Brigitte Bardot is mourning the death of her billionaire ex-husband Gunter Sachs after he committed suicide at his home in Switzerland on Saturday, at the age of 78. Reports suggest that he shot himself.
The German filmaker and photographer was the grandson of automobile mogul Wilhelm von Opel and found fame in the 1960's by making documentaries.
Although he was a famed playboy in his youth, Sachs fell in love with French actress Bardot after meetin her in 1966. He famously had a helicopter fly over her home in Saint-Tropez and shower it with red roses.
Weeks later the pair wed in Las Vegas but their marriage ended in divorce in 1969.
Bardot, who has dedicated her life to to fighting for animal rights, remained close to her third husband after the break-up and was informed of his death over the weekend.
A repersentative for Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals tells said, "We called Gunter Sachs' private secretary who confimred the suicide to us, but we have no details on the circumstances."
A source said that Bardot has been informed and was devastated by the news. She had remained close to Sachs who had been a guest at the 20th anniversary celebration of the foundation.
Bardot was Sachs' second wife. Shortly after their divorce he went on to marry Mirja Larsson.
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