Patrick Bruel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick Bruel
Bruel in 2012
Born	Patrick Benguigui (1959-05-14) 14 May 1959 (age 66) Tlemcen, French Algeria
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	1979–present
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)	1
Money finish(es)	10
Highest ITM Main Event finish	428th, 2009
World Poker Tour
Title(s)	None
Final table(s)	1
Money finish(es)	4
European Poker Tour
Title(s)	None
Final table(s)	1
Money finish(es)	1

Patrick Benguigui (French pronunciation: [patʁik bɛnɡiɡi]; born 14 May 1959), better known by his stage name Patrick Bruel (pronounced [patʁik bʁyɛl]), is a French singer-songwriter, actor and professional poker player.

Biography

Early life

Patrick is the son of Pierre Benguigui and Augusta Kammoun, daughter of Elie and Céline ben Sidoun. He lived in the staff accommodation of the girls' school in Argenteuil where his mother was a teacher. In his youth, Bruel aspired to be a football player, but decided instead to pursue singing after seeing Michel Sardou in 1975.

Acting and music careers

His first success came as an actor, in 1979's Le Coup de sirocco. He continued acting in films, on television, and in the theater while pursuing his singing career. His first single, "Vide" ("Empty"), released in 1982, was not a success, but the follow-up, "Marre de cette nana-là" ("Fed up with that chick"), was a hit.

In 2003, just before his partner, the writer and playwright Amanda Sthers, gave birth to his first child, Oscar, on 19 August, he changed his name to Bruel-Benguigui, combining his stage name with his birth name. On 21 September 2004, he wed the then 26-year-old Sthers; it was his first marriage. His second child, Léon, was born on 28 September 2005. The couple separated in 2007.

As of 2004, Bruel has acted in more than forty television and film productions, and has made five studio albums and several live albums. In 2002, Bruel released Entre Deux, a double CD of classic chanson that features duets with Charles Aznavour, Jean-Louis Aubert, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Alain Souchon and Renaud, among others. It sold two million copies and made Bruel France's best paid singer of the year. At the beginning of 2005, in response to the South Asian tsunami of 26 December 2004, Bruel wrote the song "Et puis la terre" with Marie-Florence Gros, with whom he had begun a long-term collaboration in 1998, to benefit the Red Cross. His latest album, "Des souvenirs devant", was his fourth chart-topper in France.

Poker

Bruel is a world-class professional poker player. He won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 1998 for the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event. As of 2009, he has earned more than $900,000 in tournament play, of which his ten cash winnings at the WSOP account for $411,659. He also comments on the World Poker Tour in France.

World Series of Poker bracelet

Los Angeles home

In the 2010s, Bruel bought a house in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. In January 2025, the house was destroyed by the Palisades Fire.

Philanthropy

Bruel has been a member of the Les Enfoirés charity ensemble since 1993.

Selected filmography

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles

Featured in and collective collaborations

See also

In Spanish: Patrick Bruel para niños