José Luis de Vilallonga, 9th Marquess of Castellbell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Excellent José Luis de Vilallonga GE LH
Vilallonga with Audrey Hepburn (left) in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Born	José Luis de Vilallonga y Cabeza de Vaca (1920-01-29)29 January 1920 Madrid, Spain
Died	30 August 2007(2007-08-30) (aged 87) Andratx, Majorca, Spain
Resting place	Poblenou Cemetery
Occupation	Author, actor, diplomat
Years active	1958–1997
Title	9th Marquess of Castellbell
Spouse(s)	The Hon. Esyllt-Priscilla Scott-Ellis ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1972)​ Syliane Stella Morell ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1995)​ María Begoña Aranguren Gárate ​ ​ (m. 1999; sep. 2002)​
Children	3
Relatives	Vicente Cabeza de Vaca y Fernández de Córdoba (grandfather) Alfonso de Portago (cousin) Vicente Sartorius (cousin)

José Luis de Vilallonga y Cabeza de Vaca, 9th Marquess of Castellbell (born January 29, 1920 – died August 30, 2007) was a Spanish nobleman, author, and actor. He was also a diplomat. He held the title of Marquess of Castellbell, which is a noble rank. He was also a Grandee of Spain, a very high rank for Spanish nobility.

Family Background

José Luis de Vilallonga came from an important noble family in Catalonia, Spain. His father was Salvador de Vilallonga y Cárcer, the 8th Marquess of Castellbell. His mother was María del Carmen Cabeza de Vaca y Carvajal. Her father was the 9th Marquess of Portago.

On his father's side, he was related to Manuel de Amat y Junyent, who was a viceroy. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a colony in the name of a king. On his mother's side, some of his famous ancestors included Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, a famous explorer, and even Christopher Columbus, who discovered America. His cousins included Alfonso de Portago and Vicente Sartorius.

His Life Story

Early Years and the Spanish Civil War

José Luis de Vilallonga was born in Madrid, Spain. He was born with an intestinal problem and spent his first two years in a clinic in Munich, Germany, to get better.

His grandmother played a big part in his early education. He studied at schools run by the Jesuits in Barcelona. He was sometimes expelled from schools for misbehaving.

In 1931, when Spain became a republic, his family moved to Biarritz, France. They returned to Spain six months later. When the Spanish Civil War started in 1936, Vilallonga was studying in France. His father called him back to Spain to fight for the Nationalists. At just 16 years old, he served as a second lieutenant in the Nationalist army.

Diplomat and Writer

After the war, Vilallonga worked as a diplomat for four years. While working in London, he met and married his first wife, Esyllt Priscilla "Pip" Scott-Ellis, in 1945. Her family did not approve of the marriage.

Later, he became interested in journalism and writing. He started working for Diario de Barcelona. After World War II, he became unhappy with the government in Francoist Spain. He left the Spanish diplomatic service and moved abroad.

In 1954, his first novel, The Ramblas End in the Sea, was published. The Spanish government banned him from returning to the country because of it. He then worked as a foreign reporter for the news agency EFE. He also wrote for magazines like Paris Match, Marie Claire, and Vogue.

Because of his many connections, he often wrote articles about famous people in Europe. He also wrote four books about his life. He recorded interviews with King Juan Carlos of Spain. From these interviews, he wrote the first and only authorized biography of the king, called El Rey, published in 1993.

Acting Career

Vilallonga became an actor because he knew many people in the art world. He first appeared in a film in 1958, called The Lovers. In the late 1950s and 1960s, he acted in many films in Europe and Hollywood. He worked with famous directors like Federico Fellini and John Schlesinger.

He was offered a contract to act in Hollywood, but he turned it down. One of his most famous roles was in the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). He played José da Silva Pereira, a rich Brazilian man who planned to marry Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn. He also appeared as Prince Cesare della Romita in the film Darling (1965).

Personal Life

José Luis de Vilallonga was married three times:

• Esyllt-Priscilla Scott-Ellis (married 1945, divorced 1972)
• Syliane Stella Morell (married 1974, divorced 1995)
• Begoña Aranguren (married 1999, separated 2002)

He had two children from his first marriage, named John and Carmen. He also had an adopted son named Fabricio.

Death

José Luis de Vilallonga passed away at his home in Mallorca, Spain, on August 30, 2007. He died of natural causes. King Juan Carlos of Spain expressed his sadness when he heard about Vilallonga's death.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Vilallonga with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

See also

In Spanish: José Luis de Vilallonga para niños