Atila Altaunbay: The Life and Story of Grace Jones’ Ex-Husband

Atila Altaunbay was a Turkish-born bodyguard, model, singer, and philanthropist who spent much of his adult life in Belgium. He also had a strong interest in performing arts.

He became widely known after his relationship with Jamaican-American entertainer Grace Jones. Their 27-year age difference and private marriage attracted considerable public attention during the 1990s and early 2000s.

This article explores Atila Altaunbay’s early life, career, marriage to Grace Jones, their separation, family life, later years in Belgium, philanthropic work, and his reported death in 2021.

Quick Bio

Who Was Atila Altaunbay?

Atila Altaunbay was a Turkish-born professional bodyguard who became connected to the entertainment world. He also explored modelling, acting, and singing during his life.

His name became familiar because of his relationship with Grace Jones. Jones is known internationally for her work as a singer, songwriter, model, and actress.

Despite this connection to a major entertainer, Atila eventually chose a quieter lifestyle. He spent his later years away from the entertainment spotlight in Belgium.

Atila Altaunbay’s Early Life

Atila Altaunbay was born in Turkey in 1976. He was raised in a Muslim family and spent the early part of his childhood in his home country.

He later moved to Belgium to continue his education. His life between Turkey and Belgium helped shape his professional journey before he entered the public eye.

Atila kept his family life extremely private. He did not openly discuss his parents, siblings, or other personal family matters during his years in the spotlight.

His Education and Professional Training

After spending time in Belgium, Atila returned to Turkey and received practical training. His training included CPR, AED skills, and martial arts.

These skills were particularly useful for his future career in personal security. They prepared him for situations requiring physical protection and emergency response.

His training eventually helped him work professionally as a bodyguard. This career would also play an important role in how his relationship with Grace Jones began.

Atila Altaunbay’s Career

Before establishing himself as a professional bodyguard, Atila worked as a pizza delivery driver in Belgium. His career later moved in a very different direction.

Atila became involved in personal security and worked as a professional bodyguard. His responsibilities included protecting high-profile individuals and celebrities.

He was also interested in entertainment and performing arts. Alongside security work, he explored modelling, acting, and singing and occasionally performed as a singer at events such as weddings.

How Did Atila Altaunbay Meet Grace Jones?

Atila Altaunbay met Grace Jones when she was visiting Belgium. Their professional connection gradually developed into a personal relationship, and they eventually started dating.

The couple initially tried to keep their romance private. Grace Jones’ international celebrity status, however, made keeping their relationship completely outside public attention difficult.

Their romance attracted additional interest because of their age difference. Grace was approximately 27 years older than Atila, making their relationship a frequent subject of curiosity.

Who Is Grace Jones?

Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, actress, and model. She has enjoyed a long career in entertainment and became especially recognised for her distinctive music, fashion, and appearance.

Her music catalogue includes songs such as Private Life, My Jamaican Guy, Demolition Man, and Walking in the Rain. She has released approximately ten studio albums during her career.

Grace has also received Grammy recognition and appeared in films. Her international fame meant that her relationship with Atila quickly brought considerable attention to his life.

Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones’ Marriage

Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones married on 24 February 1996 in Rio de Janeiro. They wanted their wedding to remain private rather than becoming a major media event.

Their first ceremony encountered issues concerning church requirements. As a result, Atila and Grace later exchanged their vows again in another private ceremony.

The second ceremony took place in Syracuse, New York. Grace’s father presided over the wedding, which was attended primarily by close family members.

His Family’s Reaction to the Marriage

Atila’s marriage to Grace reportedly created difficulties within his traditional family. His family did not approve of the union because it went against certain expectations they followed.

Atila was the youngest member among his brothers. According to his family’s tradition, his older brothers were expected to marry before he did.

Atila nevertheless chose to marry Grace. Their substantial age difference and different backgrounds also made their relationship unusual compared with his family’s traditional expectations.

Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones’ Age Difference

One of the most discussed aspects of their relationship was their age difference. Atila was born in 1976, while Grace Jones was born in 1948.

This placed approximately 27 years between them. Their age difference received significant attention once their relationship and marriage became publicly known.

Despite the difference, the couple remained together for several years. Their relationship eventually faced other personal challenges that contributed to their separation.

Why Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones Separate?

Atila and Grace’s relationship became increasingly difficult over time. Their contrasting personalities and problems within the marriage eventually created significant tension between them.

Grace described Atila as becoming territorial and negative during their relationship. A serious confrontation reportedly occurred in their kitchen in which Atila threatened her with a knife.

Their relationship eventually ended around 2004. This meant the couple had been together as husband and wife for approximately eight years following their 1996 wedding.

Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones Divorce?

Although Atila and Grace separated, their legal marital situation was unusual. Their formal divorce process was not completed after their relationship ended.

Atila reportedly disappeared from Grace’s life following their separation. This made completing the legal divorce process difficult because she could no longer reach him.

Grace nevertheless considered their marriage over after their separation. They subsequently lived completely separate lives and did not reunite as a couple.

Did Atila Altaunbay Have Children With Grace Jones?

Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones did not have children together. Their approximately eight-year marriage therefore did not result in any shared children.

Grace Jones does have a son named Paulo Goude. He was born on 12 November 1979, many years before her marriage to Atila.

Paulo’s father is French graphic designer and illustrator Jean-Paul Goude. Therefore, Atila was not the biological father of Grace Jones’ only child.

What Happened to Atila Altaunbay After the Separation?

Atila largely disappeared from public attention after separating from Grace Jones. Instead of maintaining his connection with celebrity life, he returned to a much more private lifestyle.

He reportedly settled in Antwerp, Belgium. Details about his personal relationships during this later period remained outside the public spotlight.

His life also became connected with charitable activities. He devoted part of his later years to helping people and supporting work related to social inequality and poverty.

Atila Altaunbay’s Philanthropic Work

Atila was involved with Helping Hand Belgium during his later years. He eventually served as chairman of the organisation and became known for his charitable activities.

His work focused particularly on helping disadvantaged people. Fighting inequality and poverty became important aspects of his philanthropic involvement in Belgium.

This work represented a very different chapter of his life. After years of attention surrounding his celebrity marriage, Atila spent his later years contributing to charitable causes.

Atila Altaunbay’s Death

Atila Altaunbay reportedly died in 2021. He was approximately 45 years old at the time of his death and had been living in Belgium.

News of his death emerged in October 2021 through Helping Hand Belgium. His service as chairman and his contributions to helping vulnerable people were remembered following his passing.

The specific cause of Atila’s death was not disclosed. His death brought renewed attention to a man who had largely remained outside celebrity circles following his separation from Grace Jones.

Final Thoughts

Atila Altaunbay lived a life that moved between personal security, performing arts, celebrity attention, and philanthropy. His marriage to Grace Jones remains the main reason his name became internationally recognised.

Their relationship began in Belgium and led to marriage in 1996. After approximately eight years together, their relationship ended, and Atila largely disappeared from public life.

He later lived privately in Antwerp and became involved in charitable work. Atila reportedly died in 2021 at age 45, leaving behind a life remembered for both his famous marriage and philanthropy.

(FAQs)

Who was Atila Altaunbay?

Atila Altaunbay was a Turkish-born professional bodyguard, model, singer, and philanthropist. He became best known as the former husband of Jamaican-American singer, actress, and model Grace Jones.

When did Atila Altaunbay marry Grace Jones?

Atila Altaunbay married Grace Jones on 24 February 1996. Their original ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, and they later exchanged vows again in Syracuse, New York.

What was the age difference between Grace Jones and Atila Altaunbay?

Grace Jones and Atila Altaunbay had an age difference of approximately 27 years. Grace was born in 1948, while Atila was born in 1976.

Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones have children?

No, Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones did not have children together. Grace has one son, Paulo Goude, from her earlier relationship with French graphic designer Jean-Paul Goude.

When did Atila Altaunbay die?

Atila Altaunbay reportedly died in 2021 at approximately 45 years old. News of his death emerged in October 2021, while the specific cause of his death was not disclosed.

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