François Henri Bruno, born in 1911, had met Annie Cordy around 1951 and married her in 1958. Having become her manager, he formed with her one of those couples that were also working partnerships, frequent in the music hall of the time. For love of him, she gave up the American career that was then opening up. His stone says nothing of all this, and she has not joined him.
The story
For love of François Henri Bruno, Annie Cordy gave up an international career in the United States. It was the choice of a lifetime, made at the very moment when her fame in France was opening those doors.
Born in 1911, François Henri Bruno had met her around 1951 and married her in 1958, seven years later. He became her manager: the couple was a business partnership as well, as many were in the music hall of those years.
He died in 1989, at seventy-eight. The stone in Division 49 carries two lines — “Famille BRUNO. François Henri BRUNO 1911-1989” — and nothing of the one fact by which his name came down to us. Annie Cordy outlived him by thirty-one years, and does not lie here.
The grave
A family stone of two lines: “Famille BRUNO. François Henri BRUNO 1911-1989.” Nothing there indicates the one fact by which his name reached us: he was the husband and manager of Annie Cordy, who gave up an American career for him. She outlived him by thirty-one years and does not rest here.
On site, do not miss
A family stone of two lines: “Famille BRUNO. François Henri BRUNO 1911-1989.” Nothing there says that he was the husband and manager of Annie Cordy.
Visitors' questions
Where is François Henri Bruno's grave?
In Division 49, chemin de la Cave, tenth row — the Division of Delacroix, Annie Girardot and Marie Laforêt. The stone reads “Famille BRUNO”, then his name and his dates. He died in 1989.
Annie GirardotWhat is the link with Annie Cordy?
He was her husband and her manager: they met around 1951, married in 1958, and the couple became a working partnership as well — as many did in the music-hall of those years.
Marie LaforêtDid she give up America for him?
That is what her life story holds: for love of him, Annie Cordy turned down an international career in the United States. The choice of a lifetime, made just as her fame in France was opening those doors.
Michel DelpechWhen did he die?
In 1989, at seventy-eight. Annie Cordy, born in 1928, outlived him by thirty-one years — she died in 2020, at ninety-two, and does not lie at Père-Lachaise.
Thierry MuglerAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99