My dad is a coward and a liar, he's only interested in money: living in my father's shadow and fighting Guillaume Depardieu's inner demons (11 photos)

Gerard Depardieu is known not only for his flamboyant roles but also, like a true Frenchman, for his numerous romances. His first marriage and subsequent relationships produced children – Guillaume, Julie, Roxane, and Jean.





What happened to Depardieu's firstborn, and why did Guillaume speak unfavorably of his famous father?



As a child with his father

The actor's first child was born on April 7, 1971. His mother was his first wife, Elisabeth Guigneau, who was seven years older than Gérard. The boy was named Guillaume, and his fate became a lasting wound for the famous family.





Guillaume's childhood coincided with the meteoric rise of both his parents' careers. The boy desperately needed their attention and, as if copying his father's fate, plunged into debauchery and criminal activity. Desperate for his father's love, Guillaume plunged into debauchery and criminal activity. His addictions led to his tragic end.



At seventeen, the young man received a nine-month prison sentence. His famous father, with good intentions, didn't bother to secure his release. Gerard wanted to teach his son a lesson, as he himself had once been just as reckless and daredevil.



Guillaume in the film "All the Mornings of the World"

In the early 1990s, 21-year-old Guillaume Depardieu made his screen debut in the historical drama "All the Mornings of the World." He portrayed the young composer Marin Marais. Ironically, the role of his character's father was played by Gérard Depardieu himself. Their striking physical resemblance made it possible to portray the same character at different points in his life with utmost authenticity.



Gérard in "All the Mornings of the World"

Guillaume's performance was highly praised by critics, paving the way for him to enter the big screen. His resemblance to his famous father served him well on more than one occasion. They starred together in adaptations of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Les Miserables." But the ice of misunderstanding between them never melted.



Guillaume Depardieu in "The Count of Monte Cristo"

In the following years, Guillaume starred in dozens of films, but was never able to overcome his demons. In 1995, Depardieu won the prestigious César Award for his role in the drama "The Apprentices." However, during filming, the actor was forced to check into a psychiatric clinic. However, these were not the only trials fate had in store for him that year.



"A Castle in Sweden"

The 24-year-old actor was in an accident through no fault of his own and suffered serious injuries. Guillaume was riding a motorcycle when the trunk of a car in front of him opened, causing a suitcase to fall under his wheels. Doctors insisted on surgery, which proved fatal for Guillaume. The wound became infected. No painkillers or subsequent seventeen surgeries helped.

"The pain was like walking on a knife," Guillaume recalled.

After eight years of suffering, Guillaume agreed to have his leg amputated. However, his film career did not end. Depardieu's successor continued to act, using a prosthetic leg.



Father and son in the film "Honor Thy Father"

Besides his acting talent, Guillaume also possessed literary talent. He published an autobiography, "Give It All," in which he harshly criticized his father, calling him narcissistic, cowardly, and hopelessly devoid of dignity:

My father is a coward, a liar, and a pretender... He was a man who was incapable of raising children or mourning his deceased parents... He lacks any dignity... Money is the only thing that interests him in life. When he's drunk on a motorcycle, he knows the police turn a blind eye. They forgive me nothing... He's a completely unprincipled man who loves to win people's hearts, and then despises them... My relationship with my father has finally turned a page. I want to tell him one thing: "Gerard, shut up!"

He wrote that he had never had a single happy day in his life. These words were a cruel blow to the star father. In an interview Depardieu Sr. gave after the publication of his son's memoir, he called the book a "cry from the heart":

I wasn't a perfect father. I worry about my son's suffering. He's my boy. And like any father, I despair when he's in trouble. As for the rest, he told the truth about me. I'd like to tell him the same thing, but a little later. Sometimes Guillaume goes too far, but that's part of him. If I made mistakes, I don't think I was the monster he portrays me as. This book is a cry from the heart. If it can help him find inner peace and happiness, then I agree with everything.



Guillaume inherited Gérard's rebellious spirit and charismatic appearance. But his personal life was marked by nothing but failures. One lover left him. His second wife, Louise, became his wife in 1999 and gave birth to a daughter, Louise, but the marriage ended four years later. He never had any more children. In October 2008, Guillaume Depardieu passed away at the age of 37. His weakened body could not cope with viral pneumonia.