he settled into his sister Lydia’s hairdressing shop to learn her trade. He made his singing debut at 18 at the local clubs that lined the alleys of Marseilles.
Escaping a Gestapo raid in 1944, Montand fled to Paris where he met chanteuse Edith Piaf, who hired him as her leading man on stage and off. “Piaf taught me everything. She was my first true love.” Montand proved himself to be a masterful, suave performer and when Piaf grew tired of him two years later, he was well on the road to stardom after his musical hits “Dan Les Plaines du Far West” (On The Plains of the Far West) and “Luna Park,” in addition to his first film “Etoile San Lumiere” (Star Without Light) in 1946. He appeared in over 40 movies and became the most popular entertainer in post-war France, especially noted for being the symbol of a classless singer in a class-conscious society. Known for his solo performances shows of song, dance, acting and mime, he thrilled American audiences with his one-man show on Broadway of 20 French chansons that played in the Henry Miller Theater in 1959. A string of starring roles in American films followed, notably “Let’s Make Love” with Marilyn Monroe in 1960 followed by “My Geisha” with Shirley MacLaine in 1962. He appeared opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1970 film “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
Well known for his Marxist sympathies, leftover from childhood, Montand was invited to Russia in 1956 by Nikita Krushev in a ceremony normally reserved for heads of state. Following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Montand separated himself from Communism forever, declaring that “Stalinism is worse than Fascism.” In addition to his personal and romantic appeal, his politics then became so popular among his fellow French citizens that in 1988 a poll stated that 29% of the population would have voted for him for President of France. He was an impassioned advocate of disarmament and human rights as well as an outspoken champion of liberal and pacifist political ideals.
Montand never retired from his acting or singing career. In 1982 he was invited to perform on stage with the Metropolitan Opera of New York and at age 70 was still willing and able to break into song at the slightest provocation.
Montand married actress Simone Signoret in 1951 and they had 34 years together before her death in 1985: no kids. During his marriage, he was noted for flings with beautiful women, including Marilyn Monroe. After her death in 1985, he co-habitated with his secretary of three years Carole Amiel, who bore him a son Valentin on 12/31/1988 when she was 28 and he, 67. He died of a heart attack in Senles, France on 11/09/1991. After his burial next to Signoret, his wife of 35 years, his body was exhumed for DNA testing on 3/11/1998 due to a paternity suit brought by 22 year old student Aurore Drossart. On June 12, 1998 officials said that DNA testing proved he was not the woman’s father.
Link to Wikipedia biography