Spanish "Breakfast at Tiffany's" star Villalonga dies
MADRID (AFP) — Spanish actor Jose Luis de Villalonga, who appeared in over 60 movies including the 1961 classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's" has died at his home on the island of Mallorca, Spanish media reported Thursday. He was 87.
Among his other films was Federico Fellini's "Juliet of the Spirits" (1965) and Louis Malle's "The Lovers" (1958).
Born into an aristocratic family in Madrid on January 9, 1920, Villalonga was also an accomplished author and journalist.
Among his books is a respected biography of Spanish King Juan Carlos and another of interviews with Fellini.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia said they were "greatly saddened" by the news of Villalonga's death in a message sent to his family, the royal household said.
A firm opposer of the right-wing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Villalonga lived in France between 1950 and 1976 where he studied at Biarritz and Arcachon.
In Paris he worked for magazines like Paris Match, Vogue and Marie Claire and developed a reputation as a playboy amongst the jet-set crowd he belonged to.
After he returned to Spain following Franco's death in 1975, Villalonga he worked for various media outlets including the Spanish version of adult entertainment magazine Playboy.
His ex-wife Syliane Stella Morell was at his side at the moment of his death, Spanish media reported. He will be buried in Barcelona.
