Sacha Distel

Sacha Distel

Acting • Born 1933-01-29 – Died 2004-07-22

Acting1Paris, France

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.

Filmography

71 credits
Drôle de Noël pour Jérémy

Drôle de Noël pour Jérémy

Movie • 1995

Self

We Will Go to Deauville

We Will Go to Deauville

Movie • 1962

Self

Without Apparent Motive

Without Apparent Motive

Movie • 1971

Julien Sabirnou

A Song for Eurotrash

A Song for Eurotrash

Movie • 1998

Self - Special Guest

The Delinquents

The Delinquents

Movie • 1960

Bernard

L'Âge d'or de la pub

L'Âge d'or de la pub

Movie • 2023

Self (archive footage)

Elis & Tom: It Had to be You

Elis & Tom: It Had to be You

Movie • 2023

Self (archive footage)

Femmes de Paris

Femmes de Paris

Movie • 1953

Self (uncredited)

Numéro un - Demis Roussos

Numéro un - Demis Roussos

Movie • 2020

Self

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

Movie • 2022

Self (archive footage)

The Real Bargain

The Real Bargain

Movie • 1965

Self (uncredited)

Sheila, toutes ces vies-là

Sheila, toutes ces vies-là

Movie • 2022

Self (archive footage)

Spécial Bardot

Spécial Bardot

Movie • 1968

Self

Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir

Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir

Movie • 1963

Self

How to Make a French Dish

How to Make a French Dish

Movie • 1964

Roger

The Crook

The Crook

Movie • 1970

Self

Zazie dans le Métro

Zazie dans le Métro

Movie • 1960

Cameo Appearance (uncredited)

Fallen Angels

Fallen Angels

Movie • 1974

Maurice Duclos

Happy End!

Happy End!

Movie • 1964

Show - Charme - Chansons

Show - Charme - Chansons

Movie • 1965

Self

Alice und Ellen

Alice und Ellen

Movie • 1971

Self

Brigitte Bardot : Divine B.B.

Brigitte Bardot : Divine B.B.

Movie • 2004

Treffpunkt Telebar

Treffpunkt Telebar

TV • 1961

Self

Lieben Sie Show ?

Lieben Sie Show ?

TV • 1962

Self

Surprise, Surprise

Surprise, Surprise

TV • 1984

Self

Numéro un

Numéro un

TV • 1975

Self

TV Intim

TV Intim

TV • 1969

Self

Chanter la vie

Chanter la vie

TV • 2001

Self

Russell Harty

Russell Harty

TV • 1980

The Liberace Show

The Liberace Show

TV • 1952

Fantasy World Cup

Fantasy World Cup

TV • 1998

Self

Le monde est à vous

Le monde est à vous

TV • 1987

Self

Three of a Kind

Three of a Kind

TV • 1981

Self

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

TV • 1975

Self

Cilla

Cilla

TV • 1968

Self

Musik ist Trumpf

Musik ist Trumpf

TV • 1975

Self

The Mrs Merton Show

The Mrs Merton Show

TV • 1995

Self

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

TV • 1948

Self

Hätten Sie heut’ Zeit für mich?

Hätten Sie heut’ Zeit für mich?

TV • 1972

Self

Musik aus Studio B

Musik aus Studio B

TV • 1961

Self

Starparade

Starparade

TV • 1968

Self

Le Grand Échiquier

Le Grand Échiquier

TV • 1972

Self

Cadet Rousselle

Cadet Rousselle

TV • 1971

Self

Dim Dam Dom

Dim Dam Dom

TV • 1965

Self

Numéro un

Numéro un

TV • 1975

Self - Host

Système 2

Système 2

TV • 1975

Self

Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées

TV • 1982

Self

Midi Première

Midi Première

TV • 1975

Self

Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

TV • 2022

Self (archive footage)

Fan School

Fan School

TV • 1977

Self

Star Academy

Star Academy

TV • 2001

Self

Wie wär’s heut’ mit Revue?

Wie wär’s heut’ mit Revue?

TV • 1983

Self

La Chance aux chansons

La Chance aux chansons

TV • 1984

Self

Téléthon

Téléthon

TV • 1987

Self

Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre

Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre

TV • 1971

Self

Meine Melodie

Meine Melodie

TV • 1965

Self

Die Drehscheibe

Die Drehscheibe

TV • 1964

Self

40° à l'ombre

40° à l'ombre

TV • 1987

Self

Vivement dimanche

Vivement dimanche

TV • 1998

Self

Matin Bonheur

Matin Bonheur

TV • 1987

Self

Discorama

Discorama

TV • 1959

Self

Stars 90

Stars 90

TV • 1990

Self

30 millions d'amis

30 millions d'amis

TV • 1976

Self

Samedi soir

Samedi soir

TV • 1971

Self

Midi trente

Midi trente

TV • 1972

Self

Parkinson

Parkinson

TV • 1998

Self

Frou-Frou

Frou-Frou

TV • 1992

Self - Guest

Sacrée Soirée

Sacrée Soirée

TV • 1987

Self

Sacrée Soirée

Sacrée Soirée

TV • 1987

Self (archive footage)

Frost on Sunday

Frost on Sunday

TV • 1968

Self – Guest

Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous

TV • 1992

Self