Serge Gainsbourg

Born to Joseph Ginsburg (1896-1971) and Olia Bessman (1894-1985), Ukrainian Jews who fled to France after the 1917 Russian Revolution, he grew up with an older sister, Jaqueline (born in 1926) and a twin sister, Liliane. His elder brother Marcel died at an early age.

Serge Gainsbourg was born on April 2, 1928 in Paris, France as Lucien Ginsburg. He was married to Françoise Pancrazzi and Élisabeth Levitzky.

Had two children from Elisabeth Pancrazzi (also known as Béatrice Pancrazzi): Natacha (born on August 8, 1964) and Paul (born in Spring 1968).

Wrote for his god-daughter France Gall the winning song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" at Gran premio Eurovisione della canzone 1965 (1965).

Due to his explicit eroticism, his song "Je t'aime...moi non plus", sung by his then lover Jane Birkin, became his biggest international hit in 1969. Ironically, he recorded the original version with Brigitte Bardot, who later pleaded him not to release it, one year before.

Had a heart attack in May 1973. At a press conference from his hospital bed he announced he would reduce his chances of another heart attack by "increasing his intake of alcohol and cigarettes". He continued to smoke during his stay at the hospital, hiding cigarette ends in pill bottles.

Became infamous for his provocative and controversial appearances on French television in the 1980s, often showing up unshaved and drunk.

Many French celebrities including Catherine Deneuve, Johnny Hallyday, Françoise Hardy and Isabelle Adjani attended his funeral (7 March 1991).