Alain-Philippe Malagnac d'Argens de Villèle

Who was Alain-Philippe Malagnac d'Argens de Villèle?

Alain-Philippe Malagnac, later Malagnac d'Argens de Villèle was the long time companion of French writer Roger Peyrefitte, their relationship being the subject of several of the latter's works. Malagnac was also a business man and art collector. He married singer Amanda Lear.

Scion of a french upper middle class family, 12-year-old Alain-Philippe had a minor role in the film Les Amitiés particulières, released in 1964, based on the award-winning autobiographical novel by Roger Peyrefitte. Malagnac met Peyrefitte on the set, from when they started a long association professionally and personally. This formed the background to Peyrefitte's novel, Notre Amour and to L'Enfant de cœur,.

At the age of sixteen Malagnac became Peyrefitte's secretary. As a young man he was eventually adopted by a childless aristocratic lady, last of her lineage, called d'Argens de Villèle and was allowed to join her name to his. Contrary to what was sometimes said, Malagnac was not adopted as the son of Peyrefitte. He was at one time his universal heir, but it is not sure that this lasted until Peyrefitte's death.