Christian Aaron Boulogne

Christian Aaron Boulogne (11 August 1962 – May 2023), also known as Ari Boulogne and Ari Päffgen, was a French photographer, actor and writer.

Ari Boulogne
Born	Christian Aaron Päffgen (1962-08-11)11 August 1962 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Died	May 2023(2023-05-00) (aged 60) Paris, France
Nationality	German French
Other names	Ari Boulogne, Ari Päffgen
Occupations	Photographer actor writer
Children	2
Parent(s)	Nico Alain Delon (claimed)
Relatives	Anthony Delon (half-brother) Anouchka Delon (half-sister) Alain-Fabien Delon (half-brother)

Early life

Boulogne was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 11 August 1962.^[1] He was the son of German singer and actress Nico. His biological father has been heavily rumoured to be French actor Alain Delon,^[2][3] although Delon consistently denied paternity to Boulogne and therefore this was never proved as Nico at the time was also living with Nicos Papatakis in 1962.

He was initially raised by his mother before he was adopted by Delon's mother, Édith, and her second husband, Paul Boulogne, whose surname he legally took. He spent most of his childhood in Bourg-la-Reine.^[4][5][6]

In 2001 and 2019, Boulogne attempted to sue Delon for legal recognition of paternity, but without success.^[7][8][9]

Career

Boulogne reunited with his mother as a teenager and began his career as an actor. He made appearances in films directed by Philippe Garrel, including the 1972 surrealist The Inner Scar, which he starred in with Nico, and the 1979 drama The Secret Son, in which he was credited as Ari Päffgen. After acting, Boulogne took on a career as a photographer.^[10]

Personal life and death

Boulogne had two children.^[11]

In 2001, he published a memoir, Love Never Forgets, in which he elaborates on his relationship with his mother.^[12]

Boulogne was found dead in his Paris apartment on 20 May 2023, following a heroin overdose a month before. A woman, supposedly his partner, was taken into custody for failure of duty to rescue. He was 60, and was in an advanced stage of decomposition when discovered.^[13]

Selected filmography

• 1972: The Inner Scar (La cicatrice intérieure)
• 1979: The Secret Son (L'enfant secret)
• 1984: Mixed Blood
• 1995: Nico Icon
• 2002: The Repentant (La repentie)
• 2003: Nathalie...
• 2004: Pas sages