Christian Aaron Boulogne

Christian Aaron Boulogne (11 August 1962 – 20 May 2023), also known as Ari Boulogne and Ari Päffgen, was a French photographer, actor and writer.

Ari Boulogne
Born
Christian Aaron Päffgen

(1962-08-11)11 August 1962
Died20 May 2023(2023-05-20) (aged 60)
Paris, France
NationalityGerman
French
Occupations
  • Photographer
  • actor
  • writer
Children2
Parent(s)Nico
Alain Delon
RelativesAnthony Delon (half-brother)
Anouchka Delon (half-sister)
Alain-Fabien Delon (half-brother)

Early life

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Boulogne was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 11 August 1962.[1] He was the son of German singer and actress Nico. His biological father has been heavily rumoured to be French actor Alain Delon,[2][3] although Delon consistently denied paternity to Boulogne and therefore this was never proved. He was initially raised by his mother before he was adopted by Delon's mother Édith and her second husband Paul Boulogne whose surname he legally took. He spent most of his childhood in Bourg-la-Reine.[4][5][6] In 2001 and 2019, Boulogne attempted to sue Delon for legal recognition of paternity but without success.[7][8][9]

Career

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Boulogne reunited with his mother as a teenager and began his career as an actor. He made appearances in films directed by Philippe Garrel, including The Inner Scar, which he starred in with Nico, and The Secret Son, in which he was credited as Ari Päffgen. After acting, Boulogne took on a career as a photographer.[10]

Personal life and death

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Boulogne had two children: a son, Charles (born 1999), and a daughter, Blanche (born 2006).[11] In 2001, he published a memoir, Love Never Forgets, in which he elaborates on his relationship with his mother.[12]

Boulogne was found dead in his Paris apartment on 20 May 2023, following a heroin overdose a month before. A woman, supposedly his partner, was taken into custody for failure of duty to rescue. He was 60, and was in an advanced stage of decomposition when discovered.[13]

Shortly after his death was announced, his half-brother Anthony Delon paid tribute to him on Instagram, expressing his "great sadness".[citation needed]

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Boulogne was portrayed by Sandor Funtek in the 2017 film Nico, 1988.

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "MatchID - Moteur de recherche des décès".
  2. ^ Olivier Seguret (20 March 1996). "Du micro au vélo, autopsie de l'icône Nico. Un film-docu lève un coin du voile sur l'égérie de l'underground 70's". Libération.
  3. ^ "A Orléans, la justice refuse de se prononcer sur une demande de reconnaissance en paternité d'Alain Delon". France Bleu (in French). 2021-09-29. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  4. ^ Willmington, Michael (2 February 1996). "'Nico' Shows Ex-model's Disintegration". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Der Muttersohn". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 22 May 2001. Archived from the original on 4 March 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. ^ Sabine Bernède, « Ari: tout le portrait d'Alain Delon », La Dépêche, 22 April 2001.
  7. ^ Gourgousse, Alban (2020-09-22). "Exclusif - Affaire de paternité d'Alain Delon : Ari Boulogne fait appel du jugement du tribunal judiciaire d'Orléans". www.larep.fr. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  8. ^ "Alain Delon poursuivi en justice par Ari, son fils " illégitime "". Le Point. 19 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Reconnaissance de paternité d'Alain Delon : la demande d'Ari Boulogne renvoyée vers la Suisse". Le Figaro (in French). 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  10. ^ "Christian Aaron Boulogne - Biographical Summaries of Notable People". MyHeritage. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  11. ^ Sanjek, David (September 1996). "Film review". Popular Music and Society. 20 (3): 171–172. doi:10.1080/03007769608591640. ISSN 0300-7766.
  12. ^ Anthony Verdot-Belaval, « « Ari Boulogne, la triste histoire du fils illégitime d’Alain Delon » », Gala, 8 novembre 2018.
  13. ^ Caroline Piquet, «Ari Boulogne, le fils illégitime d’Alain Delon, retrouvé mort à Paris» », Le Parisien, 20 May 2023.
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