Serge Reggiani was a multi-talented individual who was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy in 1922. His father, a vocal anti-fascist, fled to France due to his political activities and Serge learned to speak fluent French. He developed an interest in athletics, particularly boxing, but instead followed in his father's footsteps as a hair stylist.
In 1937, Reggiani's career path took a dramatic turn when he was accepted into the Conservatoire des Arts Cinematographiques. After graduating, he landed minor roles in films and theatre and enrolled at the prestigious Conservatoire National d'Art Dramatique in 1939, where he won numerous acting awards.
Reggiani met and married actress Janine Darcey in 1944, and they had two children, Stephan and Carine. He obtained French citizenship in 1948 and went on to secure a name for himself in Gallic cinema with roles in films such as Gates of the Night, Manon, The Lovers of Verona, La Ronde, and Casque d'Or.
After his divorce from Darcey, Reggiani married actress Annie Noël and fathered three more children, Celia, Simon, and Maria. In 1959, he introduced his singing talent on radio and launched his musical career at the age of 43.
Reggiani released his debut album in 1965, which became a major hit with both the French public and critics. He went on to release several more albums and became a popular singer, striking a chord with the younger generation of the late 1960s.
Reggiani's children, Stephan and Carine, also developed their own singing careers, but Stephan struggled with the shadow of his father's fame and committed suicide in 1980. Reggiani was devastated and withdrew from the music scene for a while to recover from his grief.
In the 1980s, Reggiani met actress Noëlle Adam and they lived together for over 20 years, with Adam becoming a source of strength for him in dealing with his personal tragedies. Reggiani's later years were spent in seclusion, but he found a new passion in painting and displayed his works at his first exhibition in 1989.
Reggiani returned to the music scene in the 1990s and recorded a new album, which was well-received. He also starred in a film written and directed by his son Simon Reggiani, titled De force avec d'autres.
Reggiani married Noëlle Adam in 2003 and passed away the following year at the age of 82. Despite being little known in the US, Reggiani has reached legendary proportions in France and Europe, earning him a reputation as a talented and versatile artist.
