Gaspard Ulliel
A French actor of smoldering intensity who became the face of cinematic elegance and tragic romanticism for a global audience.
1984–2022 (age 38)·French actor·Birthday: November 25·Millennials
Biography
Gaspard Ulliel played a young Hannibal Lecter in 2007's 'Hannibal Rising,' showing chilling precocity at age 23. A distinctive scar on his cheek from a childhood dog attack marked his face. He then embodied Yves Saint Laurent in 2014's 'Saint Laurent,' capturing the designer's tortured genius with fragile beauty. For twelve years, he served as the face of Bleu de Chanel. Ulliel's career began in French television as a child actor. He died in a 2022 skiing accident at age 37, leaving a filmography pulsing with melancholic potential.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Gaspard was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gaspard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Gaspard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2022Died at 38
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Key Achievements
- Won the César Award for Most Promising Actor for his role in 'A Very Long Engagement' and later the César for Best Actor for 'Saint Laurent'.
- Portrayed fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biopic, delivering a performance praised for its depth and vulnerability.
- Served as the global ambassador and face of Chanel's flagship men's fragrance, Bleu de Chanel, for over a decade.
- Played the villain Midnight Man in the Disney+ series 'Moon Knight', marking his entry into major superhero franchise storytelling.
Did You Know?
The scar on his left cheek was from an accident with a Doberman when he was six years old.
He was fluent in French and English, and also studied philosophy at university.
He provided the French voice for Jack Frost in the animated film 'Rise of the Guardians'.
He was in a long-term relationship with French singer and model Gaëlle Piétri, with whom he had a son.
“The scar, it's a part of me. I've learned to live with it, and I think it gives a certain character to my face.”
