History of Jean-Paul Belmondo in Timeline
Jean-Paul Belmondo was a prominent French film star, particularly during the 1960s onward. Initially associated with the New Wave movement, he became a box-office champion, drawing nearly 160 million viewers over his 50-year career. He frequently portrayed police officers and criminals in action thrillers. Some of his most famous films include Breathless (1960), That Man from Rio (1964), Pierrot le Fou (1965), Borsalino (1970), and The Professional (1981). Like contemporaries Louis de Funès and Alain Delon, Belmondo was a major box office draw, starring in four of France's most popular films between 1969 and 1982: The Brain (1969), Fear Over the City (1975), Animal (1977), and Ace of Aces (1982). Only Louis de Funès surpassed him in this achievement.
April 1933: Birth and Family Background
Jean-Paul Belmondo was born in April 1933 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, to Paul Belmondo, a Pied-Noir sculptor of Italian descent, and Sarah Madeleine Rainaud-Richard, a painter.
April 1933: Birth of Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, in April 1933.
May 1949: Amateur Boxing Debut
Belmondo began his brief but undefeated amateur boxing career in May 1949 with a first-round knockout victory.
1950: End of Boxing Career
Belmondo retired from boxing in 1950 after three consecutive first-round knockout wins.
1953: Early Theatre Performances
Belmondo's acting career began in 1953 with performances in plays by Jean Anouilh and Georges Neveux at the Théâtre de l'Atelier in Paris.
August 1956: Conservatoire Incident
In August 1956, Belmondo's performance in a sketch mocking the Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts resulted in him receiving only an honorable mention, despite his talent.
1956: First Short Film Appearance
Belmondo made his first on-screen appearance in the short film "Moliere" in 1956.
1958: Role in "A Dog, a Mouse, and a Sputnik"
Belmondo had a more significant part in the film "A Dog, a Mouse, and a Sputnik" in 1958.
1958: First Lead Role in "Les Copains du dimanche"
Belmondo landed his first leading role in the 1958 film "Les Copains du dimanche."
1958: Early Film Roles
In 1958, Belmondo appeared in the comedy "Be Beautiful But Shut Up" with Alain Delon and played a gangster in Marcel Carné's "Young Sinners."
1958: Supporting Role, Godard Collaboration, and Military Service
In 1958, Belmondo supported Bourvil and Arletty in "Sunday Encounter," starred in Jean-Luc Godard's short "Charlotte and Her Boyfriend," and served in Algeria for six months as part of his military service.
1959: Supporting Roles and Television Appearance
In 1959, Belmondo appeared in supporting roles in films like "An Angel on Wheels" and "Web of Passion," and played D'Artagnan in a television adaptation of "The Three Musketeers."
1960: Role in "Love and the Frenchwoman"
Belmondo appeared as a gigolo in the anthology film "Love and the Frenchwoman" in 1960.
1960: Further Film Roles
Belmondo appeared in "Trapped by Fear" and the Italian film "Letters By a Novice" in 1960.
1960: "Consider All Risks" and "Breathless"
Belmondo starred in the gangster film "Consider All Risks" and the groundbreaking French New Wave film "Breathless" in 1960.
1960: Breakthrough with "Breathless"
Jean-Paul Belmondo starred in Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" in 1960, marking his rise as a prominent figure in the French New Wave.
1961: International Recognition
Belmondo gained significant international recognition in 1961, with The New York Times praising him as a major talent in French cinema.
1961: "Léon Morin, Priest"
Belmondo played a priest in Jean-Pierre Melville's "Léon Morin, Priest" in 1961.
1961: Reunion with Godard and "Famous Love Affairs"
Belmondo reunited with Jean-Luc Godard for "A Woman Is a Woman" and appeared in the anthology comedy "Famous Love Affairs" in 1961.
1961: Italian Films with Loren and Cardinale
Belmondo starred alongside Sophia Loren in "Two Women" and Claudia Cardinale in "The Lovemakers" in 1961.
1961: Collaboration with Jeanne Moreau and Peter Brook
In 1961, Belmondo worked with Jeanne Moreau and director Peter Brook on the film "Seven Days... Seven Nights."
1962: "A Man Named Rocca" and "Cartouche"
In 1962, Belmondo starred in "A Man Named Rocca" and had a major hit with the swashbuckler film "Cartouche."
1963: Melville Collaborations and Controversy
Belmondo worked with Jean-Pierre Melville on "The Fingerman" and "Magnet of Doom" in 1963. He also faced controversy and legal issues involving a policeman.
1963: "Banana Peel" Release
The comedy "Banana Peel," starring Belmondo and Jeanne Moreau, was released in 1963.
1964: International Success with "That Man from Rio"
Belmondo achieved international acclaim with the action-adventure film "That Man from Rio" in 1964.
1965: Rising Star and Hollywood Comparisons
Belmondo's continued success in 1965 further cemented his status as a major film star, leading to comparisons with Hollywood actors.
1965: Critical Recognition and Comparisons to Hollywood Stars
In 1965, Belmondo's growing reputation led to comparisons with prominent Hollywood actors such as Humphrey Bogart and James Dean.
1969: Box Office Success with "The Brain"
Jean-Paul Belmondo's film "The Brain" became one of the most popular films of the year in France in 1969.
1970: Release of "Borsalino"
The crime film "Borsalino," starring Belmondo, was released in 1970.
1975: Box Office Hit with "Fear Over the City"
"Fear Over the City," featuring Belmondo, achieved significant commercial success in France in 1975.
1977: Commercial Success with "Animal"
Belmondo's film "Animal" was a box office hit in France in 1977.
1981: Release of "The Professional"
Belmondo starred in the action thriller "The Professional" in 1981.
1982: Box Office Triumph with "Ace of Aces"
"Ace of Aces," starring Belmondo, became one of the top-grossing films in France in 1982.
1989: César Award for Best Actor
Belmondo won the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Itinéraire d'un enfant gâté" in 1989.
2011: Palme d'honneur at Cannes Film Festival
Belmondo received the prestigious Palme d'honneur at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011.
2017: César d'honneur
In 2017, Belmondo was awarded the César d'honneur at the 42nd César Awards.
September 2021: Death and Funeral of Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Paul Belmondo passed away at his Paris home in September 2021 at the age of 88, following a decade of declining health after a stroke. A national tribute was held at Hôtel des Invalides on September 9th, where President Macron hailed him as a "national hero." His funeral took place the following day at Saint-Germain-des-Prés church, attended by family and notable figures like Alain and Anthony Delon. Belmondo's remains were cremated at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and his ashes were scattered in the garden of his childhood home in Piriac-sur-Mer, unlike his father, sculptor Paul Belmondo, who is buried at Montparnasse Cemetery.
