MONTAND, YVES

born Oct. 13, 1921, Monsummano Alto, Italy died Nov. 9, 1991, Senlis, Fr. original name Ivo Livi French stage and film actor and popular cabaret singer. Though considered by many to be the quintessence of worldly Gallic charm, Montand was actually born in Italy to Jewish peasants who fled to Marseille when he was two years of age to escape the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. At 18, he was singing in music halls, supplementing his income by working as a longshoreman. In Paris, as the protg of famous chanteuse Edith Piaf, he appeared in the 1945 motion picture toile sans lumire (Star Without Light). He married actress Simone Signoret in 1951. His role in La Salaire de la peur (1953; Wages of Fear) brought him international fame. His autobiography, Du Soleil plein la tte (Sunshine Fills my Mind), was published in 1955, before he gave his most acclaimed performances in La Guerre est finie (1966; The War is Over) and two films by director Costa-Gavras: Z (1968) and L'Aveu (1970; The Confession). His performances in Claude Berri's film adaptations of two novels by Marcel PagnolJean de Florette (1986) and its sequel, Manon des Sources (1986; Manon of the Spring)were also highly acclaimed.