Genevieve Gilles

Geneviève Gilles (born Geneviève Gillaizeau; 1946) is a French actress. She acted in one film and in one episode of a television series. She was the mistress of film producer Darryl Zanuck, from 1965 to 1973.[1]

Genevieve Gilles
Gilles with Mike Connors in Mannix, 1973
Born
Geneviève Gillaizeau

1946 (age 74–75)
Paris, France
OccupationActress
Years active1969–1973

Raised as an orphan in convent schools, the 19-year-old Gillaizeau found the 63-year-old Zanuck irresistible. She was quoted, in 1980, as stating "... his age didn't bother me. He was wonderful, very powerful and smart. About sex, he was like Picasso."[2][3][4][5]

Zanuck had a long history of trying to turn his European mistresses into film stars – he had previously done this with Bella Darvi, Juliette Gréco and Irina Demick.[6] Gilles' only movie, as the lead in Hello Goodbye (1970), was created and written by Zanuck, and was the first production he personally supervised since he inserted Demick in The Longest Day (1962).[7]

Zanuck will dispute

In 1980, Gilles filed a $15 million claim against the estate of Darryl F. Zanuck, claiming that Zanuck, who she claimed was her constant companion from 1965 to 1973, suffered from Alzheimer's disease and that Zanuck's son, Richard, had influenced his father to remove her from his final will in October 1973.[8] She claimed that he had promised her 45% of the estate,[8] valued at $3.4 million.[9]

In October 1986, Zanuck's daughter, Darrylin Zanuck de Pineda, filed a malicious prosecution suit against Gilles seeking $10 million. Ms. de Pineda's suit claimed the former mistress falsely accused her of forging the will and of exerting undue influence on her father.[10]

Zanuck's will was settled on January 8, 1988 after Gilles provided that her claim on the estate would be given to Yeshiva University in New York. The university received a $50,000 payment.[9]

In February 1988, de Pineda, filed another malicious prosecution suit against Gilles seeking unspecified damages. It also sought unspecified damages against her attorneys for allegedly failing to investigate the facts and law.[9]

Filmography
  • The World of Fashion (1969, Documentary short)
  • Hello-Goodbye (1970) as Dany (Baroness)
  • Mannix (1973, TV Series) as Genevieve – Episode: "Carol Lockwood, Past Tense"

References
  1. Jacobs, Diane (July 23, 1989). "One Mogul's Family". The New York Times Book Review. 94: xxv. In her opening chapter, Ms. Harris alludes to a lawsuit by Darryl Zanuck's last mistress, Genevieve Gillaizeau. The Zanucks, claimed Ms. Gillaizeau, kidnapped her senile lover and, with Darrylin forging her father's signature, cut Ms. Gillaizeau…
  2. Smilgis, Martha (July 14, 1980). "In Darryl Zanuck's Last Drama, a Forgotten French Lover Sues for $15 Million". People. ISSN 0093-7673.
  3. Bolle, Sonja (July 9, 1989). "Nonfiction in Brief". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "Mitchelson Set Back in Malpractice Suit". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 1985.
  5. "Zanuck's Daughter Files $10 Million Suit Against Father's Former Mistress". Associated Press. October 23, 1986.
  6. Buchwald, Art (1962-07-14). "Zanuck Vs. Greco: Four-Year Friendship Egomania Ambitious Girls". The Washington Post. Times Herald. p. D31
  7. Blume, Mary (1969-12-07). "Darryl F. Zanuck in Paris---the Last Film Tycoon". Los Angeles Times. p. c36
  8. "Actress Sues Zanuck Estate and Richard". Variety. July 2, 1980. p. 2.
  9. "People in the News". Associated Press. February 26, 1988.
  10. "Zanuck's Daughter Sues Gilles Seeking $10-Mil". Variety. October 29, 1986. p. 7.
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