José Luis de Villalonga

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José Luis de Villalonga
Born José Luis de Vilallonga y Cabeza de Vaca
January 29, 1920(1920-01-29)
Madrid, Spain
Died August 30, 2007 (aged 87)
Andratx, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
Years active 1958 - 1997

José Luis de Villonga y Cabeza de Vaca, 9th Marquess of Castellvell (29 January 1920 – 30 August 2007) was an author, aristocrat and actor who co-starred with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Born in Madrid, Spain, de Villalonga – who also went by the surname of Cabeza de Vaca – was a Grande of Spain and part of the nobility, holding the title of the Marquis de Castellvell. Upon the declaration in 1931 of Spain's Second Republic his family went into exile in Biarritz, France, but returned six months later. When the Spanish Civil War erupted in 1936, de Villalonga was at a French school, but his father ordered him back to Spain to fight on the rebel side of General Franco. His father was an enthusiastic supporter of Franco, and at age 16 de Villalonga was a serving member of a Nationalist execution platoon.[1]

After World War II, de Villalonga became increasingly disenchanted with the Franco regime, and he left the Spanish diplomatic service to live abroad. In 1954 his first novel, The Ramblas End in the Sea, was published, causing the Spanish military government censor to issue a ban on his reentry to the country. He then obtained work as a foreign correspondent for the national press agency EFE and for the magazines Paris-Match, Marie Claire and Vogue. His social connections and ability to relate gossip among Europe's jet set enabled him to regularly sell magazine articles, in addition to authoring four autobiographical tell-all books about his numerous love affairs.[2] After recording taped interviews with Spain's King Juan Carlos, he wrote an official biography of the King that was published in 1993.

Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, de Villonga continued his acting career. Though he refused a Hollywood acting contract, a highlight in his acting career was a role as "José da Silva Pereira," the dashing Brazilian multimillionaire whom Holly Golightly planned to marry in Blake Edwards' 1961 classic movie, Breakfast At Tiffany's.

Villalonga was married three times[3], to British aristocrat Essylt-Priscilla Scott-Ellis (1916-1983), Syliane Stella Morell (1974-1995), and since 1999 to journalist Begona Aranguren. A spendthrift, he soon disposed of much of his first wife's inheritance and property. His frequent affairs, including a relationship with the French actress Michèle Girardon, while still legally married to Priscilla Scott-Ellis, took their toll on both women, as de Villalonga readily admitted. Girardon eventually committed suicide in 1975 after de Villlonga ended their relationship to marry Syliane Stella Morell. Though courts twice found him liable for alimony to his first wife Priscilla Scott-Ellis, de Villalonga never paid the judgment, an act which reduced her to poverty for the remainder of her life. His third wife Begona Aranguren also became disenchanted with de Villalonga, and the couple separated in 2002. Aranguren wrote a scathing portrayal of the aging socialite and their marriage in 2004.[4]

De Villalonga died at his home on the island of Majorca on 30 August 2007 from natural causes.[5] He is survived by children John and Carmen from his first marriage and an adopted son Fabricio. King Juan Carlos expressed his sadness at Vilallonga's death.

Contents

[edit] Select filmography

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] References

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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)
  1. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2517688.ece
  2. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2517688.ece
  3. ^ José Luis de Villalonga
  4. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2517688.ece
  5. ^ 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' actor dies - USATODAY.com

[edit] External links