Who Is Jean-Luc Godard? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Jean-Luc Godard was born on December 3, 1930, in Paris, France, and passed away on September 13, 2022. He was known as a pioneering figure in the French New Wave cinema movement, and his innovative storytelling techniques transformed modern filmmaking. His works often incorporated political themes and a unique approach to narrative structure, which has continued to influence filmmakers around the world.
In 2025, Godard's legacy remains significant in the film industry, with retrospectives of his work still celebrated and studied globally.
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 3, 1930 |
| Age | 91 Years |
| Birth Place | Paris, France |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Date of death | 13 September, 2022 |
| Died Place | Rolle, Vaud, Switzerland |
Popularity
Jean-Luc Godard's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While Jean-Luc Godard's physical appearance was not his most noteworthy trait, it is still interesting to mention his attributes. At the time of his passing, he was approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighed around 154 lbs (70 kg). He was known for his distinctive style rather than physical measurements or typical celebrity standards.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Jean-Luc Godard had a profound and influential relationship with cinema, which often overshadowed his romantic connections. His most notable marriage was to actress Anna Karina, whom he married in 1961. The couple later divorced but remained close friends throughout their lives. In the latter part of his life, Godard was said to have had a significant relationship, but detailed information on his dating life was seldom publicized, respecting his privacy.
His wealthy parents came from Protestant families of Franco–Swiss descent, and his mother was the daughter of Julien Monod, a founder of the Banque Paribas. She was the great-granddaughter of theologian Adolphe Monod. Other relatives on his mother's side include composer Jacques-Louis Monod, naturalist Théodore Monod and pastor Frédéric Monod.
On his father's side, he is a first cousin of former Prime Minister and later President of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Four years after Jean-Luc's birth, his father moved the family to Switzerland. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Godard was in France, and returned to Switzerland with difficulty.
He spent most of the war in Switzerland, although his family made clandestine trips to his grandfather's estate on the French side of Lake Geneva. Godard attended school in Nyon, Switzerland.
Net Worth and Salary
By the end of his life, Jean-Luc Godard’s estimated net worth was approximately $20 million. His films, while not always commercially successful during their initial release, gained immense value over the years through critical acclaim and collector interest. Known for his avant-garde approach, his creations remain culturally significant, contributing to his wealth even posthumously.
Career, Business and Investments
Jean-Luc Godard's career spanned more than six decades, during which he directed over 100 films, essays, and contributions to cinema. His debut film, "Breathless" (1960), set the foundation for his career, launching the French New Wave and establishing him as a trailblazer in world cinema.
Besides filmmaking, Godard engaged in various business ventures and collaborations that helped promote independent cinema. His investments in avant-garde projects further solidified his position as a key player in the film industry.
From the beginning of his career, Godard included more film references in his movies than any of his New Wave colleagues.
In Breathless, his citations include a movie poster showing Humphrey Bogart (from his last film, The Harder They Fall), whose expression Belmondo tries reverently to imitate—visual quotations from the films of Ingmar Bergman, Samuel Fuller, Fritz Lang and others; and an onscreen dedication to Monogram Pictures, an American B-movie studio.
Quotations from, and references to, literature include William Faulkner, Dylan Thomas, Louis Aragon, Rainer Maria Rilke, Françoise Sagan and Maurice Sachs. The film also contains citations to composers (J. S. Bach, Mozart) and painters (Picasso, Paul Klee and Auguste Renoir).
Social Network
Though Jean-Luc Godard was known for his private nature, he did engage with various social and cultural platforms throughout his career. He utilized film festivals and art events to share his work, and he maintained a lower profile on social media to maintain the integrity of his artistic vision.
His impact has inspired numerous film schools and dedicated filmmaker communities that honor his cinematic contributions, keeping his spirit alive in the contemporary film landscape.
Jean-Luc Godard (, ; ; 3 December 1930 –13 September 2022) was a French and Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic. He rose to prominence as a pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, alongside such filmmakers as François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Éric Rohmer and Jacques Demy.
He was arguably the most influential French filmmaker of the post-war era. According to AllMovie, his work "revolutionized the motion picture form" through its experimentation with narrative, continuity, sound, and camerawork.
Education
Godard's education in film began early with studies in sociology and film at the University of Paris. He also contributed to the influential film journal "Cahiers du Cinéma," where his ideas about cinema's role in society began to take shape. This academic background provided the foundation for his innovative storytelling techniques and approach to cinema, which he continued to develop throughout his multifaceted career.
Masculin Féminin (1966), based on two Guy de Maupassant stories, La Femme de Paul and Le Signe, was a study of contemporary French youth and their involvement with cultural politics.
An intertitle refers to the characters as "The children of Marx and Coca-Cola." Although Godard's cinema is sometimes thought to depict a wholly masculine point of view, Phillip John Usher has demonstrated how the film, by the way it connects images and disparate events, seems to blur gender lines.
