Brigitte Bardot – Death, Cause of Death, Age, Husbands and Movies

Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and global sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s who later became a militant animal-rights activist, died on December 28, 2025, in Saint-Tropez, France. She was 91. Her foundation announced the death but did not provide a cause.

Born in Paris on September 28, 1934, Bardot rose to fame with And God Created Woman (1956), a role that made her an international icon and redefined screen sexuality. After appearing in more than 40 films, she walked away from cinema in 1973 at the age of 39 and devoted the rest of her life to animal welfare.

Bardot’s legacy is marked by a stark transformation: from a carefully crafted image of liberated glamour to an outspoken activist who founded the Foundation Brigitte Bardot in 1986. Her death prompted global obituaries that reflected on both her artistic contributions and the controversies that surrounded her later years.

What Was Brigitte Bardot’s Cause of Death and How Old Was She?

Key insights

• Bardot was one of the defining screen personalities of the 1950s and 1960s.
• She retired from acting in 1973 at the peak of her fame.
• She spent the second half of her life as a vocal animal-rights campaigner.
• Her foundation announced her death on December 28, 2025, without specifying the cause.
• Reports indicate she had been hospitalized in the month before her death.
• Her marriages and later political statements attracted persistent controversy.
• Her death marks the end of a distinct era in French and international cinema.

Who Were Brigitte Bardot’s Husbands and Her Son?

Bardot was married four times. Her first husband was director Roger Vadim, whom she wed in 1952; the marriage ended in 1957. Vadim directed her in And God Created Woman, the film that launched her to stardom and defined her early public image. In 1959 she married actor Jacques Charrier. That union lasted three years but produced her only child, a son named Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, born in 1960. After the divorce, custody of Nicolas was awarded to Charrier.

She later married German businessman Günther Sachs in 1966; they divorced in 1969. Her fourth and final marriage was to Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to far-right political figures, in 1992. D’Ormale was still her husband at the time of her death, according to sources.

Who was Jacques Charrier to Brigitte Bardot?

Jacques Charrier was Bardot’s second husband and the father of her only child. He was a French actor who appeared in several films in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their marriage lasted from 1959 to 1962.

Who was Roger Vadim to Brigitte Bardot?

Roger Vadim was a French film director and writer who became Bardot’s first husband. He directed And God Created Woman, which turned Bardot into an international sensation. They were married from 1952 to 1957.

Who is Bernard d’Ormale?

Bernard d’Ormale, Bardot’s fourth and final husband, is a French political figure and former adviser. They married in 1992 and remained together until her death. He was associated with far-right political circles in France.

What Are Brigitte Bardot’s Most Famous Movies?

Bardot appeared in more than 40 films between 1952 and 1973. Her most celebrated work came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a period when she was among the most photographed women in the world.

And God Created Woman (1956)

This film, directed by Roger Vadim, made Bardot a global sex symbol. It was controversial for its nudity and sexual themes but was a major box-office success, establishing her as a leading figure in European cinema.

Contempt (1963)

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, Contempt is regarded as one of the most important French films of the 1960s. Bardot starred alongside Michel Piccoli and Jack Palance, delivering what critics consider one of her strongest performances.

Viva Maria! (1965)

This adventure comedy paired Bardot with Jeanne Moreau. The film was a commercial success and showcased Bardot’s range as a comedic and dramatic actress.

Other notable films

• Babette Goes to War (1959)
• The Truth (1960)
• Dear Brigitte (1965, with James Stewart)

What Was Brigitte Bardot’s Life Like After Her Acting Career?

Bardot retired from acting in 1973 at age 39. She said at the time that she had grown tired of the film industry and wanted to dedicate herself to causes she believed in. That decision marked a complete break with her previous life.

She moved permanently to Saint-Tropez, the French Riviera town where she had bought a villa in the 1960s. From there she built a second public identity as one of the world’s most prominent animal-rights campaigners.

Animal-rights activism

In 1986 Bardot founded the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, an organization focused on animal welfare. She campaigned against seal slaughter, animal testing, and factory farming. Her activism took her into direct confrontation with governments and industries, and she became known for her uncompromising public statements on animal-killing practices.

Political controversy

In her later years Bardot made a series of controversial political statements about immigration, Islam, and gay marriage in France. She was convicted multiple times for inciting racial hatred. Her marriage to Bernard d’Ormale, who had ties to far-right politics, reinforced the perception of her drift from the left-leaning cultural circles of her youth.

When Did the Key Events in Brigitte Bardot’s Life Take Place?

1. September 28, 1934 — Born in Paris, France.
2. 1952 — Married first husband Roger Vadim and began her acting career.
3. 1956 — Starred in And God Created Woman, becoming an international icon.
4. 1959 — Married second husband Jacques Charrier.
5. 1960 — Gave birth to her only child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.
6. 1963 — Starred in Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt.
7. 1973 — Retired from acting at age 39 to focus on animal-rights activism.
8. 1986 — Founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for animal welfare.
9. December 28, 2025 — Died at age 91 in Saint-Tropez, France.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain About Brigitte Bardot’s Death?

What Was Brigitte Bardot’s Cultural Impact and Legacy?

Bardot’s cultural influence extended far beyond cinema. In the 1950s and 1960s she represented a new kind of female freedom on screen, challenging conservative norms around sexuality and female desire. Her sudden departure from acting at 39 has been interpreted by many commentators as a feminist act of autonomy — a refusal to age under the gaze of the camera.

Her work through the Foundation Brigitte Bardot remains her most tangible legacy. The organization continues to campaign for animal welfare globally. At the same time, her later political statements complicated public memory of her, and obituaries in 2025 reflected that tension between her earlier artistic contributions and the controversies that marked her later decades.

Despite the mixed assessments, Bardot is broadly remembered as a defining figure of French glamour and a pioneer for animal-rights activism on a global scale.

What Do Official Sources and Tributes Say About Brigitte Bardot?

“Brigitte Bardot was one of the defining screen icons of the 1950s and 1960s, embodying a new kind of liberated femininity that captivated audiences worldwide.”

— Britannica

“She went from sultry sex symbol to militant animal-rights activist, a transformation that made her one of the most fascinating public figures of the 20th century.”

— ABC7 News

“Bardot appeared in more than 40 films and was one of Europe’s most famous film stars before walking away from it all at the height of her fame.”

— BBC obituary coverage, December 2025

What Is the Lasting Significance of Brigitte Bardot’s Life?

Brigitte Bardot lived two distinct public lives: first as a cinematic icon whose image reshaped popular culture, then as a committed activist who used her fame to advocate for animals. Her death at 91 closes a chapter of French film history that began with the New Wave and ended with a legacy still being evaluated. The Foundation Brigitte Bardot continues her animal-welfare work, while retrospectives of her films are expected on streaming platforms. Readers interested in other major biographical profiles may wish to see Stan Laurel – Biography, Net Worth, and Cause of Death and Daniel Kaluuya – Biography, Oscar Win and All His Movies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brigitte Bardot