The career of Ivo Livi, better known as Yves Montand, transitioned from a Marseille beauty salon to international fame as a singer and film actor. Born in 1921 in the Italian village of Monsummano Terme, he emigrated to France with his family in 1923, eventually establishing a presence in both American motion pictures and the French music hall scene.
Early Career and Music
Before his rise to prominence, the young immigrant worked on the docks of Marseille and trained in a salon de coiffure. His trajectory changed in 1944 when Édith Piaf discovered him in Paris, integrating him into her performance act. Montand became a fixture at the Paris Olympia, managed by Bruno Coquatrix, and gained wide exposure through his renditions of songs about Paris. In 1947, he performed at the Théâtre de l'Étoile, initially refusing the song C'est si bon before recording it in 1948 following the success of the Sœurs Étienne version.
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Montand expanded his reach into cinema, earning a David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor in 1973. His acting career included nominations for a César Award for Best Actor in 1980 for I comme Icare and in 1984 for Garçon!. In 1986, he achieved a significant resurgence with his role as the scheming uncle in Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, both featuring Gérard Depardieu and Emmanuelle Béart. Beyond his film credits, he served as President of the Jury at the Cannes Festival in 1987.
Personal Life and Public Scrutiny
He married Simone Signoret in 1951, a partnership that lasted until her death in 1985. The couple lived in Normandy and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Montand also maintained affairs, including one with Marilyn Monroe during the production of Let's Make Love. His private life drew attention in 1988 with the birth of his son, Valentine, by Carole Amiel, and later involved a high-profile paternity suit that required his exhumation for DNA testing after his death, which confirmed he was not the biological father of the claimant's daughter. He died of a heart attack in Senlis in 1991 while filming IP5: The Island of Pachyderms.
Fast facts
- Born: 1921, Monsummano Terme, Italy
- Died: 1991, Senlis, France
- Primary occupations: Actor, singer, musician, dancer
- Spouse: Simone Signoret (1951–1985)
- Son: Valentine (born 1988)
- Notable honor: President of the Jury, Cannes Festival (1987)
- Burial site: Père Lachaise Cemetery
- Citizenship: France and Kingdom of Italy
Questions readers ask
What was Yves Montand's profession before becoming an actor?
He worked as a hairdresser in his sister's beauty salon and later spent time working on the docks in Marseille.
Where is Yves Montand buried?
He is interred at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, next to his first wife, Simone Signoret.
Achievements
- Worked as film actor, chansonnier and singer
