Polyphemus
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Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1933-01-29 (92 years old)

Place of Birth

Paris, France

Sacha Distel

Biography:

Alexandre "Sacha" Distel (29 January 1933 – 22 July 2004) was a French singer, guitarist, songwriter and actor who had hits with a cover version of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" in 1970, which reached No 10 in the UK Charts, "Scoubidou", and "The Good Life". He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997. He had also scored a hit as a songwriter when Tony Bennett recorded Sacha's song for The Good Life in 1963. It peaked at #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and Top 10 on the Easy Listening chart.

Distel was the son of Russian-French emigre Léonide Distel who was born in Odessa (Russian Empire) and French-Jewish pianist Andrée Ventura (1902–1965), born in Constantinople. His uncle was bandleader Ray Ventura. After Ventura settled in Paris with his orchestra Les Collégiens, Distel gave up piano and switched to guitar.

During his career, Distel worked with Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Bobby Jaspar, Barney Kessel, John Lewis, Pierre Michelot, Bernard Peiffer, Henri Renaud, Fats Sadi, Art Simmons, Martial Solal, René Urtreger, and Barney Wilen.

As well as his musical career he also did some acting, primarily on French television. He had a cameo appearance in the 1960 film Zazie dans le Métro. He appeared in "Fallen Angels" by Noel Coward on British television in 1974.

Distel was involved with actress Brigitte Bardot in 1958, having invited her to his birthday party in Saint-Tropez. The relationship ended in 1959. He married championship Olympic skier Francine Bréaud in 1963. Distel publicly stated that he remained faithful to his wife: "Anything I want in a woman I can get at home."

Distel died of cancer at the age of 71 on 22 July 2004 at his mother in law's home in Rayol-Canadel, near Saint-Tropez, France.

Source: Article "Sacha Distel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Known For

Acting

2023

L'Âge d'or de la pub as Self (archive footage)
Elis & Tom: It Had to be You as Self (archive footage)

2022

Sheila, toutes ces vies-là as Self (archive footage)
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées as Self (archive footage)

2020

2001

Star Academy as Self

1998

A Song for Eurotrash as Self - Special Guest
Parkinson as Self

1995

1992

Frou-Frou as Self - Guest

1990

Stars 90 as Self

1987

Téléthon as Self
Sacrée soirée as Self (archive footage)

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1977

Fan School as Self

1976

1975

Numéro un as Self
Numéro un as Self - Host
Système 2 as Self

1974

Fallen Angels as Maurice Duclos

1972

Midi trente as Self

1971

Without Apparent Motive as Julien Sabirnou
Samedi soir as Self

1970

The Crook as Self

1969

TV Intim as Self

1968

Cilla as Self
Starparade as Self

1965

The Real Bargain as Self (uncredited)
Dim Dam Dom as Self

1964

1963

1962

1961

1960

The Delinquents as Bernard
Zazie dans le Métro as Cameo Appearance (uncredited)

1959

Discorama as Self

1953

Femmes de Paris as Self (uncredited)

1952

1948

Sound

1962

Pride as Music
The Seven Deadly Sins as Original Music Composer

1960