Who Was Brigitte Bardot’s Son’s Father Jacques Charrier

Jacques Charrier and His Life With Brigitte Bardot

Jacques Charrier was a well-known French actor, producer, and artist, remembered both for his film career and his brief but highly publicized marriage to Brigitte Bardot. He was also the father of Bardot’s only child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.

Born in 1936, Jacques Charrier began his career in theatre before moving into cinema. He rose to fame in the late 1950s after starring in the hit film Les Tricheurs, where he played Bob Letellier. The film made him a recognizable face in French cinema almost overnight.

He later appeared alongside Bardot in Babette Goes to War, which became a turning point not just in his career, but also in his personal life.

How Jacques Charrier Met Brigitte Bardot

Jacques Charrier and Brigitte Bardot met in early 1959 during the filming of Babette Goes to War. Their chemistry was immediate, and the relationship moved quickly. By the time the film wrapped up, Bardot was pregnant, leading the couple to marry soon after.

Image: Brigitte Bardot and Jacques Charrier

They tied the knot on June 18, 1959, in Louveciennes. Bardot famously wore a pink gingham dress designed by Jacques Esterel, breaking away from tradition and setting a global fashion trend.

A Short-Lived and Troubled Marriage

Despite their glamorous image, the marriage was far from smooth. Constant media attention, paparazzi outside their Saint-Tropez home La Madrague, and personal differences strained their relationship.

Their son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, was born on January 11, 1960. However, the pressures of fame and emotional struggles took a toll. Brigitte Bardot later spoke openly about her difficult experience with pregnancy and motherhood, admitting she felt overwhelmed and unhappy during that period.

Image: Brigitte Bardot and Jacques Charrier with their son Nicolas in 1960

Divorce and Custody Battle

The couple divorced in 1962 after just three years of marriage. The separation was influenced by mutual infidelity and the intense pressure of public life. Jacques Charrier was granted sole custody of their son, Nicolas, who was largely raised by his paternal grandparents.

This decision resulted in a long estrangement between Bardot and her son. Years later, Jacques and Nicolas sued Bardot over remarks made in her autobiography Initiales B.B., citing invasion of privacy and emotional harm.

Life After Acting and Final Years

By the early 1980s, Jacques Charrier stepped away from the film industry. He returned to his first passion—art—focusing on painting and ceramics. His work was exhibited internationally, including in Paris, Geneva, and San Francisco.

“Feminine icon”: Brigitte Bardot famously said in her autobiography that she would have "preferred to give birth to a little dog" rather than her son, Nicolas.

In her memoir, she described her anguish and resentment over her 1959 pregnancy with her only son, Nicolas-Jacques… https://t.co/TfgEEKUvMG

— Tatjana Karr (@TatjanaKarr) December 28, 2025

Jacques Charrier passed away on September 3, 2025, at the age of 88. Just over three months later, Brigitte Bardot died on December 28, 2025, at her Saint-Tropez home.