SD
Sacha Distel
Actor, Additional Credits
Born January 29, 1933Died July 22, 2004 (71 years)
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.
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.
Sacha Distel Filmography
| 2023 | L'Âge d'or de la pub · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2023 | Sheila, toutes ces vies-là · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | Elis and Tom · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2002 | Today with Des and Mel (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | A Tribute to Burt Bacharach & Hal David · as Self |
| 2001 | Star Academy (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2000 | L'invité (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2000 | Qui veut gagner des millions ? (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | Le plus grand Cabaret du monde (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | Roll on Sunday (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | We Can't Wait for Next Sunday (TV Series) · as Self - Main Guest |
| 1998 | Tout le monde en parle (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | Light Lunch (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | The Mrs Merton Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Les enfants de la télé (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | Absolutely Fabulous (TV Series) · as Sacha Distel |
| 1985 | Les Grosses Tetes (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1984 | Surprise Surprise! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1984 | La chance aux chansons (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1982 | Wogan (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1982 | Champs-Elysees (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Three of a Kind (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | Shirley MacLaine at the Lido · as Self |
| 1978 | 3-2-1 (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Star |
| 1976 | César Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Number One (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Système 2 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Sunday meetings (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Midi-Première (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1973 | The Tommy Cooper Hour (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1972 | Pebble Mill at One (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | Midi Trente (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | Top to ... (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | The Generation Game (TV Series) · as Self - Surprise Guest |
| 1971 | Parkinson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1970 | The Crook · as Self |
| 1969 | Portrait of Petula · as Self - Musician |
| 1968 | The Morecambe and Wise Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1968 | Frost on Sunday (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1968 | The Basil Brush Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1967 | Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1965 | Pirouettes Salvador · as Self |
| 1965 | Dim Dam Dom (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1964 | Die Drehscheibe (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1964 | Top of the Pops (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | Grüsse aus Zürich · as Self |
| 1963 | Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir · as Self |
| 1962 | We Will Go to Deauville · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1959 | Télé-Dimanche (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1955 | This is Your Life (UK) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | Femmes de Paris · as Self (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Festival di Sanremo (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Jamais deux sans toi...t (TV Series) · as Walter Sax |
| 1985 | Maguy (TV Series) · as Rousseguat |
| 1971 | Without Apparent Motive · as Julien Sabirnou |
| 1964 | La bonne soupe · as Roger |
| 1961 | Goodbye Again · as Cast |
| 1960 | Zazie in the Metro · as Cameo Appearance (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Liberace Show (TV Series) |
| 1971 | The Good Life (1971) (TV Series) · as Composer |
| 1962 | The Seven Deadly Sins · as Original Music Composer |
| 1961 | Samedi soir · as Composer |