Atila Altaunbay was a Turkish bodyguard best known for his marriage to Jamaican singer, model, and actress Grace Jones. The two met in Belgium and married in Rio de Janeiro in 1996.
Atila also had an interest in singing and reportedly performed at weddings. After separating from Grace around 2004, he lived a more private life in Belgium and became involved in charity work. He died in October 2021. His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Atila Altaunbay’s Profile Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Atila Altaunbay |
| Also spelled | Attila Altaunbay |
| Birth year | Reportedly 1976 |
| Exact birthday | Not publicly confirmed |
| Birthplace | Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Religion/background | Muslim family |
| Education | Studied in Belgium; details unknown |
| Profession | Bodyguard/security worker |
| Other interests | Singing and performing |
| Known for | Marriage to Grace Jones |
| Wife | Grace Jones |
| Marriage date | February 24, 1996 |
| Wedding location | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Separation | Around 2004 |
| Children | No biological children with Grace Jones |
| Later work | Charity work with Helping Hands Belgium |
| Death | October 2021 |
| Cause of death | Not publicly disclosed |
| Burial | Belgium |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Atila Altaunbay’s Early Life
Atila Altaunbay was born in Turkey. Several secondary sources give his birth year as 1976, although his exact age is disputed.
His exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed.
Atila came from a Muslim family. Reports say he spent part of his early life in Turkey before moving to Belgium.
Some sources describe his ethnicity as Arab, but this detail is not supported by strong primary evidence.
Atila Altaunbay’s Parents and Family
The names of Atila’s parents have not been publicly confirmed in the available information.
His family lived in Turkey while he studied and worked in Belgium.
One account says Atila was the youngest son in his family. According to that report, family tradition required his older brother to marry before him.
His siblings’ names are not publicly known.
Education in Belgium
Atila reportedly studied in Belgium as a young man.
However, the name of his school or college and his field of study have not been reliably documented.
Some reports also say he trained in CPR, AED use, and martial arts. These skills would later have been useful in his security work.
He Reportedly Worked as a Pizza Delivery Driver
Before becoming known publicly, Atila reportedly worked as a pizza delivery driver in Belgium.
He later moved into security work and became a bodyguard.
His connection with Grace Jones eventually brought him public attention.
Career as a Bodyguard
Bodyguard and security work is the best-documented part of Atila’s career.
Reports say he was working in security in Belgium when he met Grace Jones. Some accounts describe him as working at a club, while others say he became Grace’s personal bodyguard.
Grace reportedly offered him better work and pay after meeting him.
Their professional connection later developed into a romantic relationship.
Was Atila Altaunbay an Actor and Model?
Some secondary sources describe Atila as an actor and model.
They also claim that he appeared in stage productions and a film called Mind Games.
However, detailed acting credits, character names, production information, and reliable modeling credits are not provided.
His work as an actor and model is therefore less clearly documented than his career in security.
How Did Atila Altaunbay Meet Grace Jones?
Atila met Grace Jones in Belgium while he was a young man.
Reports say he was working in security when they met. Grace noticed him and later hired him as a bodyguard.
The two spent more time together, and their working relationship became romantic.
Some sources place their first meeting in the late 1980s. However, this date does not fit well with the reported 1976 birth year. The exact year they met is therefore uncertain.
Grace Jones Proposed to Atila Altaunbay
Grace reportedly proposed to Atila after they had been dating for several months.
The proposal took place during a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for Carnival.
Atila accepted, and the couple married in Rio in 1996.
Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones’ Wedding
Atila and Grace reportedly married on February 24, 1996, in Rio de Janeiro.
Their wedding was held in a private home and was reportedly attended by about 50 people.
A Presbyterian minister named Rubens Pires reportedly officiated the ceremony.
Grace reportedly wore a white lace bustier with white pants.
One account says the couple went to a gym after their wedding ceremony and later spent their honeymoon in New York.
They Reportedly Had a Second Wedding Ceremony
Reports say questions later arose about the first wedding ceremony.
According to these accounts, Atila and Grace held another ceremony at Grace’s family home in Syracuse, New York.
Grace’s father reportedly officiated the second ceremony.
The exact legal circumstances surrounding the two ceremonies are not fully clear from the available information.
Their Age Difference
Atila and Grace received considerable media attention because of their age difference.
Grace was born on May 19, 1948. Several sources report that she was about 27 years older than Atila.
However, the exact age difference depends on Atila’s disputed birth year.
If he was born in 1976, the difference was close to 28 years. Reports saying he was 24 when they married would produce a smaller age gap.
Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones Have Children?
Atila and Grace did not have any biological children together.
Grace already had a son, Paulo Goude, from an earlier relationship.
Some reports say Atila took on a paternal or stepfather-like role in Paulo’s life during his marriage to Grace.
However, Paulo is not Atila’s biological son.
Who Is Paulo Goude?
Paulo Goude was born on November 12, 1979.
His parents are Grace Jones and French graphic designer, photographer, and creative director Jean-Paul Goude.
Paulo later worked in creative fields, including music and modeling.
He has also spoken publicly about the influence his mother had on his interest in music.
Problems in Atila and Grace’s Marriage
Grace later spoke about problems in their relationship.
According to her account, Atila could become territorial about her interactions with other men.
She also described a serious incident in which Atila allegedly threatened her with a weapon during an argument.
This allegation comes from Grace’s account of their relationship and should not be presented as an independently established event.
The incident reportedly contributed to the end of their relationship.
When Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones Separate?
Atila and Grace reportedly separated around 2004, approximately eight years after their 1996 marriage.
Following their separation, Atila disappeared from Grace’s public life.
Grace reportedly said he returned to his family.
He later lived a much more private life in Belgium.
Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones divorce?
Some online sources say Atila and Grace divorced in 2004. Other reports, including accounts based on Grace’s statements, say they never legally completed their divorce.
Grace reportedly said she could not locate Atila to complete the legal process.
It is therefore more accurate to say they separated around 2004 rather than stating that they definitely divorced that year.
What Did Atila Do After Separating from Grace?
Atila largely disappeared from celebrity coverage after his relationship with Grace ended.
Reports later connected him with charitable activities in Belgium.
He reportedly spent time helping disadvantaged people and became involved with Helping Hands Belgium.
Where Did Atila Altaunbay Live?
Atila spent a significant part of his life in Belgium.
Reports place him in Antwerp during his later years.
He kept a low public profile, and there is limited information about his daily life after his separation from Grace.
When Did Atila Altaunbay Die?
Atila Altaunbay died in October 2021.
Several reports place his death around the middle of the month.
If the commonly reported 1976 birth year is correct, he was approximately 45 years old.
Helping Hands Belgium reportedly announced his death publicly.
How Did Atila Altaunbay Die?
Atila’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Some websites have raised questions about the circumstances of his death. However, the available information does not provide reliable evidence of foul play.
It would therefore be inaccurate to claim that his death involved suspicious circumstances without stronger evidence.
Atila Altaunbay’s Net Worth
Atila Altaunbay’s exact net worth was not publicly known.
Some secondary websites estimate that he was worth around $800,000. They connect his reported wealth to his work as a bodyguard, singer, and model.
However, there are no reliable financial records supporting the $800,000 figure. It should be treated only as an online estimate.
Atila Altaunbay’s Height
Some secondary sources list Atila as approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall and around 150 pounds (68 kg).
These measurements have not been confirmed by a strong primary source.
Atila Altaunbay’s Social Media
No verified personal social media account belonging to Atila has been identified.
Information and photographs connected with his later charity work reportedly appeared on the Helping Hands Belgium Facebook page.
Who Is Grace Jones?
Grace Beverly Jones is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, model, record producer, and actress.
She was born on May 19, 1948, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. She later moved to Syracuse, New York.
Grace began modeling and worked in New York and Paris. Her fashion career included work connected with major names such as Yves Saint Laurent, and she appeared in magazines including Vogue and Elle.
Grace Jones’ Music Career
Grace developed a successful music career beginning in the 1970s.
Her albums include Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978), and Muse (1979).
Some of her best-known songs include Pull Up to the Bumper and Slave to the Rhythm.
Grace Jones’ Acting Career
Grace also became an actress.
Her film credits include Conan the Destroyer (1984), the James Bond film A View to a Kill (1985), and Vamp.
She published her autobiography, I’ll Never Write My Memoirs, in 2015. The book includes details about her relationship with Atila.
Things to Know About Atila Altaunbay
- Atila Altaunbay was born in Turkey.
- Several sources report that he was born in 1976, but his exact birth year is disputed.
- His exact birthday has not been publicly confirmed.
- He came from a Muslim family.
- He later lived and studied in Belgium.
- He reportedly worked as a pizza delivery driver when he was young.
- He later worked as a bodyguard and in security.
- Atila reportedly sang at weddings and took singing lessons.
- He met Grace Jones in Belgium.
- Grace reportedly proposed to him in Rio de Janeiro.
- They married on February 24, 1996.
- Their first wedding ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro.
- Reports say they later held another ceremony in Syracuse, New York.
- His family reportedly opposed the marriage.
- Atila and Grace did not have biological children together.
- Paulo Goude is Grace Jones’ son with Jean-Paul Goude, not Atila’s son.
- Atila and Grace separated around 2004.
- Reports say their divorce was never legally completed.
- Atila later became involved in charitable work in Belgium.
- He was reportedly president of Helping Hands Belgium.
- He died in October 2021.
- His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
- His funeral was reportedly held at Antwerpen Mehmet Akif Mosque.
Find out More: Margherita Ronchi: Everything About Matthew Fox’s Wife and Their Children
