Édith Piaf Biography: Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Cause of Death, Child, Husband, Songs, Movies, Books

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Édith Piaf,  the soul of French chanson, was a singer whose voice transcended the boundaries of language and culture. Her life is a thread of hardship, love, and artistic triumph.

Discovered singing on a street corner in the Pigalle district of Paris in 1935, her voice, small in stature yet immense in power, captivated audiences and critics alike.

Nicknamed “La Môme Piaf” (The Little Sparrow), she rose from poverty to become one of France’s most beloved and enduring icons. Her songs echo the joys and sorrows of life with an unmatched intensity.

Profile

•   Full name: Édith Giovanna Gassion
•   Nickname: La Môme Piaf (The Little Sparrow)
•   Date of birth: December 19, 1915
•   Age at death: 47 years (deceased)
•   Gender: Female
•   Place of birth: Belleville, Paris, France
•   Nationality: French
•   Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Actress
•   Height: 4′ 8″ (1.42 m)
•   Parents: Louis-Alphonse Gassion (father, street acrobat), Annetta Giovanna Maillard (mother, café singer)
•   Siblings: Simone “Momone” Berteaut (half-sister)
•   Spouse: Jacques Pills (m. 1952; div. 1956), Théo Sarapo (m. 1962)
•   Children: Marcelle Dupont (daughter, died in childhood)
•   Relationship status: Widowed (Théo Sarapo died in 1970)
•   Religion: Roman Catholic
•   Ethnicity: French
•   Net worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Édith Piaf’s early life was marked by poverty and hardship. Born on December 19, 1915, in Belleville, a working-class district of Paris, she was abandoned by her mother shortly after birth.

Raised by her paternal grandmother in a brothel in Normandy, she experienced a childhood far removed from the glamour and success that would later define her life. At seven, she rejoined her father, a street acrobat, and began performing with him.  

Her early exposure to street performance instilled in her resilience and a connection to the raw emotions of life that would later infuse her music. Piaf‘s formal education was limited, but her life experiences provided a unique and profound education in the realities of human existence.

Personal Life

Édith Piaf’s personal life was as dramatic and passionate as her music. She experienced a series of tumultuous relationships marked by both intense love and heartbreaking loss.

Her first great love, Louis Dupont, the father of her only child, Marcelle, died of meningitis when their daughter was just two years old. Piaf herself battled addiction and illness throughout her life, further adding to the emotional depth of her performances.

Her later marriages to singer Jacques Pills and actor Théo Sarapo provided periods of stability and companionship, but a relentless pursuit of love and connection ultimately defined her life.

Career

Édith Piaf’s career was a meteoric rise from the streets of Paris to the world stage. Discovered in 1935 by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who named her “La Môme Piaf,” she quickly captivated audiences with her powerful voice and emotional interpretations of chanson.  

Her often autobiographical songs resonated with listeners who connected with her expressions of love, loss, and resilience. Piaf’s career spanned over two decades, during which she achieved international fame, performing in renowned venues such as the Olympia in Paris and Carnegie Hall in New York.  

She collaborated with renowned songwriters and composers, including Marguerite Monnot and Charles Dumont, who crafted songs that became synonymous with her unique style.

  Her most famous songs, including “La Vie en rose,” “Non, je ne regrette rien,” and “Hymne à l’amour,” continue to be celebrated as classics of French chanson, embodying the timeless appeal of her artistry.

Net Worth

Édith Piaf’s net worth was estimated at $2 million at her death, approximately $20 million today when adjusted for inflation. Despite her wealth, she was known for her generosity, often spending freely on her entourage, staff, and personal luxuries.

Death

Édith Piaf’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 47. She died on October 10, 1963, in Grasse, France, due to liver cancer. Her death was mourned by fans worldwide, and her funeral in Paris drew massive crowds, a testament to her enduring popularity and impact on French culture.

Social Media

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Filmography

•    La garçonne (1936)
•    Montmartre-sur-Seine (1941)
•    Étoile sans lumière (1946)
•    Nine Boys, One Heart (1948)
•    Paris Sings Again (1956)
•    Love and the Frenchwoman (1960)

Discography

•    Les Mômes de la Cloche (1936)
•    Chansons réalistes (1937)
•    Correcteur (1940)
•    L’Accordéoniste (1940)
•    Tu es partout (1943)
•    La Vie en rose (1946)
•    Hymne à l’amour (1949)
•    Padam… Padam… (1951)
•    Non, je ne regrette rien (1960)
•    Mon Dieu (1960)

Books

•    Au bal de la chance (1958) (autobiography)

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