Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Jeanne Louise Calment had the longest confirmed human life span in history, living to the age of 122 years, 164 days (44724 days total). She lived in Arles, France, for her entire life, and outlived both her daughter and grandson. She became especially well known from the age of 113, when the centenary of Vincent van Gogh's visit brought reporters to Arles. She entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1988, and on 17 October 1995 she became the oldest person ever, having surpassed the (now dubious) case of Shigechiyo Izumi of Japan. She became the last living documented person born in the 1870s when the Japanese super centenarian Tane Ikai (born 1879) died on 12 July 1995.



In 1985, Calment moved into a nursing home, having lived on her own until age 110. Her international fame escalated in 1988, when the centenary of Vincent van Gogh's visit to Arles provided an occasion to meet reporters. She said at the time that she had met Van Gogh 100 years before, in 1888, as a thirteen-year-old girl in her uncle's fabric shop, where he wanted to buy some canvas, later describing him as "dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable", and "very ugly, ungracious, impolite, sick".



Calment recalled selling colored pencils to Van Gogh, and seeing the Eiffel Tower being built. At the age of 114, she appeared briefly in the 1990 film Vincent and Me as herself, making her the oldest person ever to appear in a motion picture.



A documentary film about her life, entitled Beyond 120 Years with Jeanne Calment, in 1995. In 1996, Time's Mistress, a four-track CD of Calment speaking over a background of rap, was released. On her 122nd birthday on 21 February 1997, it was announced that she would make no more public appearances, as her health had seriously deteriorated. She died on 4 August of that same year.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Wikipedia

Spouse (1)

Fernand Calment (8 April 1896 - 2 October 1942) ( his death) ( 1 child)

Trivia (8)

Recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest person (with proof of age) in the history of the world.



In 1966 she made a type of deal common in France, where she sold the right to occupy her apartment after she died in return for a monthly payment until then. The would-be occupant died in 1996 aged 77.





Knew Vincent van Gogh when she was young, and in consequence became the oldest person to appear in a film when she played herself in Vincent und ich (1990). At the time of her appearence in this film, she was 114 years old. This may be varified at the Guinness World Records web site.

In 1996, she performed (speaking) on a rap/techno record for the benefit of her nursing home.



She lived to the amazing age of 122.



On October 17, 1995, when she reached the age of 120 years and 238 days, she surpassed Shigechiyo Izumi as the oldest living person in recorded history.



Daughter, Yvonne, died at age 36, in 1934, from pneumonia. She and Fernand Calment raised her son, Frederic, who became a doctor. Frederic died in 1963, in a motorcycle accident.



Personal Quotes (22)

I never wear mascara; I laugh until I cry too often.



Every age has its happiness and troubles.



Death doesn't frighten me; now I can think peacefully of ending a long life.



He who hugs too much, hugs badly!



Always keep your smile. That's how I explain my long life.



I didn't like mundane life.



I have legs of iron, but to tell you the truth, they're starting to rust and buckle a bit.



I think I will die laughing.



I see badly, I hear badly, and I feel bad, but everything's fine.



I've been forgotten by our Good Lord.



Wit doesn't make girls pretty.



In life, people sometimes make rotten deals.



All babies are beautiful.



I'd like to go to the Moon.



I wait for death and journalists.



Not having children is one less worry. Children are a worry!



Excuse me if I'm clinging on to life, but my parents wove me from tight thread.



I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and without regret. I'm very lucky.



I'm interested in everything but passionate about nothing.



I've only got one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it.



I'm not afraid of anything.



There are so many good authors; there's no shortage of them.

