Philippe Pozzo, the quadriplegic businessman who inspired 'Intouchables,' has died

Photo: ABDELHAK SENNA/ / AFP / Getty Images

Philippe Pozzo di Borgo He was a quadriplegic businessman who inspired the famous French film ‘Intouchables’ in 2011 and he died this past Friday, June 2, at the age of 72, as the directors of said film announced.

“It is with deep sadness that we have just learned of the passing of our friend Philippe Pozzo di Borgo. By agreeing to have his story adapted for ‘Intouchables’, he changed our lives and those of many vulnerable and fragile people”, published Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano on their social networks.

Along with a photo of Philippe and the film crew, the filmmakers wrote: “His humor and intelligence will be missed. It was a rare privilege to have worked with him over the years. We will try to continue all their battles.”

Pozo di Borgo was born in Paris in 1951 and was a businessman. Coming from a Corsican noble family, his father was the fifth Duke Pozzo di Borgo and his mom, Beatrice Rochedaughter of the prefect Tony-André Roche.

In 1993, tragedy strikes the family when Philippe becomes a quadriplegic after an accident while paragliding.

Abdel Yasmin Sellou was his personal caretaker and it was to whom Pozo di Borgo told his whole life. Abdel was an immigrant with a criminal record.

Their friendship was brought to the big screen by Nakache and Toledano in ‘Untouchables’turning this film into the second most successful at the box office in the history of French cinema.

The film received forty nominations for national and international awards and won, among others, the 2012 César for Best French Film and the 2013 Spanish Goya for Best European Film.

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