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Jacques Brel

Jacques Brel

Actor · 1929 – 1978 · Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium

Jacques Romain Georges Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and director who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, later throughout the world. He is considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French and occasionally in Dutch, he became an influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers, such as Scott Walker, David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Marc Almond, Neil Hannon, and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many performers, including Bowie, Walker, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, The Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, James Dean Bradfield, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams. Brel was a successful actor, appearing in 10 films. He directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Having sold over 25 million records worldwide, Brel is the third best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time. Brel married Thérèse "Miche" Michielsen in 1950, and the couple had three children. He also had a romantic relationship with actress and dancer Maddly Bamy from 1972 until his death in 1978. Jacques Romain Georges Brel was born on 8 April 1929 in Schaerbeek, Brussels, to Élisabeth "Lisette" (née Lambertine) and Romain Brel. He came from a family of Flemish descent (who had adopted the French language); part of his family originated in Zandvoorde, near Ypres. His father worked for Cominex, an import–export firm, and later became co-director of a company that manufactured cardboard. Jacques and his older brother Pierre grew up in an austere household, and attended a Catholic primary school, École Saint-Viateur, run by the order of Saint Viator. Remembered as a courteous and manageable pupil, Brel did well in reading and writing, but struggled through arithmetic and Dutch. The boys were also members of the local Boy Scout troop, and enjoyed their time at summer camp and on family outings to the North Sea coast. In Brussels, the family lived at 138 Avenue du Diamant in Schaerbeek, then moved to 26 Boulevard Belgica in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, and finally settled at 7 Rue Jacques-Manne in Anderlecht. Brel was close to his mother, fascinated by her generosity and sense of humour, which he inherited. ... Source: Article "Jacques Brel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Movies20

  • Movie7.0

    L'Emmerdeur

    A Pain in the Ass

    1973 · 265 votes

  • Movie6.7

    L'Aventure c'est l'aventure

    Money Money Money

    1972 · 194 votes

  • Movie6.1

    Mon oncle Benjamin

    My Uncle Benjamin

    1969 · 51 votes

  • Movie7.4

    Les Risques du métier

    Risky Business

    1967 · 38 votes

  • Movie4.2

    Mont-Dragon

    1970 · 9 votes

  • Movie5.5

    Les Assassins de l'ordre

    Law Breakers

    1971 · 30 votes

  • Movie4.8
  • Movie7.9
  • Movie7.2
  • Movie6.5

    Le Far West

    Far West

    1973 · 10 votes

  • Movie4.6

    Le Bar de la fourche

    The Bar at the Crossing

    1972 · 8 votes

  • Movie5.1

    La Bande à Bonnot

    Bonnot's Gang

    1968 · 19 votes

  • Movie

    France, Song

    Франция, песня

    1969

  • Movie9.0

    Ultra, je t'aime

    1967 · 1 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie7.7
  • Movie
  • Movie9.0

    L'homme qui osa

    The Man Who Dares

    1967 · 1 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie6.2

    Franz

    1972 · 14 votes

Series9

  • TV5.7

    Sacrée soirée

    1987 · 5 votes

  • TV6.8

    Champs-Elysées

    1982 · 9 votes

  • TV
  • TV8.0

    Le Grand Échiquier

    1972 · 3 votes

  • TV6.0

    Midi trente

    1972 · 1 votes

  • TV6.0

    Samedi soir

    1971 · 1 votes

  • TV8.0

    Discorama

    1959 · 1 votes

  • TV5.0

    Legends

    2006 · 1 votes

  • TV