Patrick Bruel (born Patrick Benguigui, on May 14, 1959 in Tlemcen, French Algeria: 1830 - 1962) is a French singer, actor, and professional poker player of Algerian descent. Although Bruel aspired to be a football star as a youth, he decided to pursue singing after seeing Michel Sardou in 1975. His first success came as an actor, however, in 1979's Le Coup de sirocco. He continued acting in films, on television and in the theater while pursuing his singing career.