Serge Reggiani(1922-2004)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The notably gifted, multi-talented actor, chanteur, poet and painter
Serge Reggiani was born in Reggio Emilia, a town in northern Italy, in
1922. His father, a highly visible anti-fascist, fled his
Mussolini-dictated homeland due to his fervent political activities and
emigrated to France in order to protect his family. Serge learned to
speak fluent French and developed an interest in athletics,
particularly boxing, but went an entirely different route altogether by
following in his father's footsteps as a hair stylist.
In 1937, his career path changed yet again when he was accepted into
the Conservatoire des Arts Cinematographiques. After graduation, he
landed a few minor roles in both films and theatre and enrolled at the
prestigious Conservatoire National d'Art Dramatique in 1939 wherein he
won numerous acting awards. Though he earned a reputation for himself
in the Paris theatre world, Reggiani was more interested in
movie-making and would thereafter focus his attention toward the big
screen.
During the filming of
Le carrefour des enfants perdus (1944)
[Children of Chaos], he met and subsequently married actress
Janine Darcey, which produced two
children: Stephan (1946) and Carine (1951). After obtaining French
citizenship in 1948, he went on to secure a name for himself in Gallic
cinema with roles in
Gates of the Night (1946)
[Gates of the Night], Manon (1949),
The Lovers of Verona (1949)
[The Lovers of Verona], La Ronde (1950)
and Casque d'Or (1952). Following his
divorce, he married actress Annie Noël and
fathered three children: Celia (1958), Simon (1961) and Maria (1963).
In 1959 Reggiani introduced a distinctive singing talent on radio and,
following film roles in
The Informer (1962) and
The Leopard (1963) [The Leopard],
launched his musical career at age 43.
Reggiani released his award-winning debut album in 1965 and it proved
to be such a major hit with both the French public and the critics that
singing became a prime career. Surprisingly, the middle-aged,
deep-voiced balladeer would strike a chord with the younger politically
left generation of the late 60s. A second album produced in 1967, plus
a left-wing concert with the legendary
Jacques Brel, clenched his popularity with
teenagers. He began to extend himself internationally while continuing
a healthy album output.
Children Stephan and Carine actively developed their own singing
careers and Reggiani performed on the concert stage with them in
encouragement but with lackluster results. Son Stephan, completely
overshadowed by his father, took this extremely hard and in 1980 (July,
29) committed suicide at the family home in Mougins. He was only 33.
Devastated, Reggiani withdrew from the music scene for a while to
recover from his grief and would battle bouts of depression and
alcoholism for much of his remaining life. Divorced from his second
wife in 1973, he met actress Noëlle Adam in
the 1980s and they lived in partnership for over 20 years, she becoming
a lasting source of strength for him in dealing with his personal
tragedies.
Reggiani's later years would be more or less spent in seclusion,
finding one last passion in painting. He displayed his works at his
first exhibition in 1989. After performing in concert to mark the 25th
anniversary of his singing career, Reggiani found the strength to
return to the French music scene with a brand new album. At age 70+, he
successfully recorded and was welcomed back to the concert stage with
great applause. Though his acting career had calmed down a great deal
since his singing heyday erupted, he did star in
De force avec d'autres (1992)
[For the Love of Others], a film written and directed by son
Simon Reggiani that also featured Ms.
Adam.
Serge married his longtime partner,
Noëlle Adam, in March of 2003; he died of a
heart attack at his Paris home a little over a year later at age 82.
Although little known here in the U.S., unlike chanson stylists
Yves Montand and
Jacques Brel, the acclaimed Reggiani has
nevertheless reached legendary proportions in France and Europe.
Serge Reggiani was born in Reggio Emilia, a town in northern Italy, in
1922. His father, a highly visible anti-fascist, fled his
Mussolini-dictated homeland due to his fervent political activities and
emigrated to France in order to protect his family. Serge learned to
speak fluent French and developed an interest in athletics,
particularly boxing, but went an entirely different route altogether by
following in his father's footsteps as a hair stylist.
In 1937, his career path changed yet again when he was accepted into
the Conservatoire des Arts Cinematographiques. After graduation, he
landed a few minor roles in both films and theatre and enrolled at the
prestigious Conservatoire National d'Art Dramatique in 1939 wherein he
won numerous acting awards. Though he earned a reputation for himself
in the Paris theatre world, Reggiani was more interested in
movie-making and would thereafter focus his attention toward the big
screen.
During the filming of
Le carrefour des enfants perdus (1944)
[Children of Chaos], he met and subsequently married actress
Janine Darcey, which produced two
children: Stephan (1946) and Carine (1951). After obtaining French
citizenship in 1948, he went on to secure a name for himself in Gallic
cinema with roles in
Gates of the Night (1946)
[Gates of the Night], Manon (1949),
The Lovers of Verona (1949)
[The Lovers of Verona], La Ronde (1950)
and Casque d'Or (1952). Following his
divorce, he married actress Annie Noël and
fathered three children: Celia (1958), Simon (1961) and Maria (1963).
In 1959 Reggiani introduced a distinctive singing talent on radio and,
following film roles in
The Informer (1962) and
The Leopard (1963) [The Leopard],
launched his musical career at age 43.
Reggiani released his award-winning debut album in 1965 and it proved
to be such a major hit with both the French public and the critics that
singing became a prime career. Surprisingly, the middle-aged,
deep-voiced balladeer would strike a chord with the younger politically
left generation of the late 60s. A second album produced in 1967, plus
a left-wing concert with the legendary
Jacques Brel, clenched his popularity with
teenagers. He began to extend himself internationally while continuing
a healthy album output.
Children Stephan and Carine actively developed their own singing
careers and Reggiani performed on the concert stage with them in
encouragement but with lackluster results. Son Stephan, completely
overshadowed by his father, took this extremely hard and in 1980 (July,
29) committed suicide at the family home in Mougins. He was only 33.
Devastated, Reggiani withdrew from the music scene for a while to
recover from his grief and would battle bouts of depression and
alcoholism for much of his remaining life. Divorced from his second
wife in 1973, he met actress Noëlle Adam in
the 1980s and they lived in partnership for over 20 years, she becoming
a lasting source of strength for him in dealing with his personal
tragedies.
Reggiani's later years would be more or less spent in seclusion,
finding one last passion in painting. He displayed his works at his
first exhibition in 1989. After performing in concert to mark the 25th
anniversary of his singing career, Reggiani found the strength to
return to the French music scene with a brand new album. At age 70+, he
successfully recorded and was welcomed back to the concert stage with
great applause. Though his acting career had calmed down a great deal
since his singing heyday erupted, he did star in
De force avec d'autres (1992)
[For the Love of Others], a film written and directed by son
Simon Reggiani that also featured Ms.
Adam.
Serge married his longtime partner,
Noëlle Adam, in March of 2003; he died of a
heart attack at his Paris home a little over a year later at age 82.
Although little known here in the U.S., unlike chanson stylists
Yves Montand and
Jacques Brel, the acclaimed Reggiani has
nevertheless reached legendary proportions in France and Europe.