Madrid - Spain was Friday remembering Jose Luis de Vilallonga, an aristocrat, writer and movie actor who died Thursday at his home on the island of Majorca. Vilallonga was 87. The unconventional aristocrat is internationally best known for his role alongside Audrey Hepburn in Blake Edwards' 1961 movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
A member of Spain's highest aristocracy, the Marquis de Castellbell had an eventful life which took him to the most glamourous capitals of the Western world.
He rubbed shoulders with people ranging from British royalty and Hollywood stars to leftist politicians, and had a legendary love life which made him known as Spain's "last great dandy."
Born into a family of Catalan aristocrats, Vilallonga was sent by his father to fight at age 16 for right-wing General Francisco Franco, who later became Spain's dictator, in the 1936-39 Civil War.
The experience contributed to turning Vilallonga into a "red marquis" who belonged for years to the Socialist Party and kept a picture of Socialist leader Felipe Gonzalez at his office.
In "Breakfast at Tiffany's," Vilallonga is a Brazilian multimillionaire whom Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn, plans to marry.
Vilallonga also acted in movies by directors including Louis Malle and Federico Fellini, but usually in minor roles.
His main ambition was to be a writer. He worked as a journalist for magazines such as Paris-Match or Vogue, and wrote several novels and an autobiography.
Vilallonga made his literary breakthrough with his 1993 official biography of King Juan Carlos, based on his conversations with the monarch while the latter was recovering from a skiing accident.
The elegant and nonchalant marquis was best known in Spain for his love life, which included three marriages.
Vilallonga's first wife was British aristocrat Priscilla Scott-Ellis.
His last marriage to journalist Begona Aranguren lasted only three years, and he died in the arms of his second wife, French fashion expert Syliane Stella Morell, who had been married to him for more than 25 years and cared for him during his final illness.
Vilallonga left three children, one of whom was adopted.
