Jean-Paul Belmondo: a life in pictures

The celebrated French actor and star of Nouvelle Vague has died at the age of 88

Main image: Jean-Paul Belmondo in Le Casse, 1971.
Photograph: Columbia/Allstar

  • Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo, pictured here in Borsalino in 1970, was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 9 April 1933.
    Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo, pictured here in Borsalino, 1970, was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 9 April 1933.

  • Belmondo, centre, with fellow students of the National Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Paris: Jean-Pierre Marielle, Françoise Fabian, Pierre Vernier and Pierre Hatet. Belmondo was a student from 1953 to 1956.
    Belmondo, centre, with fellow students of the National Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Paris: Jean-Pierre Marielle, Françoise Fabian, Pierre Vernier and Pierre Hatet. Belmondo was a student from 1953 to 1956.

  • The Big Risk (Classe Tous Risques), 1960

    Following many small and supporting roles, Belmondo landed a main part in this crime drama alongside Sandra Milo.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Sandra Milo in Classe Tous Risques, 1960

  • Seven Days ... Seven Nights (Moderato Cantabile), 1960

    Belmondo as Chauvin and Jeanne Moreau as Anne Desbarèdes, in this adaptation of a novel by Marguerite Duras, directed by Peter Brook.
    Seven Days ... Seven Nights (Moderato Cantabile), 1960 Belmondo as Chauvin and Jeanne Moreau as Anne Desbarèdes, in this adaptation of a book by Marguerite Duras, directed by Peter Brook.

  • Two Women (La Ciociara), 1960

    Belmondo with Sophia Loren in the war film directed by Vittorio De Sica.
    Two Women (La Ciociara), 1960Belmondo with Sophia Loren in the war film directed by Vittorio De Sica.

  • The Lovemakers (La Viaccia), 1961

    Belmondo starred with Claudia Cardinale in the French drama.
    Jean Paul Belmondo starred with Claudia Cardinale in La viaccia, 1961

  • A Woman Is a Woman (Une Femme est Une Femme), 1961

    Anna Karina as Angéla and Belmondo as Alfred in Jean-Luc Godard’s romantic comedy.
    Anna Karina as Angéla and Jean-Paul Belmondo as Alfred in Jean-Luc Godard’s romantic comedy Une femme est une femme, 1961

  • Léon Morin, Pretre, 1961

    Belmondo was nominated for a Bafta for best foreign actor for his role as a young priest in occupied France with whom Emmanuelle Riva’s character falls in love.
    Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Léon Morin, prêtre, 1961

  • Swords of Blood (Cartouche), 1962

    Belmondo starred as the eponymous Cartouche alongside Claudia Cardinale in the French swashbuckler that was a huge hit there.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale in Swords of Blood (Cartouche), 1962

  • The Finger Man (Le Doulos), 1962

    Monique Hennessy and Belmondo in the crime thriller.
    Monique Hennessy and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Le Doulos

  • Belmondo and his first wife, Elodie Constantin, with actor Françoise Arnoul (wearing striped dress), at the International film festival in Berlin, June 1962. The couple were married in 1952, had three children and divorced in 1968.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and his first wife, Elodie Constantin, with actress Françoise Arnoul (wearing the striped dress), at the International Film Festival in Berlin in June 1962

  • That Man from Rio (L’homme de Rio), 1964

    Belmondo in the hit action film.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in the hit action film That Man from Rio in 1964

  • Pierrot the Madman (Pierrot le Fou), 1965

    Belmondo was reunited with Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina in this romantic crime drama, the story of a couple travelling across France, on the run from hitmen.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina in Pierrot le Fou, 1965

  • Up to His Ears (Les tribulations d’un Chinois en Chine), 1965

    Belmondo starred with Ursula Andress in this action movie. The couple became romantically involved on set and were together until 1972.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Ursula Andress in Up to His Ears, 1965

  • Belmondo on a winter holiday in France in the 1960s.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo on a winter holiday in France in the 1960s

  • Casino Royale, 1967

    Belmondo had a cameo role in the spoof James Bond movie, with David Niven as 007. • This caption was amended on 7 September 2021. Casino Royale was not the first James Bond movie as an earlier version said.
    David Niven and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Casino Royale, 1967

  • The Thief of Paris (Le voleur), 1967

    Belmondo with Geneviève Bujold in Louis Malle’s crime movie.
    ean-Paul Belmondo with Geneviève Bujold in Louis Malle’s The Thief of Paris, 1967

  • Mississippi Mermaid (La Sirène du Mississippi), 1969

    Belmondo with Catherine Deneuve in François Truffaut’s romantic drama.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo with Catherine Deneuve in François Truffaut’s romantic drama Mississippi Mermaid , 1969

  • Borsalino, 1970

    Belmondo and Alain Delon as Marseille gangsters François Capella and Roch Siffredi in the box-office smash.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon as Marseille gangsters François Capella and Roch Siffredi in Borsalino, 1970

  • The Burglars (Le Casse), 1971

    Belmondo as Azad in the Athens-based heist movie.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo as Azad in the Athens based heist movie The Burglars, 1971

  • The Man from Acapulco (Le Magnifique), 1973

    Belmondo in the spy movie spoof.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in The Man from Acapulco, 1973

  • Animal (L’Animal), 1977

    Belmondo and Raquel Welch as stunt duo couple Mike and Jane in the action comedy film.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Raquel Welch in Animal, 1977

  • The Professional, 1981

    Belmondo as secret agent Joss Beaumont.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in The Professional, 1981

  • In 1987, Belmondo, pictured with Sabine Haudepin, returned to the theatre after a 26-year absence in a production of Kean at the Theatre de Marigny in Paris. The hit show had been adapted by Jean-Paul Sartre from the novel by Alexander Dumas.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo and Sabine Haudepin in a production of Kean at the Theatre de Marigny in Paris in 1987

  • Les Misérables, 1995

    Set in the 20th century, Belmondo played Henri Fortin, who is introduced to Victor Hugo’s book and sees himself as Jean Valjean. The film won the 1995 Golden Globe for best foreign language film.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in Les Misearbles

  • Half a Chance (1 Chance Sur 2), 1997

    Alain Delon, Vanessa Paradis and Belmondo in the French crime drama.
    Alain Delon, Vanessa Paradis and Jean-Paul Belmondo in the French crime drama 1 chance sur 2, 1997

  • A Man and His Dog (Un Homme et Son Chien), 2008

    Jean-Paul Belmondo’s last feature film was the story of a man and his dog who find themselves homeless.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in Un homme et son chien, 2008

  • Workers set up the official poster of the 71st annual Cannes film festival, displaying Belmondo and Anna Karina in Pierrot le Fou, on the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, 6 May 2018.
    Workers set up the official poster of the 71st annual Cannes film festival, displaying Belmondo and Anna Karina in Pierrot le Fou, on the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, 6 May 2018.

  • Jean-Paul Belmondo, 1933-2021.
    Jean-Paul Belmondo in 2010
Topics