Patrick Benguigui (French: [patʁik bɛnɡiɡi]; born 14 May 1959), better known by his stage name Patrick Bruel (French: [patʁik bʁyɛl]), is a French singer-songwriter, actor, and professional poker player.
In mid-2026, multiple women came forward to accuse him of sexual assault and rape, including on underage girls. In June 2026, he was taken into custody following an investigation by prosecutors.
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Early life
Patrick Benguigui was born on 14 May 1959 in Tlemcen, Algeria, into a family of Algerian Sephardic Jewish origin. His parents separated in 1960, and he was raised by his mother. Together, the two emigrated to France in June 1962 just before Algerian independence. He lived in the staff accommodation of the girls' school in Argenteuil where his mother was a teacher.
