Prince Michael Feodorovich Romanoff (French: Michel Romanoff; 4 May
1924 â€" 22 September 2008) was a French filmmaker. A descendant of
the Russian Emperors, he was a great nephew of the last Russian Tsar,
Nicholas II.Prince Michael Feodorovich was born in Paris the only son
of Prince Feodor Alexandrovich of Russia and his wife Princess Irina
Pavlovna Paley. He descended from the Romanovs through both his father
and his mother. Through his father he was a grandson of Grand Duke
Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and his wife Grand Duchess Xenia
Alexandrovna of Russia. His mother was a daughter of Grand Duke Paul
Alexandrovich of Russia and his second wife Princess Olga Valerianovna
Paley, Countess of Hohenfelsen. Prince Michael Feodorovich was called
in France Michel Romanoff de Russie (his civil name in his French
identity papers). He was brought up in Paris and Biarritz. As a child
he learned to speak French, English and Russian. In his later years he
learned Spanish and Catalan.After the separation of his parents in
1932, Prince Michael Feodorovich went to live with his mother in
Neuilly where he attended the École du Montcel school. Following the
outbreak of World War II his family moved back to Biarritz. He served
in the French infantry between 1945 and 1946 and accompanied the army
of General Leclerc into Germany.For sometime he worked for the
Societé des Parfums of Lucien Lelong, who had been married to his
aunt Princess Natalie Paley. In 1949, Prince Michael Feodorovich moved
into the film industry working as an assistant director, later
becoming a director of production. He worked, among others, with René
Clair, Julien Duvivier and Henri-Georges Clouzot. Burt Lancaster, Tony
Curtis, Gina Lollobrigida and Marlon Brando were some of the
well-known actors who appeared in his films. In the 1950s the prince
had an affair with actress Annabella (1907â€"1996), after the latter
had divorced the American actor Tyrone Power. Their love affair lasted
ten years, and despite their age difference the French actress would
have liked to marry the prince. They later split, but Michael
Feodorovich remained very attached to Annabella until her death.
1924 â€" 22 September 2008) was a French filmmaker. A descendant of
the Russian Emperors, he was a great nephew of the last Russian Tsar,
Nicholas II.Prince Michael Feodorovich was born in Paris the only son
of Prince Feodor Alexandrovich of Russia and his wife Princess Irina
Pavlovna Paley. He descended from the Romanovs through both his father
and his mother. Through his father he was a grandson of Grand Duke
Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and his wife Grand Duchess Xenia
Alexandrovna of Russia. His mother was a daughter of Grand Duke Paul
Alexandrovich of Russia and his second wife Princess Olga Valerianovna
Paley, Countess of Hohenfelsen. Prince Michael Feodorovich was called
in France Michel Romanoff de Russie (his civil name in his French
identity papers). He was brought up in Paris and Biarritz. As a child
he learned to speak French, English and Russian. In his later years he
learned Spanish and Catalan.After the separation of his parents in
1932, Prince Michael Feodorovich went to live with his mother in
Neuilly where he attended the École du Montcel school. Following the
outbreak of World War II his family moved back to Biarritz. He served
in the French infantry between 1945 and 1946 and accompanied the army
of General Leclerc into Germany.For sometime he worked for the
Societé des Parfums of Lucien Lelong, who had been married to his
aunt Princess Natalie Paley. In 1949, Prince Michael Feodorovich moved
into the film industry working as an assistant director, later
becoming a director of production. He worked, among others, with René
Clair, Julien Duvivier and Henri-Georges Clouzot. Burt Lancaster, Tony
Curtis, Gina Lollobrigida and Marlon Brando were some of the
well-known actors who appeared in his films. In the 1950s the prince
had an affair with actress Annabella (1907â€"1996), after the latter
had divorced the American actor Tyrone Power. Their love affair lasted
ten years, and despite their age difference the French actress would
have liked to marry the prince. They later split, but Michael
Feodorovich remained very attached to Annabella until her death.
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