After filming The Cross of Lorraine (1943), he left the United States and joined the Free French Army. He was sent to North Africa and participated in Operation Torch, specifically in Tunisia. He later moved with the Allied armies through Italy and France. Was seriously injured when his jeep struck a land mine on a bridge and blew up. French Brig. Gen. Charles-Joseph Brosset, also in the jeep, was killed.
Brother of François Villiers father of Tina Aumont.
Brother-in-law of Pier Angeli.
Buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris.
Ex-brother-in-law of Julia Andre.
Father-in-law of Christian Marquand.
Friends Charles Boyer and Ronald Reagan attended his wedding to Maria Montez. Boyer was best man, but Reagan kissed the bride.
Had a giant collection of popular and classical records, as well as a large library filled with books of poetry and the works of Charles Dickens.
He was awarded the Legion Of Honor, The Croix de Guerre with 2 palms.
Made his American debut on stage with Katharine Cornell in a 1942 San Franciso production of "Rose Burke" reading but not speaking English. He learned his lines phonetically and his understudy at the time, Gregory Peck, helped him with his English. The play closed in Toronto.
Three children: Tina Aumont (with Maria Montez), Jean-Claude Aumont and Patrick Aumont (with Marisa Pavan).
Uncle of Aruna Villiers.