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Charles Brunier (31 May 1901 – 26 January 2007) was a French convicted murderer and veteran of both the First and Second World Wars, who claimed in 2005 to have been the inspiration for Papillon.
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Charles Brunier (31 May 1901 – 26 January 2007) was a French centenarian, convicted murderer, and veteran of both the First and Second World Wars. In 2005, he claimed to have been the inspiration for Papillon. Circumstantial evidence, including his butterfly tattoo and him having been on Devil's Island at the time, supported the claim.
Brunier was born in Paris on 31 May 1901. He was wounded in action while serving in Syria in 1918, also receiving the Croix de Guerre for saving a lieutenant's life. In 1923, however, he was accused of murder and armed robbery, and was later convicted. His military medals were revoked as a result, and he was not on the official list of French World War I veterans, although he did serve.
Brunier was sent to the penal colony off the coast of French Guiana. After the outbreak of World War II he escaped to Mexico and joined the Free French Forces as a fighter pilot, serving in the Battle of the Caribbean for two years before transferring to the infantry under Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, and also in Africa (where Charles de Gaulle personally decorated him) and Italy. He was imprisoned again after the war, but was released in 1948 in recognition of his services.
•On a retrouvé l'ancien bagnard qui prétend être Papillon Le Parisien, 17 December 2005 (Archived)
•The real Papillon (translation of newspaper article) Rue Rude, 17 December 2005 (Archived)
•Papillon alive and well in a Paris retirement home Mail & Guardian, 26 June 2005 (Archived)
•Charles Brunier emporte avec lui le secret de Papillon Le Parisien, 29 January 2007 (Archived)
Charles Brunier, Devil's Island convict with a butterfly tattoo, who in 2005 claimed to have been the inspiration for Papillon. Clément Duval, Devil's Island escapee and memoirist whose story was also said to have inspired Papillon.
In 2005, a 104-year-old man in Paris, Charles Brunier, claimed to be the real Papillon. He also had a butterfly tattoo, on his left arm. [9] Critics tend to agree that Charrière's depictions included events that happened to others and that Brunier was at the prison at the same time.
3 days ago · Georgetown - Charles “Chuck” Joseph Keilty, 66, passed away on October 13th, 2024 from sudden cardiac arrest. He was the devoted husband of Teresa “Terry” (Bernardo) Keilty for 40 wonderful years, who he always regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world. Chuck was born in Peabody, MA to the late John and Theresa (MacLellan) Keilty.
Research genealogy for Charles Brunier of Artonne, Auvergne, France, as well as other members of the Brunier family, on Ancestry®.
Charles Brunier (31 May 1901 – 26 January 2007) was a French convicted murderer and veteran of both the First and Second World Wars, who claimed in 2005 to have been the inspiration for Papillon. Circumstantial evidence, including his butterfly tattoo and him having been on Devil's Island at the time, supported the claim.
