Belmondo, Jean-Paul  ( born April 9, 1933 , Neuilly-sur-Seine,
near Paris, FranceFrench motion picture actor who embodied the
antiheroic spirit of the French New Wave in his early
performances and later starred in and produced many commercially
successful films that highlighted his graceful agility and
easygoing charm.  The son of sculptor Paul Belmondo, Jean-Paul
spent his childhood in close contact with the arts. After a
turbulent education in which he often played the class clown, he
had a brief stint as an amateur boxer, but he abandoned the ring
to study acting at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art in
Paris. Despite his obvious talent, the irreverent attitude he
adopted toward his instructors prevented him from winning the
highest honours when he graduated in 1956.  Belmondo soon made
the transition from stage to screen with a series of minor roles
in films by established directors. His commanding screen
presence caught the attention of other major directors, although
his unconventional looks limi