Jacques Mesrine
Jacques Mesrine | |
|---|---|
Booking photo of Mesrine, taken in 1973 | |
| Born | Jacques René Mesrine 28 December 1936 Clichy, France |
| Died | 2 November 1979 (aged 42) Paris, France |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Other names | French Robin Hood The Man of a Thousand Faces |
| Spouse(s) | Lydia De Souza (divorced) María de la Soledad (divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
| Criminal charge | Assassination, bank robbery, burglary, kidnapping |
| Penalty | 20 years |
Jacques Mesrine (French pronunciation: [ʒak mɛʁin, mɛsʁin]; 28 December 1936 – 2 November 1979) was a French criminal responsible for numerous murders, bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in France, the US, and Canada. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made international headlines during a final period as a fugitive when his exploits included trying to kidnap the judge who had previously sentenced him. An aptitude for disguise earned him the moniker "The Man of a Thousand Faces" and enabled him to remain at large while receiving massive publicity as a wanted man. Mesrine was widely seen as an anti-establishment Robin Hood figure. In keeping with his charismatic image, he was rarely without a glamorous female companion. A two-part film, Mesrine, which came out in 2008, was based on Mesrine's life.