Olivier Despax (born Olivier Despax de Kerver; 28 February 1939 – 10 April 1974) was a French guitarist, singer and film actor.Goble p.402
Biography The grandnephew of composer Florent Schmitt and the son of Comte Joel de Kerver, Despax began piano lessons at age four and was given a guitar by his parents on his twelfth birthday.Badrot's "Find"New Movie Star Dark of the Sun Exhibitor's Campaign Book from MGM 1968 He was awarded the Best Jazz Guitarist award in 1955 from the Salon de la Jeunesse du Grand Palais when he was 16 years old.
After military service in the Algerian War he formed a rock group called Olivier Despax and the Gamblers and was signed by Barclay Records.
During a gig at Saint-Tropez, he met Brigitte Bardot whom he taught how to play the guitar. The two appeared together on French television in 1963 singing a duet.Les amoureux du France The publicity led to a film career in France beginning in 1964 with Mort, où est ta victoire?. He made his English language debut in Dark of the Sun (1968).
Despax was diagnosed with leukemia in 1969 and died in 1974.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1964 Mort, où est ta victoire? René 1964 Olivier Dorante 1964 The Monocle Laughs Frédéric 1966 A nous deux, Paris! Michel Lamballe 1966 Laurent Ferrère 1968 Dark of the Sun Lt. Surrier 1968 Cover Girl Paul 1976 El avispero (final film role)
References
Bibliography Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.
External links