Yves Montand
Italian-born French actor and singer, one of France's greatest 20th-century artists.
Ivo Livi, known professionally as Yves Montand, was born in a small Tuscan village in 1921. His father manufactured brooms, and his mother was a devout Catholic. The family fled Italy for France in 1923 after the rise of Benito Mussolini, settling in Marseille. As a young man, Montand worked in his sister’s beauty salon and later on the docks. He began his show business career as a music-hall singer. In 1944, Édith Piaf discovered him in Paris and incorporated him into her act.
Montand became internationally famous both as a singer and film actor. He was renowned for his crooner-style songs, many of which celebrated Paris and became instant classics. He was a leading performer at Bruno Coquatrix’s Paris Olympia music hall and toured with musicians such as Didi Duprat. In 1947, he sang “Mais qu’est-ce que j’ai ?” at the Théâtre de l’Étoile. He initially refused to record “C’est si bon,” but did so after the Sœurs Étienne made it a hit. He was also extremely popular in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, where he toured in 1956–57. He acted in American films and on Broadway, and received César Award nominations for Best Actor in 1980 and 1984. In 1986, after his international box-office appeal had waned, he delivered a memorable performance as the scheming uncle in *Jean de Florette* and *Manon des Sources*, co-starring Gérard Depardieu and Emmanuelle Béart. The films were worldwide critical successes and revived his profile in the United States.
Montand married Simone Signoret in 1951, and they co-starred in several films. The marriage was generally harmonious until her death in 1985, despite his well-publicized affairs, notably with Marilyn Monroe. He was stepfather to Catherine Allégret, Signoret’s daughter. His only child, a son named Valentine, was born in 1988 to his second wife, Carole Amiel. A paternity suit after his death led to his exhumation for DNA testing, which proved he was not the girl’s father. He supported left-wing causes in the 1950s and 1960s, attending Communist festivals, but shifted to right-wing causes by the mid-1980s. He died of a heart attack on the set of *IP5: The Island of Pachyderms* in 1991 and is buried beside Signoret in Père Lachaise Cemetery. In 2004, Catherine Allégret alleged in her autobiography that he had sexually abused her from age five, though she claimed they reconciled before his death.
- born
- 13 October 1921
- died
- 9 November 1991
- field
- Actor and singer
- nationality
- Italian-born French
- known_for
- Crooner style songs, starring in Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources
Lore & Background
Montand was born Ivo Livi in Stignano, a small village in the hills of Monsummano Terme, Tuscany, Italy, to Giovanni Livi, a broom manufacturer. Montand's mother Giuseppina Simoni was a devout Catholic. The family left Italy for France in 1923 following fascist Benito Mussolini's rise to power. He grew up in Marseille, where, as a young man, he worked in his sister's beauty salon (Salon de Coiffure), as well as later on the docks. He began a career in show business as a music-hall singer. In 1944, he was discovered by Édith Piaf in Paris; she made him part of her act.
Reader's Guide
Montand achieved international recognition as a singer and actor, starring in many films. He is recognised for crooner style songs, with those about Paris becoming instant classics. He was one of the best known performers at Bruno Coquatrix's Paris Olympia music hall, and toured with musicians including Didi Duprat. In October 1947, he sang 'Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ?' (music by Henri Betti and lyrics by Édith Piaf) at the Théâtre de l'Étoile. Betti also asked him to sing 'C'est si bon' but Montand refused. Following the success of the recording of this song by the Sœurs Étienne in 1948, he decided to record it. Montand was also very popular in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, where he did a concert tour in 1956-57. During his career, Montand acted in American motion pictures as well as on Broadway. He was nominated for a César Award for Best Actor in 1980 for I comme Icare and again in 1984 for Garçon! In 1986, after his international box-office draw power had fallen off considerably, the 65-year-old Montand gave one of his best remembered performances, as the scheming uncle in Jean de Florette, co-starring Gérard Depardieu, and Manon des Sources (both 1986), co-starring Emmanuelle Béart. The film was a worldwide critical hit and revived Montand's profile in the United States, where he made an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.
Did You Know?
- Montand's only child, a son named Valentine by his second wife Carole Amiel, was born in 1988.
- He supported left-wing causes during the 1950s and 1960s, but by the mid-1980s his views had shifted to the right.
- Montand died from a heart attack on the set of IP5: The Island of Pachyderms, after his very last shot.
- He is interred next to his first wife Simone Signoret in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
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